Bach’s Bites: Pimpin’ Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Bars
July 7, 2016
This is my recipe for home-made peanut butter and jelly protein bars to grow your biceps, not your belly. I’m pimpin’ these bitches big-time! I know, I know. The term pimpin’ has many connotations. So sorry to disappoint you. This post is much more about badass, high protein peanut butter and jelly bars than pimpin’ and prostitution.
In fact, I did some heavy, scientific research that lasted over a minute. This consisted of consulting with my friends at Urban Dictionary. Per the experts in urban speak, “pimpin” describes something that’s cool, in style, or amazes the speaker so much they can’t think of anything else to say.
These protein bars are so bomb I didn’t know what else to say. So pimpin’ it is.
A Diet is More Than Counting Carbs, Fat and Protein
All successful diets require nutrient-dense foods high in protein. And never let the perfect be the enemy of the good. A “good” diet that you’ll stick to trumps the supposedly perfect nutrition plan that leaves you knawing your fingers. You’ll end up caving into a massive cheat day after a week.
My peanut butter and protein bars are a “healthy” cheat option to keep you on track if you’re dieting to lose fat and look great naked. Enjoy them without the guilt of blowing your diet.
At 35 grams of protein each, they’ll fill you up and help you hold onto lean muscle.
That said, they are high in calorie. Make sure your overall fat-protein-carb balance stays more or less in line.
Building Muscle
One or two of these bad-boys provides a high-fiber, high-protein treat to give you more energy and high-quality calories to build muscle. I like them after dinner if I’m still hungry and haven’t gone crazy during the day, and they’ll fit perfectly with my free Muscle Made Easy eBook.
This is a bomb-ass recipe that combines high-quality ingredients like steel cut oats, whey protein, coconut flakes, and peanut butter. You’ll get a nutritional power bomb, cross-pollinated with a taste of childhood for sweet, sweet gains.
Enough foreplay, let’s get to the recipe.
Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Bars Basic Ingredients
1 Cup Steel Cut (prepared) or old-fashioned oats.
4 tbsp of peanut butter. (This is a rough estimate. I used heaped 3-4 giant spoonfuls and sampled the recipe until it tasted good.)
1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes. Awesome texture.
3 packets stevia. Sugar works here too, but I didn’t have any. So, boohoo.
5 Scoops vanilla whey protein powder.
1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk.
2 tbsp coconut flour
4 tbsp flax seeds
Topping
3 Tablespoons Grape Jelly. Why not? Go sugar-free or w/o jelly if you’re carb conscious.
Optional Extras
1-2 squares of dark chocolate
⅛ cup crushed nuts
⅛ cup dried fruit like raisins or cherries.
Directions
1. In a bowl, roughly mix all ingredients together.
2. Sample, a lot. Need more sweetness? Add sugar or an alternative.
3. Scoop your goop into a non-stick baking pan. Then smooth the ingredients.
4. Bake at 160 C (320 F) for about 30-40 minutes. Poke it with a fork. If the fork comes out clean, it’s time to munch.
5. Add optional toppings, if desired.
6. Cut into four large bars, almost like a pizza of PB and J goodness.
7. Salivate. Let those little nuggets cool, and enjoy.
Macros Per Bar
Don’t eat all four bars at once! Just kidding. Do what you want, but you’ll probably end up in a food coma.
What follows is the breakdown for each of the four bars, and excludes the optional extra ingredients.
Calories: 413
Carbs: 31 grams (7 of which is fiber)
Protein: 39 g
Fat: 15.5 g
That’s it! Enjoy the gains and a throwback treat with peanut butter and jelly protein bars.
