Chocolate Truffle Protein Bars

After searching EVERYWHERE (countless sites and stores) and hoping hard for a protein bar to come to market with clean ingredients yet lacking dairy, soy, sugar, gluten, rice, corn and other additives, I had to take matters into my own hands. Over many years of trial and error, I have found some bars that are tasty, but they either have too much starch, fiber, prebiotics, probiotics or natural sugars to be the right fit for my sensitive tummy. My experimenting in the kitchen to eliminate most processed foods has been a positive of the pandemic and I have created a protein bar that is a great consistency, really yummy (even decadent!) and satisfying.

It took many different practice rounds but I am finally at a place with the bar that I am ready to share it (and devour it often). Behold… the CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE PROTEIN BAR. This is a “no bake” recipe and this version can even be nut free if you need it to be. You can use your favorite seed or nut butters if these don’t work for you.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE PROTEIN BAR

Place the following ingredients into a food processor (I use my small food processor for this):

• 8 tbsp organic nut butter or mixed seed butter (pumpkin, flax, sunflower, chia)
• 6 tbsp organic sunflower butter
• 2 scoops chocolate protein powder (I use bone broth protein powder)
• 1 tbsp coconut flour
• 6 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 8 tbsp softened coconut oil
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• pure vanilla powder or extract
• vanilla liquid monk fruit to taste (I use two squirts)

Mix together until smooth, stopping one or twice to push the batter down and taste for sweetness. Once the batter is completely mixed pour it into a parchment lined loaf pan. I use a small pastry roller to flatten it evenly.

Place the pan in the fridge for an hour, remove and cut into 10 or 12 bars depending on the thickness of the batter. Then place the pan in the freezer for an hour.

Before pulling the pan out, melt the following in a small bowl:

• 1/3 cup pure cacao chips

Remove the pan and dip the bottom of each bar in the cacao then place it on parchment paper.

*Hot tip – Don’t leave the bars sitting in the warm cacao or the protein bars will melt.

Drizzle the remaining cacao on top of the bars. Store in the fridge and delight each day as you enjoy a healthy, delectable treat!