Description
Rich chocolate bars filled with light, crunchy protein crumbles, toasted pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, and optional strawberries and coconut. Easily customize the mix-ins for more protein, fewer carbs, or different flavors and textures.
Yield: 9 bars
Prep Time: 15 minutes if nuts and seeds are toasted, about 40 minutes if not | Chill Time: 2-3 hours
Equipment required: a stovetop or microwave to melt chocolate, and a 7-inch (18cm) square cake pan or 9x5-inch (23x13cm) loaf pan
Storage: refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. Note that the bars will melt at room temperature.
Lower-Carb: use SunButter and omit the freeze-dried strawberries and coconut.
Higher-Protein: increase the protein powder to ⅓ cup (37g), reduce the allulose to ¼ cup (48g), replace the hazelnuts with an additional ¼ cup (40g) pumpkin seeds, and add 2 Tbsp (20g) hemp hearts.
Ingredients
Instructions
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If the nuts, seeds, and coconut are not yet toasted, the pumpkin seeds and hazelnuts can be toasted in a rimmed baking sheet at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes. The coconut can be toasted at the same temperature for about 2 minutes. You can add it to the same rimmed baking sheet at about the 5-minute mark. Monitor carefully to prevent burning.
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In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the melted chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut oil.
You can break or chop the chocolate into pieces and melt it in the microwave in 30-second pulses, mixing between, or in a double-boiler on the stovetop. -
Mix the allulose, protein powder, and salt into the chocolate mixture.
I suspect that erythritol might not work in this recipe. See notes for more details. If you'd like to use plain protein powder, increase the sweetener and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract. -
Add and mix in the TVP, pumpkin seeds, hazelnuts, and strawberries.
If preferred, some or all of the berry pieces can be used to decorate the top of the bars instead. -
Line an 7-inch (18cm) square pan with parchment paper. Let the parchment overhanging 2 sides for easy removal of the bars.If you don't have a 7-inch (18cm) pan, opt for a smaller one or use a 9 x 5-inch (23 x 13 cm) loaf pan. I like to use a loose-bottom pan for all cakes and bars. See the Used to Make This Recipe section below for the one I use.
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Transfer the bar mixture to the pan and spread into an even layer.
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Top with the coconut.
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Put in the fridge to chill until solid, about 2-3 hours.
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Cut into 9 bars and enjoy cold.
Bars will quickly melt and become soft once no longer cold.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 9
Serving Size 1 bar (45g)
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 230kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 18g28%
- Total Carbohydrate 15g5%
- Dietary Fiber 4g16%
- Protein 10g20%
- Allulose 7g
- Net Carbs 4g
* Total Carbs - (Fiber + Allulose + Sugar Alcohols) = Net Carbs
Notes
- I have not made this with any other sweeteners but expect it would work fine with pure stevia or monk fruit, though the bitterness of the chocolate may be more evident. Because erythritol has a cooling effect, I wonder if it might cause the chocolate to seize and make mixing in other ingredients difficult. I have had this experience with other recipes. If you try the recipe with erythritol, please let us know how it goes.
- Pea-based TVP crumbles are lighter and airier than soy-based TVP crumbles, which tend to be quite dense. If soy-based crumbles were used, I think this could be hard on the teeth. It would also reduce the protein and increase the carbs in the recipe slightly. Another option here could be a keto cereal like Catalina Crunch. Note that depending on the cereal, this would likely change the macros significantly.
