Happy Meatless Monday everyone! I am really excited to share this recipe with you all today. So please join Tina Muir and I to check out all of the great veggie recipes we are linking up this week. Special shout out to Tina who will be running in the London Marathon this weekend! We are all cheering for you.
You may have heard me mention that I have been participating in the Lorna Jane fit Challenge for the past 3 months. One of the aspects of the program that I love is her Nourish cookbook which has pushed to step out of my comfort zone and try new recipes and foods. I love the focus on clean eating and using minimally processed foods. I saw a recipe in Nourish for protein bars and set out to make them on my own. After realizing I was missing some of the key ingredients, I came up with my own yummy recipe.
I’ve never used butterscotch chips before but let me tell you they bring some serious yum to these bars. The best part, NO ADDED SUGAR at all. I’ve used apple sauce and the chips as the only sweetener. Double bonus these babies are packed with nuts, hemp seeds, oatmeal and protein powder. All of that goodness pretty much cancels out the chips don’t you think?
These could be my favorite bar!
- 1 c Pumpkin seeds
- 1 c almonds
- 1 c oatmeal
- 1/2 c Hemp seeds
- 1 c protein powder of choice (vanilla)
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 c peanut butter
- 3 tbl coconut oil
- 1 tbl vanilla
- 1 c unsweetened apple sauce
- 3 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 c butterscotch chips
- 1/2 c dark choc chips
- Preheat oven to 325
- line a baking dish with parchment paper (11 x 7)
- In a food processor add the following and pulse until smooth:
- pumpkin seeds
- almonds
- oatmeal
- protein powder
- hemp seeds
- coconut oil
- Transfer to mixing bowl and add remaining ingredients
- Stir until combined
- spread into baking dish and bake for 25 m
- Allow to cool and slice
- Enjoy!
Do you ever make your own bars? I think I am hooked!
Kelli says
These sound SO good! I think this is a “meatless” option I can get my husband to like, lol. Those wrappers are cute? Did you just cut waxed paper to fit or can you actually purchase them like that? Thanks for sharing.
Deborah Brooks says
Yes my hubs too-LOL. I cut wax paper to fit the size. They are yummy!
jill conyers says
I haven’t had butterscotch anything in forever. The bars sound delicious.
Deborah Brooks says
They really upped the yum factor!
Mary Beth Jackson says
oh you had me at butterscotch! My uncle used to make us butterscotch pancakes when we were kids! This looks like a great recipe- I really need to try and make my own bars- great idea!
Deborah Brooks says
The butterscotch really upped the yum factor!
Cassandra @ Powered By BLING says
Our family’s favorite cookie is the Oatmeal Scotchie!!! What a great way to make them into a healthier treat.
Deborah Brooks says
They really came out great and the butterscotch was a great addition.
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious says
I make my own bars all the time. These sound delicious with all the seeds in them. Seriously yum!
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club says
Me and HOMEMADE protein bars are friends. I seem to have trouble with the store-bought variety. These looks very good. 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! The butterscotch really did it for me.
Annmarie says
I LOVE butterscotch, these look really good! I am pinning to make for later, YUM!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! I think I am bringing them in our Ragnar van
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
I adore butterscotch. I feel like so often people forget about it, but yummmmmm
Deborah Brooks says
This was my first time cooking with them-I’m in love! 🙂
Sam @ PancakeWarriors says
Oh I love making protein coolkies but I still haven’t made bars! These sound amazing. Love the crunch from the nuts. Thanks for sharing!
Deborah Brooks says
Hope you like them I thought they were a great combo!
Coach Henness says
Yum! I haven’t ever done anything with butterscotch. This would be so fun to try!
Deborah Brooks says
It was my first time-I am sold!
Marcia says
Serious yum indeed! These look amazing. I love bars with pumpkin seeds in them!
Deborah Brooks says
Me too! I experimented with a few diff flavor combos
Sarah says
Oh these sound so good!! I use to love butterscotch everything as a kid!
Deborah Brooks says
This was my first time cooking with them and I’m sold
Meg Bollenback says
Holy yum. I’ve never used butterscotch chips before, either, but man these look fantastic! Love all the whole ingredients in them, too. Thanks for sharing and hope you had a great weekend!
Deborah Brooks says
Me either but I am going to start now!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes says
These are right up my alley!! I need to make them ASAP!!
Deborah Brooks says
Finally one that you like!!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
This look amazing!!!! Pinning!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! They are really good hope you enjoy
Elle says
I do make my own bars and am always trying to come up with something new that doesn’t have oats or other grains. These look good – my husband would love them I think!
Deborah Brooks says
I think my husband might even eat them too!
Kristy @Runaway Bridal Planner says
I’ve only made my own once, and forgot until now that they are a lot of fun to make!
I think this would be a great one for hiking, I’ll save it:) Looks amazing, I might leave out the chocolate though, and just double up on the butterscotch.
Deborah Brooks says
You could certainly do that too! Literally under 10 m and it was in the oven
Stephanie says
YUM! You had me at butterscotch… I would substitute the almonds but I can’t wait to try this recipe with my kids, they love to bake!
Deborah Brooks says
It’s a fun fast one to make with the kids. The butterscotch was great
Courtney @ Eat Pray Run DC says
pinning this. i really want to try making my own bars! these look great!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! They are in the oven in under 10m and super yummy!
Artney @ My Pretty Brown says
Your bars look so good! I seriously cannot wait to try them. Butterscotch…yummo!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks so much hope you enjoy! 🙂
Margo says
YUM! YUM! YUM!! I want to try those out! 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
I hope you do!!
Sharon says
Oh these sound great!! I will have to try! Thanks for the recipe! 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
I hope you like them!
Jess @hellotofit says
Wow, love that this bar is filled with lots of yummy nuts!! I haven’t made my own bars very often, but I’m working on one now..if it turns out okay, it’ll go up this Friday!
Deborah Brooks says
Oooh looking forward to seeing yours as well. I went through a couple versions of mine before I settled on it.
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says
Wow, this sounds delicious! I love the idea of combining butterscotch and oatmeal together.
Deborah Brooks says
thanks! It was a great combo 🙂
Coco (@Got2Run4Me) says
sounds delicious and deadly!
Deborah Brooks says
I think you need them!
Pragati // Simple Medicine says
these sound like the perfect alternative to buying bars. I haven’t ever made my own, but I feel inspired! I might have to give it a try this weekend 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
Oh hope you do give them a try!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
YOu’re killing me with this recipe! I’m printing this one!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! With that running you do you need these 🙂
Betsy says
Those look delicious! I’ll have to try them!
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! Hope you like them
Kim says
Butterscotch are my favorite!!! These bars sound awesome.
Deborah Brooks says
Thanks! I’m loving the butterscotch too
Sandra Laflamme says
I have only tried making my own bars once. This recipe looks too good to pass up! I love the combination of butterscotch and pumpkin seeds!
Deborah Brooks says
It was my first time using butterscotch and I am in love 🙂
Katie @ Huff 'n Puff to Buff 'n Tough says
These sound delish!!! I am always up for trying new protein bars, especially homemade!!!
Deborah Brooks says
Hope you give them a try!
Natalie says
Oh my gosh – YUM!! So easy and looks so tasty!
Will definitely pin and try.
I had my surgery on Thursday and am not moving around too much, so haven’t been cooking!
Can’t join Meatless Monday today, but love it and will be back hopefully next week!! Thanks for hosting. Hope you had a great weekend!! xx
Deborah Brooks says
Speedy recovery! If I lived closer I would come drop some off to you 🙂
MCM Mama Runs says
These sound fabulous as I LOVE butterscotch chips. I’m afraid that if I made them, the whole pan would be eaten way too fast.
Deborah Brooks says
I may bring them along in our Ragnar van
Stephanie (@FitMomTraining) says
You totally had me at butterscotch. Yum!
Deborah Brooks says
Ha it was my first time using them-they are delish!
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs says
Those sound fab! I definitely prefer homemade protein bars over storebought!
Deborah Brooks says
Me too! Hope you give them a try
Patty @ Reach Your Peak says
I have never made my own bars but do want to try because I love granola bars as a pre run snack. I can’t find any “healthy” ones at the store that aren’t full of ingredients/sugar. I love nature valley bars but even those aren’t really the best. Thanks for the recipe!
Deborah Brooks says
That’s exactly the reason why I ended up making my own bars. Hope you give them a try!
GiselleR @ Diary of an ExSloth says
Oh man, these sound epic. I’ve never used butterscotch chips in my own baking but I think I’m gonna have to start!
Deborah Brooks says
They were a gamechanger! I had never used them before either-yummy
lindsey says
These look great! I have been making “granola” bars for a while and this is a good change of recipe! My hubs might even eat them 🙂
Deborah Brooks says
They are so good! Hope you enjoy