Plant Based Protein Bars

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 cups (250 g) old-fashioned rolled oats

• 1 scoop (36 g) protein powder (I like Orgain Organics Vanilla flavor protein powder, your favorite protein powder (vanilla or chocolate))

• 10 pitted soft Medjool dates (150 g, as pitted)

• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup

• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/4 cup Plant milk, plus more as necessary

DIRECTIONS

1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan or standard 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan with unbleached parchment paper and set it aside.

2. Place the oats in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until ground into a flour.

3. Add the protein powder, dates, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, 1/4 cup milk and (optional) melted unsweetened chocolate. Process until the mixture is well-combined and is tacky (but not sticky) to the touch.

4. Add more milk by the teaspoonful and process, only as necessary for the mixture to reach the proper consistency.

5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press firmly into an even layer, smoothing the top as much as possible.

6. Top with your choice of fruit, nuts or my favorite... Hemp seed( every 3 tablespoon is 10 Grams of protein!)

7. Cover with parchment and place in the refrigerator or freezer to chill until firm (about 1 hour in the refrigerator, or 20 minutes in the freezer).

8. Remove the bars from the pan and slice into 12 equal-sized bars. Store the bars in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Adapted from https://glutenfreeonashoestring.com/homemade-protein-bars/