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Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 ApronsYesterday, the sweetest and most talented group of food blogger friends came together to create recipes for my virtual baby shower! I was totally surprised and touched by the sentiment and amazing recipes they created, and Leo and I feel so lucky and loved. Though Leo is confusing feeling loved right now with feeling an intense urge to knee me in the hip, so.. we still have a lot to teach the little man. Please check out their recipes and pay these fabulous bloggers a visit!

Speaking of pregnancy–because when am I ever not?–I dreamed up these granola bars when I was trying to come up with some preggo-friendly snacks when I went to the beach with my family and knew I’d otherwise rely on Cheez-its to see me through.. which.. I mean..

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 ApronsNo! No, no. Must. Eat. Healthy. Ish.

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 ApronsAnyway, I knew I needed something easy to grab that was full of protein and bonus! Full of dates. If you’re not preggers, then you can just.. skip right over the explanation that’s about to slap you right in the face. But if you are preggers, then listen up, sister! There’s a pretty infamous study (among the bump groups and all, of course) out there that shows that women who ate several dates late in pregnancy had easier, quicker births, and I’m all about those. Besides, even if the dates do nothing, they’re still damn delicious and an excellent natural sweetener, so you’ve got nada to lose.

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 Aprons

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 Aprons
Sometimes your stack of granola bars falls over. But that’s OK. You really don’t have to cry about it. Like.. please stop crying about it.

My hefty date consumption aside, these are so simple to make and were a huge hit with the family, too. They’re naturally sweetened, which says, “hey, man, I care”, but that addition of chocolate chips is all like, “but I still like to live a little, brah”. You know what I mean?

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 Aprons

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 ApronsI don’t. I have no idea what I mean. It’s late and I’m a million weeks pregnant and O is mad at me for telling him my water broke when he was at his draft night. But it was so impossible to resist, I mean amiright?

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 ApronsMake these. They’re delicious and easy and healthy and versatile and make your labor like super short and easy and please do not hold me to that, like at all, like one iota.

Peanut butter chocolate chip protein granola bars - so easy, quick, and perfect for pregnancy (and everyone else, too, of course!) // 40 Aprons
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
5 from 1 vote

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Granola Bars (Vegan, GF)

Prep 10 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 15 minutes
Perfectly sweet, nutty, and chocolatey, these homemade granola bars come together in a snap, provide loads of protein, and are perfect for pregnancy!
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10 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup packed dates , pitted
  • ¼ cup honey or maple syrup or agave for vegan option)
  • ¼ cup creamy natural peanut butter or almond butter
  • 1 cup roasted unsalted almonds , loosely chopped
  • 1 ½ cups rolled oats (gluten free for GF eaters)
  • ½ cup + 2 tablespoons + 2 tablespoons grass-fed collagen
  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Optional: toast your oats in a 350º oven for about 15 minutes, or until slightly golden brown.
  • Process dates in a food processor until only small bits remain (about 1 minute). The dates should form a "dough"-like consistency.
  • Place oats, almonds and dates in a bowl - set aside.
  • In a small saucepan over low heat, warm maple syrup and peanut butter. Stir until smooth, then add gelatin powder and stir. Pour over oat mixture and then mix, breaking up the dates to disperse throughout. Make sure the dates are really thoroughly mixed, otherwise you might have trouble with the bars staying together!
  • Stir in mini chocolate chips, then transfer to an 8x8 dish or other small pan lined with plastic wrap or parchment paper so you can lift the bars out easily. Press the mixture down until uniformly flattened. Cover with parchment or plastic wrap, and let set in fridge or freezer for 15-20 minutes to harden.
  • Remove bars from pan and chop into 10 even bars. Store in an airtight container for up to a few days, or in the freezer for even longer!
*The gelatin is optional but is what gives these bars their extra protein oomph. Vegan protein powders might work, but I love collagen hydrolysate because it never changes the texture or taste of a recipe--in addition to its other amazing nutritional qualities.
Based on a recipe from the Minimalist Baker.

Approximate Information for One Serving

Serving Size: 10gCalories: 306calProtein: 20gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 50mgPotassium: 306mgTotal Carbs: 32gFiber: 5gSugar: 18gNet Carbs: 27gVitamin A: 10IUCalcium: 85mgIron: 1mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.

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Cheryl Malik

In addition to being a certified health coach, certified yoga instructor, and mom of 3, Cheryl is also the recipe developer, editor-in-chief, food photographer, and passionate foodie behind 40 Aprons. Having spent the last 10+ years as a food blogger, she's become known for her flavorful recipes, detailed instructions, gorgeous photography, and down-to-earth approach to food and cooking in general.

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4 Comments

  3. MMMMMMMmmmmm. These looks so good! And, you are hilarious. I hope you didn’t cry about your granola bars falling, but if you did, I totally get it. Don’t worry. You won’t be pregnant much longer. Although, I can’t promise there won’t be crying after… 🙂

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  4. Awh, this is the sweetest – you and the granola bars! Thank you for the link love my dear. These bars – absolutely delicious use of dates and PB. Who doesn’t like PB? And the dates? They are an incredible natural sweetener and I love them! I can’t wait to give these a go my dear! Big hug to you and this exciting time in your life! xx

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