No Bake Protein Energy Bars

Flavorful no bake protein energy bars are made with simple ingredients including  dates, dried cranberries, pistachios , orange zest and whey protein. 

Is your breakfast boring? My first breakfast is boring. Yes, I said first; I actually eat breakfast twice a day. I start with  a pre-workout breakfast  and later in the morning I have a  post workout breakfast.  I ‘m not starting the day feasting on  Vegetable Frittata or dining on Dutch pancakes.  Ninety percent of the time, breakfast number one is a commerical bar.. and it’s ho hum. But it works for me.

Shorty after I rise in the morning,  I get physical.  I   need fuel to power through my workout, even though I don’t tolerate much in my stomach right before hand. This month the    Recipe Redux  is challenging us to …

Break Out of Breakfast Boredom

Cooks aren’t always pressed for time in the mornings – they just need new ideas. Think mug cakes, smoothie bowls, breakfast cookies and more. Show us the healthy way you wake up your breakfast – or wake up just for breakfast!

Because a simple bar with protein and energy is the way I prefer to start the  day,  I bring you my custom,  made from scratch, no bake,  protein energy bars…

Light, yet satisfying,   these bars have 180 calories, 8 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and no added sugar. They give me the energy to power through my WOD without making me feel sluggish. Before I share the recipe, let me  share with you why I am passionate about a healthy lifestyle:  it’s helped me shave 25 years off of my fit age. Studies have confirmed that improving your fitness  actually slows down the aging process!   Discover if you’re on the right track,  with this  free downloadable Fitness Quiz for Women over the age of 35. 

Now back to these delicious, energy bars. Here are the six  ingredients you’ll need..It takes about 20 minutes to make from start to finish, but quicker if you use a food processor (I chopped dried fruit by hand cause I’m weird that way.) Once you combine all ingredients, press them into the bottom of a loaf pan, (I used the narrow 30 cm breadmould I scored at TJ Maxx). Let them sit for about 15 minutes and then cut into three pretty bars..

You can enjoy them right away or wrap in waxed paper for later in the week. Be sure to check out the links below for more ways to break out of breakfast boredom!

No Bake Protein Energy Bars

Flavorful no bake protein energy bars are made with simple ingredients including  dates, dried cranberries, pistachios , orange zest and whey protein. 

• Author: Diane Boyd
• Yield: 3 servings 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 2 Medjool dates
• 2 tablespoons pistachios
• 1  teaspoon orange zest (optional)
• 22 grams (about 1/3 cup)  Unflavored Whey Protein
• 1– 2  tablespoons orange juice

Instructions

1. Finely mince dried cranberries and dates by hand or in a food processor. Place in mixing bowl.

2. Add halved pistachios and orange zest.

3. Add whey protein. Stir until evenly incorporated, adding orange juice only as needed to aid mixing.

4. Press mixture into a 8″ x 4″ loaf pan. Let sit 15 minutes. Cut into 3 bars. Individually wrap in waxed paper.