This month’s Recipe ReDux has forced me to FINALLY stop my laziness and make my own bars! Yes! It happened. It wasn’t as fulfilling as I thought, but it definitely didn’t take long and was so super easy. Plus it resulted in a delicious snack so there is no complaining there. I’m just happy I can cross it off my recipe bucket list. I’ve crossed off a lot of recipes from that bucket list this summer. It’s great, but it also makes room for many many more things and ideas. That bucket list will never be finished! (But I don’t mind that at all!)
August’s Theme: Bars & Bites For Brown Bags – Whether you pack your lunch in a bento box, a brown bag or a retro cartoon character lunch box, don’t forget the bars and bites. Small squares or round bites can pack nutrition into a sweet or savory taste. Show us your favorite way to jazz up any type of lunch box.
Here they are, Raw Coffee Quinoa Protein Bars! No baking, just freezing! Like any totally new to me creation, I started out by crossing my fingers and throwing in a bunch of ingredients, hoping things would turn out the way I wanted. You see bar and bite recipes flooding Pinterest and blogs now-a-days so it must not be that hard to figure out. You just need the base ingredients like a grain, something to hold them together, and some flavor. Plus protein it you want to go that route.
I also opted to just make a small batch. Well, I didn’t really plan on it being small or large. I had no idea how many it would make since I just threw things in a bowl. It came out to be 4 perfectly sized bars. The recipe can easily be doubled, tripled, you name it! I guess it can also be halved too if that’s you thing.
So what’s in these bad boys? Let’s see, we have quinoa flakes, brown rice cereal, chia seeds, coffee, coffee extract, coffee protein powder, apple sauce, just good old clean ingredients. None of those nasty processed fillers you find in the mainstream bar industry. Some of those things are just plain scary. Like Quest Bars…I mean why would you consume “Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides* (Prebiotic Fiber), Water, Almonds, Cocoa Butter, Erythritol. Contains less than 2% of the following: Cocoa Powder, Natural Flavors, Coconut Oil, Sea Salt, Sunflower Lecithin, Dextrin, Baking Soda, Steviol Glycosides (Stevia), Sucralose.” Yea, that is the ingredient list to the Cookies & Cream Bar. Those first few ingredients are gross.
Why sacrifice your body to that, when you can make your own! (Or just buy a better bar. There are ones out there that fit the bill, you just got to look!) But enough Quest Bar bashing, we have cleaner bars to talk about today!
Raw Coffee Quinoa Protein Bars
Ingredients: (4 bars)
+ 1/2 Cup Quinoa Flakes
+ 1 Cup Crispy Brown Rice Cereal (No-Salt Added)
+ 2 TB Chia Seeds
+ 1 Tsp Ground Coffee
+ 1/4 Tsp Coffee Extract
+ 1 Scoop Nuzest Cappuccino Protein Powder
+ 1/2 Cup Apple Sauce (No Sugar Added)
Directions:
+ In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients. Stir to combine.
+ In a 8×8 baking pan, press the mixture into about 2/3 of the pan as pictured above. Smooth and flatten out the top by pressing the bars down.
+ Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place int he freezer for at least 4 hours. Then remove and cut into 4 bars. To save for later, wrap each bar in plastic wrap and store in the freezer. Remove and let thaw a bit before eating.
You know what’s really good? Microwaving these bars for about 45 second on high and eating with a fork! So good! It is like a warm piece of coffee flavored cake! I really recommend eating these warm, not directly out of the freezer. You can even store them in the fridge if you are using them quickly.
So there you have it. Experiment bar done! Healthy, allergy-free, and delicious! Another successful Recipe ReDux in the books! Check out the other member’s recipes below and see what from bar and bite creations they are whipping up!
So tell me:
+ Favorite snack or protein bar?
+ What’s your go-to lunch box snack addition?
+ Fantasy bar flavor? If you make you own, you can make it anything! But I chose coffee, because, well, why not!?
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Honest Mum says
These look immense! Wow! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuesdays. Hope to see you tomorrow!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, thanks!
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma) says
Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂 I can’t wait to see what you share this week!
Cindy
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Cindy.
kellie@foodtoglow says
Saw this on the list at Pinterest Foodie and just had to see for myself. Love the idea of the coffee – a real wake-up as well as fill-you-up 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, yup! A perfect quick on the go breakfast! Coffee and fuel all in one!
Emily @amummytoo says
These look great – loving all your ideas for protein snacks lately. Your blog theme is looking fab too. Thanks so much for linking up with #recipeoftheweek. Sorry I was slow getting over for this one. I’ve pinned it to my food board and a tweet will go out shortly 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, thank you so much Emily! XOXO
kimmythevegan says
I seriously need to stop buying my protein bars, especially when I can make my own. These sound great! They would make a perfect pre or post-workout snack.
Thanks for contributing another awesome recipe to Healthy Vegan Fridays =) I have pinned this to our Pinterest board.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Sometimes buying though is just so much easier 😛 I only make them now on special occasions! I am still to lazy!
Stephanie says
Can’t wait to try these!! Thank you so much for linking up at Tasty Tuesday! Your recipe has been pinned to the Tasty Tuesday Pinterest board! Please join us again this week!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Awesome, thanks!
Serena says
OK usually I make bars for my kids…but THESE will be for me!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, bars are for everyone! Especially when they involve that jolt of coffee 😉
Cindys Recipes and Writings says
Coffee sounds so good in these bars!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
It tastes good too 😉
Terra says
I love your addition of coffee. These bars would be a perfect way to start my day. I travel for my job, so they would be great to travel with. Your recipe sounds delicious! Take care, Terra
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
The perfect jump starting healthy on the go breakfast! Haha! Thank you Terra! XOXO
Sarah Grace says
I do have to say though that I disagree with you on the Quest bars 🙁 I think they are delicious, and if you stick to the natural line, I don’t see what’s wrong with ingredients like stevia, nuts, fiber, and a protein blend with things like whey in it..
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I’ll always be a quest bar hater 😛 But it’s not like I can eat them anyway! Haha! 😉
Sarah Grace says
Hello delicious! Coffee and quinoa together in a protein bar? I’m all about that combo!
xoxo Sarah Grace, Fresh Fit N Healthy.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha, yes! So perfect right?
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine says
Love those ingredients, and I actually have all of them. I need to try these 🙂 I totally get you on the Quest bars! I don’t understand why so many bloggers are so ga-ga over them. The ingredient list is horrible! I’ve never actually eaten one though. I am sure you’re recipe is much better.
Does the brown rice cereal stay crunchy with the applesauce?
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yea! Their gross!
No it turns more to like a cakey texture! But its so good 😉
gretchen | kumquat says
i love the coffee grounds in here! briliiant!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Coffee is always brilliant 😉
Emily @ Zen & Spice says
YUM! What a good idea to include coffee !!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Right!? Just an extra boost!
Rach D says
These look tasty and good as a pick me up 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
You bet they are!
Kim says
yummm! But, are they all crumbly??
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Nope! They stick perfectly and are like cake if you microwave them 😉
ana @ fit, fun & delish! says
Oh it’s so good to know the texture after you microwave them! They look so good! Thanks Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
🙂 Thanks Ana!
Emily @SinfulNutrition says
This would SO feed my coffee addiction! And cappuccino protein powder?! How did I not know about this?!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Haha! I know I was so excited when I found out about this protein too! It is crazy awesome!
Missy says
Hi! New to your blog and have been catching up.
These look amazing — will be good for you for school?
My fantasies always involve Peanut Butter and Jelly.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Totally good for school!
PBJ! That’s an easy flavor to make!
Thanks for stopping by 🙂 XOXO
Cassie @ Almost Getting It Together says
Oooh… fantasy bar flavor. That’s a hard one. Maybe like banana split or mint chocolate chip or something?? I’m not sure!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Mint chocolate banana split 😉
Anne says
Anything flavored with coffee has to be delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
I know, right!? 😉
Gaye @CalmHealthySexy says
Hi Rebecca – I have only made my own bars a couple of times. I really need to try it again. Pinning and sharing.
Nikki Vergakes says
Mmmm… pinned! Love the idea of raw energy. I must make these for school.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Thanks Nikki 😉
Pure Grace Farms says
I am always looking for that perfect healthy snack that tastes great and is good for you too. These look like they might just fit the bill. Pinning these to make for later. I need to run to the store and get the quinoa flakes. Never tried them before. A new adventure! Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Shari
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
You’ll love quinoa flakes! They are so versatile 🙂
Thanks Shari!
Pamela Hernandez says
Hmmm…I wonder if I could do a tea version of this. They look yummy but I’m not a coffee person. 🙂
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Matcha tea could work 😉
Annmarie says
Coffee + Quinoa?? Yes, please!!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
You got that right 😉
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables says
YUM!! I must try this protein!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Yes! Coffee protein is just awesome!
jill conyers says
My favorite bar is now the recipe I created for this month’s theme! I’ve never seen a cappuccino protein powder. Off to check out the link.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
It is great! A little coffee burst while getting your protein fuel!