Cashew Butter Dessert Protein Bar
This is no-bake, low sugar and one of my favorite healthy dessert bars.The base is naturally sweetened and boosted with macadamia nuts, oats, coconut and protein powder. Then you have a creamy chocolate cashew topping for a little extra indulgence.These tasty little protein bars are perfect for a quick breakfast or healthy snack. Made with wholesome ingredients, they are thick and chewy and are my healthier take on the store-bought protein bars that in my earlier fitness days I had to rely on to get enough protein in during the day while I was super busy running a gym and training clients. I grew tired of forking out tons of money for a store-bought protein bars, and opted to make my own and immediately felt SO much better about it. Not only are they way healthier but you can make them for around one third of the price of store bought bars.This recipe is for you if you like the creaminess of nuts and coconut mixed with oats, cashew butter, protein powder and a touch of coconut oil to help glue them together. They are a cross between blondies and cookie dough, and needless to say, they taste absolutely sublime! The best part? They are actually good for you.These bars contain no butter or hydrogenated oils, no cane sugar, no artificial flavours and colours and no shelf-extending preservatives that make supermarket-ready bars last as long as possible. Simply smooch up a bunch of ingredients together, press them into a loaf pan, and leave the mix to set overnight. Open the fridge in the morning and you will wake up to a bunch of yummy bars to enjoy for breakfast, pre- or post-workout, or simply as a snack for school or work.You can customize this recipe as you like. Add chopped nuts, coconut flakes or other dried fruit. You can play around with the nut or seed butters too, and use almond or peanut butter, or tahini (sesame seed butter) instead of cashew butter.If you want you can add seeds like hemp or chia, or use more nut or seed butter, so, go for it. Sunflower seed butter, for example, is delightful in these bars.If you prefer dried fruit (raisins, apricots, cherries, cranberries for example) just swap out the chocolate chips!Anything goes! Just make it yours!
Servings 16
Ingredients
Bar Base
- 1/2 cup macadamia nuts
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup protein or collagen powder
- 1/4 cup cashew butter
- 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1/4 cup cashew butter
Instructions
Bar Base
- Line a 7 x 5 inch loaf tin with baking paper or cling film. Or use a silicon baking pan. To make the base, place the macadamia nuts, rolled oats and coconut into a food processor and process until the mixture is broken down and crumbly. Add protein powder, cashew butter, honey, melted coconut oil and vanilla extract and pulse until everything is well combined. Press the base mixture evenly into the lined loaf tin. Set aside in the freezer.
Chocolate Topping
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave at 50% power with 30 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.Add the cashew butter and stir until smooth. Pour the chocolate topping mixture over the base, evening it out with the back of a spoon.Return to the freezer or refrigerator for 30 minutes or until the chocolate topping has set firm. Once firm, slice into 16 bars or more smaller squares.