No-Bake, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip, Coconut Oil Protein Bars

Servings: 12
Preparation Time: 5–10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana, mashed
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup raisins (or date chunks, cranberries, Craisins, dried cherries/mangoes/apricots/etc. Any dried fruit will work.)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (or carob, butterscotch, white chocolate chips, etc.)
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup peanut putter (or any nut butter, i.e. almond, pecan, cashew, coconut peanut butter, etc.)

The following ingredients are optional, but I used them all:

• 2 to 4 scoops protein powder
• 2 tablespoons flax seeds
• 2 tablespoons chia Seeds
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

Mash the banana with a fork, then add all the remaining ingredients. Stir till combined.

Press the mixture into a plastic container with a lid or 8 x 8-inch pan (or use whatever you want, even a cookie sheet with a raised edge will work) and freeze for a few hours.

Remove from freezer and slice into bars. Wrap individually for on-the-go snacks.

Recipe and photo submitted by Averie, Phoenix, AZ.

Submit your recipe here!

Coconut, Almond Breakfast Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 cups almonds, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 cups unsweetened, dried coconut
• 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• optional: handful of raisins or dried cranberries

Directions:

Soak almonds with the salt in water overnight.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.

Once the almonds have finished soaking, drain and bake on a cookie sheet for 2 1/2 hours or until crispy. (I will soak and bake several pounds at a time and then keep in freezer until ready to use.) Once almonds have finished baking, heat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix remaining ingredients together along with the almonds and pat tightly into an 8 x 11-inch (or so) glass baking dish.

Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool completely before chilling. Cut into squares and wrap individually or store in an airtight container. Enjoy!!

Recipe submitted by Steve, Port Royal, PA.

Submit your recipe here!

Date, Nut, Coconut Bars

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup agave syrup
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 pound raisins
• 3/4 pound pitted and chopped dates
• 4 1/2 cups flour
• 3/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup coconut oil, solid
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 3/4 cup agave or maple syrup
• 3 cups unsweetened, shredded coconut
• 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Oil a 9 x 13-inch pan with a little coconut oil and set aside.

In a large saucepan, place 1/2 cup agave syrup, water, raisins, and dates. Simmer for 10–15 minutes. Set aside a let cool.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, butter, coconut oil, and salt. Work all ingredients together until crumbly and add eggs, vanilla, 3/4 cup agave or maple syrup, coconut, and nuts of your choice. Mix everything together and divide in half.

Press half of the dough into the prepared pan and spread the cooled date mixture over the top. Crumble remaining dough over the top and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes or until slightly browned. Cool, cut, and enjoy! They will be the talk of the party!

Recipe submitted by Christine, Orem, UT.

Submit your recipe here!