No Bake Chocolate Chip and Peanut Protein Bars
(Makes About 12 Bars)
5 tbsp. Butter (melted)
⅔ Cup Of Smooth Peanut Butter
⅓ Cup Honey
1 Tbsp. Vanilla Extract
2 ½ Cups Oats
½ Cup Vanilla Protein Powder
3 Tbsp. Ground Flax Seed
½ tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Salt
½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips.
Add water to a small pot and let it boil. In a glass bowl (that fits in the pot- creating a double boiler situation) add the butter, the peanut butter and honey. Lower the flame and incorporate all the ingredients together using a whisk. Once the ingredients are smooth and melted, mix in the vanilla extract. Let this mixture cool.
In a separate bowl, add the oats, protein powder, flax seed, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Add the cooled peanut butter mixture to this. You want to make sure it is just still slightly warm because you do not want to melt the chocolate chips. Now incorporate the chocolate chips. At this point you can spread the mixture out on a parchment lined baking pan (13 x 9) or you can use a silicon granola bar pan like I have from Pampered Chef. Put the bars in the refrigerator for 1 hour and serve. If using a parchment lined pan, simply cut them into bars. They can be kept in an airtight container for up to 5 days.