Homemade Protein Bars

The energy/protein bars that we see in supermarkets are full of sugar and other false flavors, so I choose to prepare at home these kind of bars, making sure the ingredients they I use are natural and unprocessed.

They protein bars are much easier to make than you think and much healthier because:

1. I didn’t add sugar, they are naturally sweetened
2. They contain only natural ingredients
3.  I didn’t add additives or stabilizers
4. They are no-bake bars
5. They are vegan bars (no eggs or milk)
6. They are perfect for those who have a raw-vegan lifestyle.

These protein bars are ideal for a snack, and because they are rich in fiber (from oats), protein and omega 3 fatty acids (from walnuts and chia seeds) so they are also perfect for those who go to the gym, because these kind of bars will give them the energy they need before working out. These protein bars can be also eaten after workout for recovery.

There bars are raw, so you will have to keep them all the time in the fridge ( 5-7 days in the fridge or up to 2 months in the freezer). You can eat them whenever you feel the need for something sweet or something to energize you.

Here’s the recipe:
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INGREDIENTS
1 cup oats
15 dates
two handful of walnuts
2-3 tablespoons of coconut oil (it can be replaced with 2 bananas or 2 tablespoons of peanut butter)
2 tablespoons of chia seed
1 tablespoon vanilla essence
Optional: 1 tablespoon of raw honey of agave syrup

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PREPARATION
Put the dates in a bowl with warm water just enough to cover them and let them hydrate for 1 hour. Also, if you want you can hydrate the walnuts (in a bowl with warm water for 4 hours). I chose to hydrate only the dates.

Once the dates are hydrated, put them in a blender / food processor together with the oats, walnuts, chia seeds, 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, 1 tablespoon vanilla essence and blend all the ingredients until they become a homogeneous dough.

How can you tell that the ,,doug” is homogeneous? Simply take in you hand a bit of the composition and if the dough is sticky, then that’s it.

Transfer the mixture in a tray (I used one with 25 × 20 cm) covered with plastic wrap or baking sheet and level the entire mixture with a spoon or with your wet hands.

Put on top some raw sunflower seeds and  some chopped walnuts. Put the tray in the freezer for 1 hour or in the fridge for 2 hour, then cut into equal pieces, giving them the form of a bar.

TIP 1: Sprinkle a little salt on top of the dough. You’ll thank me for this!

TIP 2: Although these bars are made only with natural ingredients, however, they are high in calories, so my advice to you is to not eat more than one bar per day. 

Enjoy!

Nicoleta 🙂

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