Crunchy Protein Bars

PREP TIME:10 minutes

CHILL:1 hour hour

TOTAL TIME:1 hour 10minutes

SERVINGS:10 bars

Ingredients

2 cups crispy brown rice cereal - I use the gluten free rice bubbles

½ cup old fashioned rolled oats, gluten-free if needed

¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

2 Tablespoons vanilla protein powder

1 Tablespoon cocoa powder

½ cup honey

1 Tablespoon natural creamy peanut butter

1 Tablespoon coconut oil , + 1-2 teaspoons

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ cup dark chocolate chips, vegan if needed

Instructions 

Add cereal and oatmeal to a small food processor and pulse a few times until the cereal is chopped up. Don’t process it too much or else you’ll end up with flour!

Place cereal and oat mixture in a large mixing bowl and add in the coconut, protein and cocoa powder.

Add the honey, peanut butter, coconut oil and vanilla to a small saucepan on medium-low heat. Stir mixture and heat until everything is melted and combined, about 2 minutes.

Pour over the dry ingredients and stir very well, making sure to coat everything.

Line a 8×8 pan with parchment paper and spread the mixture evenly into the pan. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the mixture, then press down as firmly as you can. Really press it down! Place bars in the freezer to set up for at least an hour before cutting.

Once bars are firm, add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a medium sized microwave safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals until melted.

While chocolate is melting, cut mixture into 12 even bars.

Once chocolate has fully melted, dip the bottom of each bar into the chocolate and place on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment or wax paper. Drizzle the top of the bars with chocolate and chill in the fridge or freezer until chocolate has set.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bar | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g