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Paleo Protein Bars Breakfast Style

Paleo Protein Energy Bars

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Author: Irena Macri
Servings: 8
Course: Snack
Cuisine: British
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Calories: 440kcal
Perfect for on-the-go breakfast, as a snack or a post-workout snack, these fruit and nut paleo protein bars are delicious and energy-dense to keep you satiated and fueled. Gluten-free, grain-free.

Ingredients 

  • 1.5 cups almonds about 150 g
  • 0.5 cup Brazil nuts about 50 g
  • 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds about 50 g
  • Salt
  • 7 large Medjool dates with or without pips
  • 1/3 cup sesame seeds
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon honey optional
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla essence
  • 1/2 cup protein powder neutral or vanilla, about 70 g (see notes)
  • 2-3 tablespoons almond milk or other dairy-free milk
  • 1/4 cup dried cranberries

Instructions

  • Add the nuts and pumpkin seeds to multiple bowls or one big bowl. Add a pinch of salt to each and cover with water. Add Medjool dates to another bowl with water. Soak all for 4-6 hours. Smaller pumpkin seeds need less time than Brazil nuts, hence why I often soak them separately, but you can do them all together.
  • After 4-6 hours, preheat the oven to 175° C / 345° F.
  • Strain and rinse the nuts. Reserve a small handful of almonds and pumpkin seeds and add the rest to a food processor. Strain the dates, remove the pips and add the flesh to the food processor as well. Reserve a tablespoon of sesame seeds and add the rest to the processor too.
  • Grind everything together for about a minute, stopping and scraping the sides a few times. Add coconut oil, vanilla and honey and process for a further 30 seconds to a minute, scraping the sides a couple of times.
  • Now add the protein powder of your choice and continue to process the mixture for a further minute or two. At first, when you add the protein powder, it might seem that the mixture is too dry but as you continue to grind everything together, the nuts will release more oils and moisten the dough. Add the almond milk to give it a little more moisture. The consistency you're looking for is finely ground nuts, sticky mixture that comes away from the sides and that moulds easily in your fingers, a little oily.
  • Line a shallow baking tray with a piece of parchment/baking paper. Grease with a little coconut oil. Transfer the nut mixture to the middle of the tray and spread out evenly. Use your fingers to press down the mixture into an even layer, about 1 -1.5 cm thick. Fill in any gaps or cracks, even if that means cutting the edge of the slice off and using up that mixture to even out thinner areas. You can place another piece of parchment paper on top and use a rolling pin to even out the top.
  • Sprinkle the reserved sesame seeds, almonds and pumpkin seeds over the top and press them down into the slice with your fingers. Do the same with the cranberries. Make sure they are pressed down deep enough.
  • Place the tray in the oven, middle shelf, for 10-12 minutes. Then remove the tray and let it cool completely. Lift the parchment paper with the slice out of the tray and place it on a cutting board. Slice into rectangular or square bars, you should have about 8-10 depending on how you slice them.
  • Store in an air-tight container for a week out of the fridge and for 2-3 weeks in the fridge. You can wrap the bars in some glad wrap individually so they are ready to go in your bag/lunch box.

Notes

There are many paleo-friendly protein powders on the market. Check out this guide to see what suits you best. If you can tolerate whey protein, that would be the best option here.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 20mg | Potassium: 480mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 57IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 3mg
Keywords: Snacks, Kid-friendly, High-Protein, Grain-Free, Sweets, Energy Bars
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