Chocolate Almond Protein Slice

Chocolate Almond Protein slice

Serves: 16 

Ingredients:

o   1 cup natural/untoasted almonds

o   1/3 cup shredded coconut

o   1/2 cup Protein powder (chocolate/ vanilla/ neutral flavour/ any other flavour well suited)

o   2 tbsp of Cacao or Cocoa Powder
*if using neutral flavour protein powder, you will need 3-4 tablespoons

o   12 dried and pitted dates OR 6 medjool dates

o   1/2 cup nut butter (Peanut butter/ almond butter/ cashew butter)

o   1/4 cup sweetener/syrup of choice (rice malt syrup/ maple syrup/ honey)

Method:

1.   Soak the dried pitted dates in a bowl of boiling water for 15-30 minutes until soft. Complete steps 2-4 while you wait.

2.   Prepare a baking tin lined with baking paper

3.   Add almonds into a food processor or good blender and process until roughly chopped (ground with few chunkier bits in there for texture)

4.   Add in shredded coconut, protein powder, cacao/cocoa and process for 10-15 seconds until combined (not blended)

5.   Spoon in nut butter, sweetener/syrup & and add in dates. Process on low/medium speed until all ingredients are well-combined and you reach a sticky consistency.

6.   Press into the tin and refrigerate for 20 mins to slightly harden. Slice into bars.

TIPS/INFO:

-      Re-use and cut up the baking paper from the tray into little squares so you can stack the slice/bars on top of each other - Less waste

-      Dried pitted dates are cheaper + can keep ingredients in the pantry for another batch

-      Will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 1-2 months in the freezer (leave at room temp to soften slightly before serving). Perfect for lunchboxes/ afternoon sweet treat.

-      This high protein snack is well balanced with healthy fats (almonds/nut butter), carbohydrates (dates/sweetener) and protein (protein powder/almonds) and fibre (dates, coconut, almonds) to keep you fuller for longer.

Recipe adapted from Tropeaka