26 May Recipe: Cacao Protein Bars
Recipe: Cacao Protein Bars
3pm & need a little somethin’ to get you through the afternoon? These Cacao Protein Bars should hit the spot. They’re super easy to make… & a considerably cheaper option than store-bought (PLUS you actually know what’s in them…no nasties!) Feel free to customise this recipe; mix ‘n’ match different flavour combos to create YOUR ultimate protein bar!
What you need:
2 cups sulphur-free coconut threads
2 cups dates
1 cup cacao powder
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup cacao butter
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup goji berries
4 tablespoons protein powder of your choice (you may want to add more/less depending on what type of protein powder you use, & how it affects the flavour of the bars. I used collagen hydrolysate)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
10 drops peppermint oil (again, more or less, depending on how ‘minty’ you like your bars)
What to do:
Unless you have a supersized food processor, you’ll need to make these bars in batches. I like to combine all dry ingredients first, then halve the mixture & add the wet ingredients to each half.
- Set up a double boiler & melt down the cacao butter & coconut oil.
- Put the coconut threads, cacao powder & protein powder in a food processor & blitz until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
- Add goji berries, raisins, vanilla & peppermint oil to the mixture & continue to process for a minute.
- With the machine still running, add in the dates – a few at a time – & the melted cacao butter & coconut oil. Blitz some more, until all ingredients are combined.
- Line a large baking tray with plastic wrap or alfoil, & pour the mixture in. Use a palette knife or the back of a large spoon to press the mixture into the pan.
- Put the pan in the fridge to set (or, if you’re impatient like me, put it in the freezer to speed up the process).
- When set, cut the mixture into bars. If it’s too hard to cut, simply leave the mixture out on the kitchen counter for 10 or 15 minutes to soften.
- Enjoy! Store in the fridge or freezer.
