CHEWY SWEET AND SALTY PEANUT PROTEIN BARS

CHEWY SWEET AND SALTY PEANUT PROTEIN BARS

One of my favorite high protein snacks, if not my favorite! This sweet and salty peanut protein bar would be great for active folks after a work out or long walk. Also, it is a great breakfast substitute when you are running out the door in a hurry and don't have time to make anything. The wholesome ingredients and high protein and fat will satiate you and keep you going for many hours. This recipe makes 8 bars.

If you prefer a chocolate flavor, you could use chocolate whey protein powder. If you want to get really fancy, you could jazz these up with a chocolate drizzle. For many people the perfect combination is peanuts and chocolate; however, just as many people prefer to skip the chocolate.

These are not a granola bar, but kind of remind one of chewy granola bars. You could use almonds instead of peanuts. These are nutrient dense snacks bound to satiate. Taste and see if you need salt, but I don't think so as the peanuts (salty nut) are salted. Check the nutrition facts of these protein bars and you will be amazed. I am thinking if one added peanut flour to these they may be stable enough to keep at room temperature for an on-the-go snack while traveling.

It is sometimes not easy to get enough protein in one's daily diet, and this is often the case with seniors. This recipe solves that problem by augmenting one's diet with healthy protein snacks that do not contain artificial colors like many commercial products do. Also no corn starch, vegetable glycerin, fructose, dextrose, molasses, maltodextrin or whole grain oats - just natural flavor and no artificial flavors in this delicious snack.

Instead of peanut butter, during maintenance, you could use honey roasted almond butter, but expect the carbs to be more. This delicious taste of the ideal combination - peanuts and creamy ingredients. A perfect balance of savory nuts in a sweet bar.

INGREDIENTS:

3 oz cream cheese (90 g)

¹/₄cup sugar free peanut butter (60 mL)

2 tbsp heavy cream (30 mL)

2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted (30 mL)

1 cup vanilla whey protein powder (250 mL)

Liquid sweetener to equal ¹/₂cup sugar (125 mL)

1 cup salted cocktail peanuts (250 mL)

Optional Chocolate Drizzle:

¹/₄cup sugar free chocolate chips, (60 mL)

1 tbsp unsalted butter (15 mL)

1 tbsp whipping cream (15 mL)

Alternate Chocolate Drizzle:

1 oz unsweetened baking chocolate (30 g)

2 tbsp unsalted butter (30 mL)

2 tbsp whipping cream (30 mL)

Liquid sweetener to equal ¹/₂ cup sugar (125 mL)

2 tbsp allulose blend (30 mL)

¹/₂tsp vanilla extract (2 mL)

INSTRUCTIONS:

Spray an 8 x 4-inch (20 x 10 cm) loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper.

In food processor, process cream cheese. Add peanut butter, heavy cream and melted butter; process. Add vanilla whey protein powder and liquid sweetener; process. Stir in cocktail peanuts. Turn out into loaf pan and smooth the top. Freeze until solid and refrigerate.

Optional Chocolate Drizzle: In bowl, combine chocolate chips, unsalted butter and whipping cream. Nuke in 30 second increments until it is possible to stir all together into a molten state.

Alternate Chocolate Drizzle: In small bowl, place chocolate; pour boiling water over chocolate and let sit a few minutes. Pour off water and pour boiling water over it again until chocolate tests soft to point of knife. In small bowl, melt butter in microwave oven. Whisk in cream, liquid sweetener, erythritol and vanilla extract. Whisk in chocolate. Microwave 10 to 15 seconds until liquefied. Use teaspoon to drizzle chocolate over protein bars. Allow chocolate to set.

Yield: 8 bars

1 serving

264.0 calories

15.4 g protein

20.9 g fat

2.1 g fiber

4.5 g net carbs