Wednesday, June 11, 2014

hearty homemade protein bars


My husband is one of those guys with an insane metabolism and just about 0% body fat. He has to try and eat as many calories as he can just to keep from wasting away. Lucky. Well, if you have a husband like I do, or you have a metabolism like he does, give these protein bars a try! They are super healthy, hardly processed, and full of good for you protein calories. I don't usually indulge in protein bars, seeing that I have to eat as few calories as possible just to maintain my weight (a women's life story), but Tom loves them. And I love the fact that instead of eating some processed bar full of corn syrup and unpronounceable ingredients, he is eating something that I made!


I buy Garden of Life's Raw Protein powder, but any will do. This time we have chocolate, but I have made these bars with vanilla flavored before, both are good!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
  • 8 cups rolled oats
  • 8 scoops protein powder
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup coconut oil 
  • 2 cups water
In a large mixing bowl comine oats and protein powder. In another bowl, or measuring cup, combine maple, pb, coconut oil, and 1/2 cup of the water. Add liquid mixture to oats and combine, adding the rest of the water gradually until desired consistency is reached. You want the mixture to stick together when you press it, but not be sticky at all.


I added 1/2 cup raisins and 1/2 cup sunflower seeds at this point. You could add any kind of dried fruit or seeds, or chocolate chips if you wanted! Mix to combine. Press mixture into a lined or greased 9x13 baking pan. Make sure you press it in firmly; it will be less likely to crumble when you cut it later. 


Bake for 30 minutes, or until it starts to brown on top. Remove from oven and let stand for at least 15 minutes. Remove from pan and cut into bars, ta-da! 




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