No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Bars {gluten-free}

I was never a big fan of power bars growing up. There was something about the texture that totally threw me off. They were chewy, brown and floppy. Plus, they just tasted strange. Not appetizing at all. I was more of a Quaker’s Chewy Granola bar kind of girl. Oats were my thing.

But something changed when I went to college. There was this raw bar craze sweeping across campus, and everyone seemed to be munching on Larabars. I’d never heard of them, but apparently they were good for you. Loaded with nutrients, protein and fiber, great for pre- and post-workout snacks. The flavor names were intriguing – like cashew cookie, blueberry muffin, peanut butter & jelly, and apple pie – so I figured I’d give them a shot.

At first, it was just like a healthier version of a Power Bar, but the more I tried them, the more I came to love them. The gooey texture, nutty flavor and mild hint of sweetness, was sensational. I could eat one every single day. And for a while, I actually did.

But those kinds of bars are expensive. And if you’ve developed an almost daily addiction, it can set you back quite a bit. Especially since I’ve moved to one of the most expensive places on earth (hello NYC!), I’m trying to keep my food costs down. So why not start with something I was familiar with. And with ingredients I can actually pronounce.

So Larabars was it. I combined many of my all-time favorite ingredients (minus chocolate, we’ll save that for next time) and whipped it into a healthy, superfood packed energy bar that will give you the little boost you need to power through your morning or afternoon workout. Enjoy!

Other Bar Recipes:

• Granola-Style Energy Bars
• Vanilla & Toasted Coconut Bars
• Chocolate Chip Oat Bars

No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Bars

Makes 12 bars

Ingredients:

• 7 – 8 Medjool dates, pitted
• 1/2 cup raw almonds
• 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1/2 cup unsalted smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 cup raw honey
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder

Instructions:

1. Add the dates to the bowl of a food processor fit with the steel blade and process until chopped. Add the nuts, quinoa and seeds and process until a meal has formed. Add the protein powder and process a few times until combined. Add the peanut butter and honey and process until a thick dough forms.
2. Transfer the dough to a parchment lined baking pan. I used a loaf pan for skinny, thick loaves, but you can also use a square baking dish for bars that thinner. Place the bars in the freezer until set, about 1 – 2 hours. Remove from the freezer and slice into bars. Store in freezer until you’re ready to eat them.

 Alyssa is the quinoa-obsessed girl behind the gluten-free website, Queen of Quinoa. She loves experimenting with nutritious and whole-food ingredients, and hopes to show the everyday home chef that cooking and eating gluten-free can not only be healthy, but also delicious and fun. Alyssa is also the author behind the popular ebook, Baking with Quinoa, which features scrumptious gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free treats.

Read all of Alyssa’s posts here.