These Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal protein bars include almonds, peanut butter and coconut and make for a healthy and delicious snack or on-the-go breakfast.
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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Purely Inspired. All thoughts, opinions and protein bars are mine. But I may share.
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Remember the healthy strawberry orange protein smoothie and pumpkin spice protein smoothie I’ve shared on the blog? Today I’m three for three thanks to these chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Protein bars, another healthy and delicious recipe featuring vanilla protein powder.
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I was kind of over the whole smoothie thing, and I’ve already shared a few protein ball recipes, so I was on the lookout for something a bit different. I found this oatmeal protein bar recipe and was hooked.
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A few tweaks and it was perfect! In fact, it tastes far less “healthy” than those smoothies but is still packed with lots of good-for-you ingredients like raw almonds, peanut butter, rolled oats, craisins, banana and even a bit of semisweet chocolate.
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When baked in an 8×8-inch pan, these chocolate cranberry oatmeal protein bars cut into 16 pretty thick squares, so if you want them a bit thinner, go with a 9×9-inch pan. Simply adjust the baking time so they don’t burn. I haven’t tried doubling the recipe (or freezing the bars), so if you do, let me know how it goes. I bet you could double and put them in a 9-x13-inch pan without any problems.
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If you’re looking for a quick, healthy, yummy on-the-go breakfast or snack, homemade protein bars are a great option!
I like to keep mine in the fridge because they taste more like a treat that way…
Printable recipe for chocolate cranberry oatmeal protein bars below. Enjoy!
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- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup mashed ripe banana
- ⅔ cup vanilla protein powder like Purely Inspired Organic French Vanilla
- ½ cup natural peanut butter, slightly melted
- ½ cup sweetened dried cranberries or cherries
- ¾ cup cup unsweetened coconut, divided
- ½ cup chopped raw almonds
- 2 T chia seeds
- ¼ cup mini semisweet chocolate chips (optional)
- ¼ cup apple juice
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease an 8x8-inch pan.
- Combine oats, banana, protein powder, peanut butter, cranberries, ½ cup coconut, almonds, chocolate chips, chia seeds, apple juice, cinnamon and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Mix until thoroughly combined. Spread into prepared pan and top with ¼ cup coconut.
- Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven and let cool until completely set (at least 15 minutes). Cut into squares (or bars) and store in an airtight container.
Here are a few more protein-infused recipes you might enjoy!
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Healthy strawberry orange protein smoothie
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Pumpkin spice protein smoothie
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Double peanut butter chocolate protein shake
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Looking for more yummy recipes? Try browsing my best of Is This Really My Life Pinterest board. I guarantee you’ll find quite a few!
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This post first appeared on Is This Really My Life | Celebrating Or Medicating, please read the originial post: here
