I am all for super simple, homemade snacks with as few ingredients as possible. These Peanut Butter Oat Protein Bars fit the bill perfectly. They have 4 ingredients: natural peanut butter, oats, protein powder, and honey. As always, I use a plant-based protein powder to make these dairy free. I love Perfect Fit, because it’s lower in calories but still packs a lot of protein. You can honestly use either chocolate or vanilla. You could substitute for honey for maple syrup for a vegan version, and use gluten free oats for a gluten free version, if desired. I found a version of this recipe on Heidi Powell’s blog (she in on the ABC show Extreme Weight Loss, which I love), and adapted it to fit my needs. Mostly, I just halved the recipe, but doubled the serving size (her bars were seriously like one bite- not enough for me) and reduced the sweetener a bit. I brought these bars as a mid-morning snack to hold me over between breakfast and lunch. You could also eat them after a workout or as dessert (they are that good!).
Active Time: 5 minutes Total Time: 1 hour
Serves: 12
Ingredients: 1 cup natural creamy peanut butter ½ cup honey (or maple syrup) 1 scoop plant-based protein powder, chocolate or vanilla (I used Perfect Fit Chocolate)
1½ cups oats (gluten free, if desired)
Directions:
Put the peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 60 seconds. Mix in the honey. Add the protein powder, stir. Mix in the oats. Press into an 8×8 inch pan lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least an hour. Slice into 12 bars. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition Information per serving:
Calories: 210 Fat: 10g Carbs: 23g Protein: 7g Sodium: 75mg Sugar: 12g
*Nutrition information is based on the products I used personally in this recipe. Different products may yield slightly different information.
Source: http://heidipowell.net/853/peanut-butter-power-fudge/
