{"id":4530,"date":"2014-03-24T06:00:23","date_gmt":"2014-03-24T13:00:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oneingredientchef.com\/?p=4530"},"modified":"2017-02-18T14:05:25","modified_gmt":"2017-02-18T22:05:25","slug":"peanut-butter-protein-bars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oneingredientchef.com\/peanut-butter-protein-bars\/","title":{"rendered":"No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Bars"},"content":{"rendered":"

We all know it’s impossible for vegans to get enough protein, so why don’t we just skip this recipe? Clearly, these super-delicious homemade, all-natural, unprocessed, vegan energy bars with 12 grams of protein must be an illusion, right?<\/p>\n

Kidding aside, of course a plant-based diet offers an abundance of protein from natural food; it’s never something you need to think about. However, supplementing protein can be nice if you’re someone who is very active, such as an athlete, or if you simply need a nutrient-dense snack to hold you over between meals. In those cases, adding a protein shake or protein bar can be a great option.<\/p>\n

\"Peanut<\/p>\n

How to Make Vegan Protein Powder<\/h4>\n

There are ultra-expensive protein powders available in stores, such as the Vega brand, but the markup is absurd \u2014 some charge upwards of $2.50 per serving. There’s no reason to pay that much, the protein itself is super cheap and I was able to put my own blend together at a fraction of the price. My blend is 50% pea protein powder (I use this NOW Foods Version<\/a>) and 50% brown rice protein powder (I use this Nutribiotics version<\/a>). Together they form a “complete” protein that provides every essential amino acid in a way that is very bioavailable and easy to digest, which is a big problem with whey and soy protein powders. The cost is about $40 total and you get 1,125 grams of protein. Vega One shakes, by comparison, have 330 grams of protein for $55.<\/p>\n

I have been making shakes and energy bars with this pea & rice blend over the last few months and the results have definitely been noticeable. I run somewhere between 25-50 miles per week and muscle recovery is a constant issue, but a few tablespoons of protein powder in a smoothie dramatically cuts down recovery time. I’ve also gained about 8 pounds of muscle this year with no changes other than adding a little extra protein powder after strength training workouts.<\/p>\n

But enough about all that, we have a recipe to make! These protein bars taste just like peanut butter cookie dough, but they’re made from only unprocessed sources and packed with protein from nuts, oats, and the aforementioned blend. These are my favorite protein bars and I’m sure you’ll love them. <\/p>\n

Makes 8 bars<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Ingredients:<\/h4>\n
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