Nut-Free Protein Bars
These Nut-Free Protein Bars are a healthy granola bar alternative for kids (and adults)! With no added sugar or nuts, they're great for school lunchboxes!
Ingredients
- 1 cup dates, pitted
- Hot water, (to cover and soften dates)
- ½ cup raw pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup sunflower butter
- ½ cup dried cherries, unsweetened
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Cover dates with hot water and let soak for about 5 minutes, until soft. Drain the water.
- While dates are soaking, grind pumpkin seeds into a powder in a food processor. The pumpkin seeds don't have to be completely ground, some chunks are okay.
- Add sunflower butter, dates, dried cherries, and lemon juice to the processor and process until a ball forms.
- Transfer mixture to an 8x8 baking dish or freezer-safe glass container lined with parchment paper and push the mixture down with your fingers so it spreads evenly throughout the dish.
- Transfer dish to the freezer for about 10 minutes, then remove and cut into bars. Enjoy!
Notes
You can replace the dried cherries with another dried fruit of choice such as blueberries, apricots, or apples. Be sure to check the ingredient label though to make sure there is no added sugar in the dried fruit.
Store leftovers in an airtight container on the counter for about 5 days or in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. When storing, place parchment paper between bars so that they don't stick together.
Calories: 128kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 7g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g, Trans Fat: 0.002g, Sodium: 2mg, Potassium: 110mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 187IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 24mg, Iron: 1mg
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