Homemade Protein Bars

I've been making the most delicious homemade protein bars ever. They are super duper easy to make, protein packed, gluten-free and feel like a cheat! They have become one of my go-to breakfast or post workout staples. They taste more like banana bread. And who doesn't like banana bread? Here is the yummy recipe that I tweaked from this site. Next I'll attempt "raw" protein bars. In the meantime, enjoy this delicious, healthy treat! 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
• 3/4 cup gluten free flour
• 1/3 cup protein powder (I use this one)
• 1 T chia seeds
• 1 t cinnamon (my fave ingredient)
• pinch of sea salt

• 2 medium ripe bananas, mashed
• 3 egg whites
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 T smooth natural peanut butter (or almond butter)
• 1 and 1/2 T honey
• 1 t vanilla

• 1/4 cup carob chips (or chocolate chips or nibs)
• 1/4 cup coconut flakes
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (or your nut of choice)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. In a bowl combine all dry ingredients – oats, oat flour, protein powder, chia seeds, cinnamon and salt.
3. In a large bowl combine all wet ingredients – bananas, egg whites, almond milk, peanut butter, honey, stevia and vanilla.
4. Slowly pour and stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until everything is well mixed, then gently stir in the carob chips, nuts and coconut.
5. Pour the batter into a greased (with coconut oil) baking tray - batter should be about 1 in. thick.
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, remove from oven and cool for 15-20 minutes

After they've cooled I cut them up into squares and store them in a zip lock bag in the fridge.