Chocolate Coconut Protein Bars

By Kathy C.

I recently made these Chocolate Coconut Protein Bars, and they were pretty good! The triple amount of coconut provides the energy element, and the protein powder gives you the protein. It’s the best of both worlds; energy and protein rolled into one bar. Why make both a protein and energy bar when you can have them both in one?

The bars were pretty delicate. If you want them moister you could add another egg or more oil if you wanted a higher oil serving. Either way, this recipe is pretty forgiving so feel free to play around with it a bit until you get the desired texture and results. I made a half batch and pressed it into a greased square glass pan and then cut it into bars. That way it comes out looking more like a bar instead of a cookie or something.

The bars are very filling; you can only eat so much. The chia seeds expand in your stomach and give you that “full” feeling pretty quickly, which is a good thing.

Be sure to check the recipe out, and comment if you have any questions or comments of your own.

Enjoy everyone!

Sarah

- See more at: http://freecoconutrecipes.com/gluten-free-chocolate-coconut-protein-bars/#sthash.3mx4kqRJ.dpuf

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 2-4 tablespoons sweetener of your choice (ex: whole sugar, maple syrup, honey, etc.)
• 4 eggs
• 4 tablespoons cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup grated or flaked dried coconut, unsweetened
• 1/2 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup chocolate whey powder, optional
• 1 cup coconut flour

Details

Adapted from freecoconutrecipes.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 375. Grease cookie sheet(s) with extra coconut oil.

Melt oil if needed and in a large bowl stir in remaining ingredients with the oil until well blended. Place spoon sized mounds unto prepared cookie sheets and pat down slightly into bars.

Bake in preheated oven for 14-15 minutes. Don’t overcook.

Notes:
**recipe seems to react differently depending on the protein powder.

Do you think adding a mashed banana could work in this recipe to make a moister bar? After reading the comments about how dry this was I’m hesitant to try it as I don’t like dry biscuity protein bars – I’m more of a chewy girl myself.

If this yields 10 bars, approx. each bar is mostly likely around 300-350 calories. 1/2 cup of the oil alone (not melted) is around 1000 calories. 1 cup of coconut flour is about 500. Add the rest of the stuff, probably looking at around 3000 for the whole batch, or maybe around 2500. So don’t eat the whole batch in a sitting any way :P

Yummmm!! Easy and delicious. Couldn’t wait too long to let them cool off after coming out of the oven. Fudgy texture, I added an extra egg and a little more oil.

- See more at: http://freecoconutrecipes.com/gluten-free-chocolate-coconut-protein-bars/#sthash.3mx4kqRJ.dpuf