Mini-batch Nut Butter Filled Bars

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Prep Time10

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Keyword: easy recipes, gluten-free, low sugar, nut butter, oat bars, oat bites, oatmeal, plant-based, small-batch, stuffed, vegan

Servings: bars

Calories: 216kcal

2 tbsp nut/seed butter (32 g) I used peanut butter
3 tbsp maple syrup (63 g) sub 1/2 mashed banana (60 g) for no-added-sugar version, make sure it's ripe
2 tbsp (plant-based) protein powder (15 g) I used Aloha vanilla protein powder, you can probably use whey/casein or even oat flour as well
2 tbsp cocoa powder (12 g)
pinch of salt
3/4 cup quick oats (60 g) You can process rolled oats until roughly broken down

In a medium bowl stir together nut butter, maple syrup, protein, cocoa powder and salt until smooth. Add oats and stir to combine.
If too wet add a pinch more protein/flour, if too dry and crumbly add a drop of water. The bar dough will thicken as it sits and the oats soak up moisture.
Divide the dough into 4. On a piece of parchment paper, make a rectangle of the bar dough.
Cut the rectangle in two halves and smear your filling on one side (if your nut butter is not spreadable, warm in the microwave first).
Top with the other piece making sure to connect the edges so your filling doesn't leak. It can help to freeze the lower layer and filling a bit to firm them up.
Freeze your bars until set, about 30 min - 1 hour at least.
(Optional) If you prefer baked bars (really not necessary if you ask me), instead of freezing above, bake them at 350F for about 12 minutes. Let your bars cool and enjoy!

If you want to make a chocolate filling from scratch (instead of using like, nutella) microwave together 1 tbsp nut/seed butter and 1 tbsp chocolate chips 30 sec at a time and stir until all chocolate melts and use this as your filling.
I love the bars but if you would like to make a no-added-sugar breakfast item, just sub the maple syrup for 1/4 cup mashed banana which is about 1/2 a large banana. Make sure it's ripe! You can add additional natural sweetness by adding 1/4 tsp or so cinnamon. It's so good.