Keeping a steady household supply stocked isnt really an option… or is it?
Enter do-it-yourself protein bars.
you could pretty much DIY everything with a little effort.
I rounded up some simple, low-cost and minimal-effort recipes.
Look, I like to cook, but I also can barely get off the couch some days.
Feel free to experiment and add a little something extra if thats what your inner Martha Stewart desires.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Once theyre well-blended, remove the pot from the heat.
Then, add the brown rice cereal and protein powder to the pot, and stir everything together.
Finally, add the chilled chocolate chips, and mix well.
Pour the mixture into an 8-by-8-inch dish lined with parchment paper.
Refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours), or freeze for 1 to 2 hours.
Find which option delights your palette!
Strawberry Protein Bars
Theremightbe a theme with sweet and chocolate here.
The heart wants what the heart wants.
These strawberry protein bars from2014 and Beyondare sure to hit the spot.
Combine all ingredients except the dark chocolate, and mix with a handheld blender or food processor.
Shape the dough into rectangular bars.
Next, melt the dark chocolate in a bowl.
Then, dip the bars into the chocolate.
Put the dipped bars on the lined tray/sheet and place it in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours.
Less chocolate, more peanut butter what could go wrong?
Total cost: $4.96
Price per bar: 41 cents
Grease an 8-by-8-inch pan.
Combine the cereal, dried berries and peanuts in a large bowl.
Then, blend together the honey and peanut butter for about 1 minute in a saucepan over medium heat.
Next, combine the peanut butter honey mixture with the cereal bowl ingredients, tossing and coating everything together.
Once its well-blended, pour it into the greased pan.
Press the mixture down firmly to the sides and corners, ensuring it sticks together.
Cover and place in the refrigerator to chill for at least 3 hours.
Once its ready, cut into 12 bars.
Note: If your bars dont stick, consider adding more honey or peanut butter.
Its also essential to not overcook the honey-and-peanut butter mixture.
The ingredients wont stick together if the mixture gets too thin.
No-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Bars
Note: This recipe calls for a food processor.
Stay powered up with these no-bake mint chocolate protein bars fromThe Healthy Maven.
Total cost: $7.81
Price per bar: 65 cents
I made this recipe at home.
Trust me if you dont succeed at first, retry.
The first round wasnt so great, but I learned what to change for the second go.
I tweaked some instructions from the original recipe.
First, put the dates in the food processor and process them into a mushy dateball.
Then, add in the nuts until both are ground up.
If theyre not rolling together, just add more almond milk 1 teaspoon at a time.
Line a 9-by-9-inch baking dish with plastic wrap, and then add the mixture to it.
(Plastic wrap and I dont get along so well, so I skipped that part.)
With or without plastic wrap, spread out the ball in the dish until the top is flat.
Put the mixture in the freezer for a minimum of 15 minutes.
Take it out of the freezer, and pull the plastic wrap out of the dish.
Cut into 12 bars (I used a pizza cutter) and enjoy.
I cut mine into smaller squares so they were more bite size.
They keep best in the refrigerator but can also be frozen.
Use any combination of nuts based on your tastes and budget.
Same goes for milk and protein powder.
Dates are expensive, so substituting figs, prunes or dried fruit can make this concoction even more affordable.
Theres generally a way to make it work to fit your taste.
If youre allergic to peanuts, you’re able to use a peanut-free butter like sunbutter.
Swap raisins for craisins, or use agave nectar instead of honey.
Sprinkle in some white chocolate chips instead, or add pumpkin or chia seeds if you think itll work.
Keep in mind cooking fails are part of the process and make you a better chef!
it’s possible for you to make multiple recipes with one batch of ingredients.
That initial investment will save you yield after yield of yummy.
Stephanie Bolling is a staff writer at The Penny Hoarder.
The fastest way to her heart is through her stomach.
It sounds appealing right?
Check it out here!
