Protein Bar Recipe!

If you are a Facebook friend of mine…you already know that I had a protein bar breakthrough this week…and now I’m going to finally share it with the rest of you!

I am always on the lookout for a good protein bar recipe. I would buy them pre-made, but 1 – they are crazy expensive and 2 – they often have crazy ingredients! I like to know what I’m putting in my body (and my husband’s too) and we really try to avoid added sugars, soy products and definitely artificial sweeteners. Add that to my gluten, dairy and nut free needs…and it looks like we need to create our own protein bars! I have tried several recipes that are more like granola bars, with varying results. My husband loves those protein bars that are $3/ piece and 32 grams of sugar…really just an expensive candy bar with added protein…so I was hoping to find something that could compare…but on a healthier level.

I stumbled upon the Protein Pow(d)er! blog and Voila! I found what I thought what might be the answer to our protein bar conundrum. The Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bar. Dun dun dun….

My thoughts were correct…they kick some protein bar butt. Serious butt. Never mind that while I was making them I took pictures of the brown logs and texted them to my friends telling them I was making poop log protein bars (ok, one friend…I only have one friend who would ever appreciate such text…isn’t she lucky?). Ok, ok, besides the little logs looking like something kinda gross…these were seriously a home run.

They take about 5 minutes to make, and that includes grinding my own oat flour. They are easily made gluten / dairy / anything free…and they are delicious enough to feed to your no-food-allergy husband. When he first tried my test batch I got a few “OMG”‘s and when he finally stopped raving with his mouth full, I got a ” Babe. You are amazing!”. I think that qualifies as an A+ in my kitchen creation world. Yippee! There is no added sugar except the chocolate topping, and you can decide what chocolate you use. They don’t require baking, taste like a candy bar, and are full of healthy goodness. Perfect for a post workout recovery snack or a pick me up at snack time.

 

So, you want the recipe, huh? You do. I promise. I am going to give y’all my two variations that I’ve tried this week. Be sure to give some love over at Protein Pow(d)er and check out the original recipe, as well as all of the other recipes on there. She has the coolest categories (think “protein fluff” and “protein cheesecake”) and just millions of awesome ideas! They all look amazing and I can’t wait to try more of them!

Dark Chocolate Coconut Protein Bars – gluten, dairy, soy, tree nut free

adapted from Anna Sward of http://www.proteinpow.com 
1 1/2 cups brown rice protein powder
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup oat flour ( ground from Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oats)
1/4 cup coconut flour1/4 cup natural peanut butter (sunbutter would be perfect here for peanut free version)
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 cup rice milk
1/2 cup coconut milk (any milk totaling 1.5 cups is fine)
1/3 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips

• Mix all the ingredients (except the chocolate chips) in a large bowl with a fork, until it’s a good ooey, gooey texture. It should hold together pretty well.
• Shape into logs – and send icky pictures to your friends.
• Then melt your chocolate in a small pan inside another pan on your stovetop. I put about a 1/2 cup of water in the bottom pot to heat the chocolate.
• When your chocolate is melted, either dunk your bars or drizzle over the top.
• Put in the freezer for 15-20 minutes until the chocolate is hardened.
• Wrap in foil and store in the fridge or freezer.
• Try not to eat them all in one day.

Chocolate PB Protein Bars – the hubby version (aka no food allergies)

1 1/2 cups brown rice protein powder
1 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup oat flour
1/4 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup finely chopped almonds
1 1/2 cups skim milk
1/3 cup chocolate chips

• Use the same directions as above 

What about you?

Do you have a favorite protein bar?

Do you make your own?