Sometimes I get overly excited in a place like Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. Like the time I thought buying chocolate hemp protein powder to make a chocolate shake was a good idea. When I first tried it blended with rice milk it was horrible. The next day I tried it with coconut milk and it was not much better. Both concoctions went down the sink drain.
In an effort to not waste the stuff and my money, I set out to make something delicious with the protein powder. It turns out buying it was not such a bad idea after all. In fact, I’m going to encourage you to try it. I have created a protein bar that I have since made three times. They go down the hatch quit easily I might add. Full of fiber and protein these bars are delicious and will fill you up!
I have made them with both peanut butter and sunflower seed butter. Honestly, they taste almost the same. However, I did notice that they held together a little better with the peanut butter.
So what exactly is hemp? I know some of you automatically think of marijuana. While both plants come from the same species, they are different plants that are bred for different results. Hemp is not marijuana and contains no psycho-active ingredients.
Hemp protein is one the best vegetable proteins. Only soy contains more, but hemp is more digestible. It contains a full set of essential amino acids and fatty acids, and can also lower cholesterol.
Since these bars are no-bake, they are easy as well as delicious. And while they are no Reese’s Pieces candy bar, you do get that wonderful peanut butter and chocolate combination. And you can eat them without the guilt of a candy bar.
Let me hear your thoughts! Comment section below! There is also a giveaway going on now thru 9/11/13. You can enter it here.
Also shared at Make Your Own Monday . Slightly Indulgent Tuesday .
Chocolate “Peanut” Butter Protein Bars
Ingredients:
- 2 T. golden flaxmeal
- 1/4 cup peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
- 1/2 T. vanilla
- 1/4 cup 100% pure maple syrup
- 1/2 cup gluten free rolled oats (or regular rolled oats)
- 2 T. sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup chocolate hemp protein powder
Directions:
- In a bowl, add the above ingredients in order of the list.
- Mix with a spoon.
- Wet hands with cold water and scoop up mixture.
- Place mixture in small glass pan about 7×5 inches.
- Wet hands if necessary and pat mixture down evenly.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before cutting.
- Store in refrigerator.
These sound nice, but I think I’d use a protein powder with a higher level of protein. I also note that you do not specify how many bars/servings this makes. That information would help me to determine if they would work for us. Thanks.
Like I said in the article, hemp protein is second highest in protein, following soy. Since this a allergy free board I don’t use soy or whey protein. The recipe may not say how many bars this makes, but if you read it carefully, you’ll see how little of a pan I use. You can easily double or triple the recipe for your family’s needs.
I get it about the allergy-free board. But I need to rephrase my question to you about the quantity of bars: how many bars do you get out of your small pan when you make them for yourself? (Since it’s only my husband and me, I’m not worried about doubling the recipe.)
Your reply sounds like I offended you. If I did, I apologize. It was not my intention; I was just looking for information that would help me get oriented with the recipe. I have to make choices about some ingredients to meet my needs, just as you make the choices that will meet your needs. I would not think of suggesting that anybody else do what I do, or that there is anything wrong with your recipe.
I think I could get about 9 smallish rectangle bars. It’s hard to say because I don’t cut them up all at once, just as we eat them…kind of cut our size we want. But I don’t think it would be too much for you and your husband as they keep really well in the refrigerator. Plus they are so good you probably wouldn’t keep them around that long anyway. 🙂
Thank you! I’m sure we will enjoy these.
OOOhhhh, these look so good! Chocolate, peanut butter, and protein. Sounds like my ideal snack!!
Do you think quinoa flakes would work in place of oats? I have a sensitivity to oats. thank you!
I would think so. Give it and try and let me know! I’m getting re-tested for allergies and I’m afraid I might be “losing” my oats. 🙂
I have plain hemp protein powder…. do you think it would work to add cocoa powder to make it chocolate-y?
I think that would work, although I’m unsure of what amount of cocoa powder to use. Good luck!
I’ll let you know for sure tomorrow how they turn out, but hte little bit I snitched while making them tasted good! I used about 3/4 parts plain hemp protein powder and 1/4 part cocoa powder. I also used soy butter instead of sunflower seed butter because that’s what I had on hand (we can’t get a good sunflower seed butter here)
Looking forward to your thoughts!
They are tasty, however I found them slightly more crumbly than I would like… I was hoping for something that would stick together well enough to take with me when I traveled.
However, I never would have thought of mixing protein powder into something like this, so now I can experiment more!
Oh bummer. Made the original way, they should be easy to carry with you, but I understand not wanting to go out and buy a product when you already have a similar one at home. I glad that I gave you a new idea to work with though!
I had the same question! I’m glad you’ve asked & are experimenting. Please let us know the results & how you might tweak it if you had it to do over again. I have plain hemp protein in my fridge I was thinking about using & would truly appreciate benefiting from your experience. .
I’m hoping she chimes back in too!
Thank you for this recipe. Hemp Milk Protein Powder is the only protein powder I have found that I am not allergic to any of the ingredients. So I really appreciate this recipe!
Glad to hear it will be useful for you. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do. Thanks for coming by.
Looks like a good recipe to try!
Do you know how much the hemp powder costs?
Ballpark price will suffice.BTW, I like the way you made something good out of something your were about to trash–
you’re one smart (gluten-free) cookie!
Thank you for the kind words! At Trader Joe’s it is about $10.99-$11.99 per a 16 oz. package. I’ve seen it more expensive at Whole Foods and little health shops. I wish it were cheaper!
I just made these only I rolled them into balls. I got 10 balls out of it.
Thanks for the great recipe.
You’re welcome. I like the idea of balls. Thanks for sharing.