Ingredients
For the crunchy base
- 1½ cups rolled oats
- ½ cup crispy rice cereal
- ½ cup roasted peanuts, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder (about 30 g)
For the chocolate topping
- 150 g dark or semi-sweet chocolate
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
- 2 tbsp chopped peanuts or crispy cereal
Method
- Prepare the pan: Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Mix the dry ingredients: Combine oats, crispy rice cereal, peanuts, cocoa powder, protein powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- Make the binder: Add peanut butter, honey, and milk to a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring until smooth. Don’t boil.
- Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.
- Combine: Pour the warm peanut-butter mixture over the dry ingredients. Mix thoroughly until everything is coated.
- Press firmly: Transfer to the lined pan and press down very firmly using the back of a spoon or another sheet of parchment. This helps the bars hold together.
- Make the topping: Melt chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut oil together over low heat or in short microwave intervals, stirring until completely smooth.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the base and spread evenly. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts or crispy cereal.
- Chill: Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until completely firm.
- Lift out using the parchment paper and cut into 12 bars with a sharp knife.
💪 Approximate nutrition
Per bar, if divided into 12:
- Calories: ~250–270
- Protein: ~10–12 g
- Carbohydrates: ~25–28 g
- Fat: ~13–15 g
For even more protein: use a protein-fortified crispy cereal, add another ½ scoop of protein powder, and replace some of the chocolate topping with a mixture of Greek yogurt + chocolate protein powder + cocoa.
