So, this is my version of eating healthily. They may taste like cake, look like cake (and even contains butter and sugar! Just a little…) but these tasty and moist flapjacks are also packed full of nuts, seeds, oats and protein powder, for a delicious snack that will keep you satisfied and full for hours. Despite their health credentials, they’re so squidgy and moist and definitely the perfect snack to tide you over when you’re not sure where your next meal is coming from!
This is a fantastic base recipe that you could easily mix up according to what you have on hand… dried cherries, blueberries or apricots could all go into the mix. Roasted peanuts would be a great addition too. And if you prefer, you could also use honey or maple syrup in the place of sugar.
I’ve made lots of protein bars over the last year and a bit (since my other half became a veggie!) and these are easily the best of them all – like all the best things, they just disappeared!
- 300g oats
- 300g vanilla or plain flavoured protein powder
- 100g chopped toasted pecans
- 100g chopped toasted walnuts
- 50g unsalted sunflower seeds
- 50g unsalted pumpkin seeds
- 50g raisins
- 250g peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
- 50g light brown sugar, packed
- 55g unsalted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1 large egg
- Preheat your oven to 180c/gas mark 4/350f. Grease a 9 inch square pan thoroughly.
- In a large heatproof bowl or jug in your microwave, melt the butter gently before adding the sugar and peanut butter and stirring. Add your vanilla, salt, spices and vanilla.
- Into the same bowl, tip your oats, protein powder, nuts seeds and raisins and add the egg. Stir thoroughly until everything is coated in the peanut butter sugar mixture.
- Attempt to resist the urge to eat it all straight from the bowl.
- Pour into your pan, and squish down. It's easy to do this if you either wrap a bit of clingfilm around your hand (or put a sandwich bag over it) or coat your hands with a bit of water - this way you can smush the mix down without it sticking to your hands!
- Pop into the oven to bake for just 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool completely before cutting into small squares/bars.
- You can use the nuts or dried fruits that you have to hand rather than those above. If you have any muesli in the house, it's also a good sub as it generally contains the oats, plus some nuts and raisins!
x Kerry
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EmmaMT from CakesBakesAndCookies.com says
January 20, 2014 at 11:16 amO. M. G. These are exactly how we should start our week off! I wish I could make them right now and not be sitting at my computer working!
I love how sticky and gooey they look. I’ll definitely be giving these a go.
Triathlon training here I come!
Em x
Kerry Cooks says
January 20, 2014 at 11:38 amThey are super gooey- almost like they have dates in!
Thanks for your comment Emma!
Maggie says
January 20, 2014 at 9:41 amThank you soooo much for such an inspiring and cheery blog. I look forward to your emails!! I am of a mind to make these bars today. What better (than even walking the pooch) on a frosty, day like today. Hubbie is training (hmmm) fir a half marathon and am sure would love theses bars. Just a couple of things ….. What is protein powder???? And assuming these are not eaten in one go …. How would you store them, and for how long?? And could you freeze them do you think??
many thanks for great ideas.
Kerry Cooks says
January 20, 2014 at 9:50 amThanks Maggie! I’m sure they’ll go down
Well with anyone in training!
Protein powder is available from shops or websites like my protein.com – it simply allows you to make a protein milkshake, or add a concentrated dose of protein to baked goods. You can also leave it out – it just means that they’ll keep you full for a long time!
Re keeping them, they didn’t last long in our house so I wrapped into portions in tin foil – they keep well as they’re so moist. I’m sure they’d be fine to freeze on the same way too.
Maggie says
January 20, 2014 at 9:12 pmThank you Kerry.