I am constantly searching for a protein bar that has three requirements: High protein, low calorie, and low sugar. The best option for achieving a bar with these three traits is probably making your own at home. It’s easier to find natural, no sugar, no chemical protein powders that can be combined with other healthy, real food ingredients to create a truly nutritious and healthy protein bar. Here is one of my favorite recipes. A protein bar that tastes like cake? Yes, please! These bars are so easy, you don’t even have to turn on the oven, and they taste awesome!

Ingredients
3/4 cup oats
1/2 cup oat flour
(If you don’t have oat flour, it’s easy to make! Just grind some steel cut or old fashioned oats in a food processor until they are a flour-like texture.)
1/4 cup crispy cereal
dash salt
2 scoops vanilla protein powder
1 tbsp honey
3 tbsp apple sauce
1/3 cup + 2 tbsp almond milk
3 tsp sunflower butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup white chocolate nibs

Instructions
Combine all dry ingredients.
In a separate bowl add all wet ingredients and mix well.
Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.
Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.
Pour mixture into the pan.
If it is too sticky add a bit more oat flour.
Press down firmly with fingers.
Place in fridge until chilled.

These bars would also taste fantastic with coconut shavings on top or chocolate chips added in. You can substitute peanut butter, or almond butter for the sunflower seed butter, but I think that would make them taste less like cake batter. Cashew butter is also a great idea! If you want a gluten-free option, the oat flour can be changed to gluten-free oat flour, or almond flour.

I store these in the fridge for up to a week, and just grab one when I’m headed to the gym. You can also keep them in the freezer and they will thaw by the time you have finished your workout. Enjoy!

*This post was originally published on Cortni’s site, YakkaFIT. For more from Cortni visit http://www.yakkafit.com.

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