Recipe: Protein Bars

These protein bars are packed with healthy proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. These are my grab-and-go bars.

I've really liked having these on hand for when we run our errands and the little ones begin to get hungry. Even my husband said he'd choose these over store bought protein bars anytime!

Thanks Passionate Homemaking for the great recipe!

Here's the recipe:

Protein Bars

2 cups almonds
1/4 cup flax seeds, chia seeds or pumpkin seeds (ground in a coffee grinder or blender) – I used chia with delicious results!
1/2 cup dried prunes, dates or raisins (we used prunes!)
½ cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
½ cup unsalted peanut butter (original recipe uses almond butter, but I didn’t have that!)
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup coconut oil (melted)
1 Tbsp maple syrup or honey (we used honey!)
2-3 teaspoons vanilla extract
a few squares dark chocolate, less than half a bar needed for thin layer (optional) – I melted about 1/4 bag of chocolate chips in a small saucepan for the topping

Place almonds, flax meal/seeds, dried fruit, shredded coconut, almond/peanut butter and salt in a food processor. Pulse briefly for about 10 seconds. In a small sauce pan, melt coconut oil over very low heat. Remove coconut oil from stove, stir sweeteners and vanilla into oil. Add coconut oil mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste.

Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens. In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously. Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator for 30 minutes, until chocolate hardens. Remove from refrigerator, cut into bars and serve. Makes about 12-15 bars. Store in refrigerator or freeze for later enjoyment!

I stirred in mini chocolate chips into my blended mixture instead of spreading chocolate over the top. (Less mess for little fingers.)