Shop bought protein bars and ‘natural’ bars can be pretty expensive. Then there’s the issue of what’s actually in them. Most of the mainstream so-called protein bars are nothing more than a candy bar with a bit of extra protein added. Then there are protein bars and raw food bars which are actually pretty good, and if you’re on the go with very few healthy choices available then they’re a great option. But eating these every day can be pretty expensive, and on top of that most people don’t deal well with the sweeteners the protein bars often use. Let’s just say you wont want to be stuck in a small office or lift with someone that’s just eaten two of these bars in a row…These more natural protein bars require just 4 ingredients, and are so easy to make. No cooking required, they’re made in less than 10 minutes, and they’ll store for ages in your fridge or cupboard. Make a batch of these on a Sunday and they’ll last you the whole week (well they should anyway) as a healthy snack full of good energy. And as a bonus they just taste amazing; they’re slightly chewy with the macadamia nuts giving a great flavour and crunch. When eating them it kind of feels like you’re eating a bar of fudge for a second, until you realise it’s actually packed full of goodness.
No refined sugar added, vegan, good fats, and healthy energy all in one smart bar.
Per bar: 157kcal, 17.8g carbs, 5.6g fats, 8.2g protein.
YOU’LL NEED
- A loaf baking tin, or similar to use as a mould.
- Cling film to line the baking tin
- A good blender or food processor.
- Large mixing bowl.
INGREDIENTS (makes 12)
- 2 cups (about 300g) pitted dates
- 1/2 cup (about 50g) macadamia nuts
- 3/4 cup (about 100g) vanilla flavoured protein powder (vegan blend or whey)
- 2 tbs coconut oil
SOME ADAPTATIONS WE LIKE
- Swap out the macadamia nuts for either almonds or peanuts.
- Try a different flavour protein powder, such as chocolate, banana, mocha or caramel.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Line your loaf tin (or similar) with cling film and set aside.
- Roughly blitz up the macadamia nuts in a food processor or blender. Do not overly blend, a bit of texture is good. Pour in to your mixing bowl.
- Blitz up the pitted dates with the two tablespoons of coconut oil, until a sticky paste is formed.
- Pour the date mix in to the mixing bowl, with the nuts, then add the protein powder.
- Get your hands in and carefully start combining the ingredients in to a dough.
- Treat it like a crumble mixture to start then bring it all together at the end in to a well-combined ball.
- Flatten the ball as much as possible before putting it in the loaf tin, carefully and evenly pressing it in to all of the corners of the tin until flat.
- With the edges of the cling film still left visible cover over the mix and place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
- The now slightly set mix should lift out of the loaf tin easily by grabbing on to the the cling film. Cut in to 12 even squares, rectangles, or whatever you fancy.
- Store in the fridge overnight for longer lasting and more chewy bars.
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the bars were really delicious will make again I’m going to inform my friends about I really liked the bars!
That’s great to hear Robert, I’ve just had one myself haha. Please feel free to share the recipe with anyone else that might love them 🙂