Maple Pecan No-Bake Protein Bars

Maple Pecan No-Bake Protein Bars. Simple, and good.  Even if you’re a non-cook and just have 15 minutes, then you tackle and make this recipe.  All of the ingredients go in one bowl, and then pressed into a square dish or pan for cutting… Yes, done in 15 minutes! I’m on the go a lot and protein bars are sometimes a staple – a bridge to a meal.  Protein bars can help you control your appetite and is a convenient way to get some extra protein in your diet. What’s important is not overindulging in bars and looking for bars that are lower in sugar.  Servings: 8

Here’s what you need:

• 1½ cups whey protein, vanilla
• ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp natural peanut butter (or almond butter, or nut or seed butter of choice)
• 3 Tbsp pecans, toasted and chopped (or sub for walnuts or almonds)
• 1 cup quick oats
• 3 Tbsp sugar-free maple syrup (I used Nature’s Hollow Sugar-Free Maple) can use real maple syrup (nutrition will change)
• 3 tsp maple extract *
• 1-2 Tbsp unsweetened almond milk (or milk of choice)

Mixing Instructions:

1. In a large bowl, mix together the protein powder, oats and pecans.
2. Once dry ingredients are combined, add in the peanut butter, sugar-free maple syrup, maple extract and milk
3. Mixture will be a thick dough. If you can’t stir with a wooden spoon, use your hands
4. Press dough into an 8×8 pan (un-greased is fine)
5. Cut into 8 bars. Wrap each bar in plastic wrap or bag, and store in the freezer for grab-n-go.

Notes * maple extract can be found in the baking aisle of any grocery store Nutritional Analysis: 1 bar Calories: 250 Fat: 12 g Carbs: 16 g Sugar: 4 g Sodium: 99 mg Fiber: 2 g Protein: 20 g Source: BusyButHealthy.com