This is a great school holiday slice for you to whip up for, or with the kids. It’s super simple, no-bake and chocolatey good! A great treat to keep on hand for sweet loving teens (or little kids).
Health benefits
Oats are a nourishing, high fibre, nerve supporting food. The nuts, seeds and coconut provide good fats, protein and energy (of the slow release kind). The cinnamon further stabilises blood sugars and the cacao is antioxidant. If you choose the gluten and grain-free version, the protein content increases.
Take a look at the variations (below the main recipe) for suggestions to alter the recipe to suit your specific dietary requirements.
Protein Power Bars
Serves: 12
These Protein Power Bars as really simple to make and a healthy, delicious snack to keep in the freezer for hungry kids (or adults). They are really sustaining and sure to become a favourite treat.
Ingredients
- 150 g butter or coconut oil -melted
- 170 g rice malt syrup or honey (½ cup)
- 30 g cacao (¼ cup) unsweetened Dutch process or raw
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 130 g rolled oats (1½ cups approx.) or rolled quinoa (or half oats, half rolled quinoa - see below for gluten and grain-free)
- 230 g raw nuts and/or seeds (1½ cups approx.) I used walnuts, hazelnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds
- 1 tbsp chia or flax seeds -preferably ground
- 100 g desiccated coconut (1 cup)
Method
- In a small pot, combine the butter or coconut oil, sweetener, cacao and cinnamon over a low heat, stirring until combined (a few minutes).
- For a tastier slice, toast the oats, nuts, seeds and coconut in a large pan over a low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring often (the coconut will colour). Or if you’d prefer, simply combine the dried ingredients raw.
- Allow to cool a little (if you’ve chosen to toast) and then pulse (quickly) in your food processor a couple of times to chop the nuts a little.
- Add the wet ingredients and mix together until well combined.
- Use a big wet serving spoon to press firmly into a small slice tin lined with baking paper.
- Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set.
- Once set, remove from the tin and cut into squares.
Thermomix Method
- Melt your butter or coconut oil, 1 minute, speed 4, temp. 90. Add the sweetener, cacao and cinnamon and mix 1 minute, speed 4, temp. 90.
- Add the dried mix, mix 10 seconds, speed 4. Then process by using the turbo button to pulse a couple of times until the nuts are roughly chopped (to your preferred consistency).
- Follow from step 5 above.
Store
- Store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. They will fall apart if not kept cool (especially the coconut oil version) so serve or pack from frozen and keep in a container with an icepack if storing out of the fridge.
Variations
Dairy-free
Use coconut oil instead of butter.Gluten and grain-free
Replace the oats with rolled quinoa and/ or millet.Low-fructose
Choose the rice malt syrup instead of honey.Vegan
Choose rice malt or maple syrup as your sweetener. Use coconut oil instead of butter.Nut-free
Use only seeds. For 150 pages of nut-free recipes, take a look at my super popular ebook 'The Well Nourished Lunchbox'. Click HERE to find out more and read the rave reviews.Coconut-free
Replace the desiccated coconut with the same quantity or nut meal.Cacao-free
Replace the cacao with carob powder.I'd love to hear how you like this delicious bar. Post a comment or rate this recipe.
Heather says
Yum! Made it just now and quite a bit didn’t ever make it to the freezer! Thanks for another great recipe, Georgia.
Georgia Harding says
You’re very welcome Heather – thanks for taking the time to write me feedback. Really please you enjoyed them G x
Lisette says
Sounds yum. Could you bake this to make it more lunch box friendly in hot weather?
Georgia Harding says
No it’s designed as a ‘no bake’ Lisette – for a baked slice this recipe is better recipe https://wellnourished.com.au/healthy-chocolate-coconut-slice/
Katie says
Oh dear these are a bit TOO good Georgia! Having them in the freezer is no help at all either!! They taste better from the freezer. I even tried cutting them into smaller squares with the thought that should I be tempted to go back to the freezer again, it was ok to have a second little square (and a third, and a fourth…who am I kidding?) I love them! They are a big hit with my teens and my 10 yr old too. It’s great to have something healthy (but sweet!) they can grab when they come home from school.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much for your feedback Katie – maybe I should have posted a warning with these -lol! Glad the kids like them too G x
Leah says
I just made this and like all your recipes, it’s delicious!
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your site. We cook at least one of your recipes each week. Thank you so much.
Leah
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Leah, so pleased to be able to inspire G x
Di says
OMG these are sooooo good. My 4 year old is begging for more and I’m saying no while sneaking yet another piece into my mouth behind his back lol.
Georgia Harding says
Hilarious Di, I’ve been guilty of this before too. Thanks for your feedback G x
Rita says
Thanks so much for another great recipe Georgia! Made a nut free version for the kids lunch box today and both have given it a massive thumbs up. It sort of reminds me of a hedgehog, what grandma normally makes with Marie biscuits and condensed milk (which my kids love as well) – but yours is a thousand times more nourishing!
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Rita for your feedback. Yep, know what you mean re the hedgehog. Glad the kids liked them G x
Bec says
Georgia I just want to say a heartfelt thank you. You and your recipes are truly inspiring and oh so delicious. I have cooked everything on here and my family and I have loved every bite. Your website is the first I turn to before I cook as I know each recipe is easy to follow, has whole ingredients but most importantly tastes delicious. I have purchased your e-book (and am making my way though that too) but thought I really should write to say thank you xxx
Bec
Georgia Harding says
Oh thanks so much Bec. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your feedback – it means a lot to me to know that my recipes are enjoyed by others (and not just my family). Thanks also for supporting my work by purchasing my ebook G x
Nicole says
I second this comment word for word. Love all your food and substitutes. Ebook is great, I just want more. Thank you G, you are amazing.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much Nicole, new ebook is not to far away and I’m so excited to share it G x
Lauren McMartin says
These are amazing. Only found your website last night. Very excited to try some more recipes.
Georgia Harding says
Glad you’ve found my site too Lauren. Enjoy and thanks for your comment G x
Joe says
These are great. Started making then on the weekend and have already made 3 lots of it.
Georgia Harding says
That’s great Joe, so glad they are a hit G x
Yarrow says
These are fantastic for the afternoon slump and a regular favourite at our house! Great for this breastfeeding mama too. I just wanted to share that this time when I made them I reduced the honey to 1/2 a cup and they still held together. I find they can be a bit too sweet, and I’m a sweet tooth!
Thank you again for your amazing recipes. I have broth bubbling on the stove and trying your chicken and bacon meatloaf for dinner…..yummy yum yum…. You have enriched and nourished my whole family through your simple, delicious, wholistic approach to food. Bless
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much Yarrow – yes I only cook with rice malt syrup which is a lot less sweet. I generally note that honey is a lot sweeter but seem to have missed it on this one (i’ll correct that now).
So pleased you are enjoying my recipes though, thanks so much for taking the time to comment. G x
Mahité says
Hi Georgia — I was wondering, do you think I could reduce the amount of rice syrup and add, maybe, some nut or seed butter to help it still stick together? I love sweets and love to offer them to my boys, but I try to keep is as low as possible (I usually cut half the sweetener in everything I bake. Just wondering. Thanks!!! Love your recipes, as always – as a funny note, let me say, though, that for seasonal timing, your posts (when they refer to season) always come 6 months late or early to us in Canada !!! We get the winter recipes in summer and gorgeous salad in winter ! 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Hi Mahite – yes definitely. I think they would be fine just reducing it, just taste the batter and adjust. I know the seasonal thing is a bugger. I’m not very savvy at this website thing, but my overseas following is growing rapidly so I might have to look at scheduling posts to suit your season more. Leave it with me, on my to-do list G x
Kath says
These are brilliant…perfect for some extra energy for my son for his after school sporting activities. I reduced the rice malt syrup to 150g – they still held together & sliced really well once cold & tasted great (my kids & I are used to reduced sugar though). I also used sunflower seeds & pepitas plus the ground flaxseeds so they were nut free for school. My 7 & 4 year olds both love them! I popped some straight into a ziplock bag and into the freezer – perfect! Thanks for a fantastic recipe 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Yay, glad you all like them and thanks for sharing your variations Kath, it’s a pretty versatile recipe this one G x
Rachel says
Even hubby liked these! WIN!! Quick and easy. 🙂 Keep up the inspirational work!
Georgia Harding says
Second to winning over kids is winning over husbands! Thanks Rachel, G x
Alexandra Lambert says
Hi ! We have lots of unflavoured whey protein powder to use… Do you think it would be appropriate to add some to these bars ? By the way, I just discovered your site yesterday and have already tried so many recipes, I love them all! (I also have a batch of the coconut slice in the oven right now 🙂 … yay!)
Georgia Harding says
You certainly could (I think I recall someone saying that they had), just play with the consistency (you may need a little more liquid). Glad you are enjoying my site G x
Brigitte says
I made these last weekend as my daughter wanted something “special” from the cupboard. These are the ones she chose when we went through your recipes. Of course your site is one of my all time favourite places to look for something to bake/make. She loves them, even if there’s an “in-and-out” questionable thing going on there, she still goes back to them and they’ve been going in her lunchbox all week. She’s also been choosing them as a snack after dinner which is lovely. I’ve also been choosing them as my go to snack and feel so good for it! Very tasty!!! I might even try adding some dates/ raisins in next time. And seeing as she’s quite fussy about texture, I really blended the nuts and because she helped, I let her stick her head over as they were roasting so she could get that lingering yummy smell and know where that “taste” was coming from once she started eating them. 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Ahh beautiful, such a great idea to develop her senses with having her smell the seeds as they toast – awesome tip, thanks for sharing G x
Kelly says
Wow! Made this slice today and it is so delish! This will totally be a regular in our house for years to come! Thank you for such a great recipe!
Georgia Harding says
You’re very welcome Kelly – glad you loved it G x
Kym says
I absolutely love these Georgia. They are on high rotation in my house!
I also make them regularly for friends etc and they love them too! Been making them for ages but never got around to actually posting on here!
I have 2 of your eBooks which I think are fabulous. Have to say that along with these bars, your Nourishing Nachos out of the Lunchbox eBook are my 2 faves. Actually I have many, but these 2 get a run the most!
Thanks for making such delicious and interesting food and sharing all your knowledge with us. I have learnt a great deal already. All the best to you and your family!
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much Kim for your support (and for the comment and rating, it really helps me to reach more people). You’re very welcome. It’s a privilege to be able to share my recipes and knowledge with you. Have a great Christmas G x
Ruth Thompson says
Way tooooo yummy!
Georgia Harding says
Glad you think so Ruth x
Jodi says
These are AMAZING! I used 1 cup of walnuts and 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds and they turned out fantastic and they taste like they are naughty! My son loves these and thanks me over and over again for giving him one so thank you for a great recipe!
Georgia Harding says
Ya – thrilled you both love them Jodi. Always a good feeling when the kids enjoy something so good for them. Thanks for commenting and rating it G x
Paula says
So easy and delicious – will be a regular here. Love them, like all your recipes. 5 stars for sure
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much G x
Pippa says
Yes! Finally, a wholefood muesli bar that my fussy kids will eat. Did the lunchbox friendly version: 60g pumpkin seeds, 60g sunflower seeds and topped up with extra oats – into the freezer for school next week they go! Thanks for all your beautiful recipes Georgia!
Georgia Harding says
Yay – thrilled to be able to help Pippa! Thanks for your feedback and star rating G x
Kate says
Just made these for my 3 and 5 year olds for school/daycare day breakfasts. Soooo yummy! Thanks for a great recipe x
Georgia Harding says
You’re so welcome Kate. Thanks for the review x
Kate Topalovic says
Sooo good for afternoon snack instead of chocolate 🙂
Georgia Harding says
Yes, perfect. So pleased you enjoyed it Kate. G x
Amy says
These are one of our ‘always on hand’ snacks in our house now. So healthy, so delicious and so quick to make in my thermomix. Perfect for kinder mornings when I’m pushed for time and need a healthy breaky on the run.
Fantastic! Thank you Georgia xx
Georgia Harding says
You’re so welcome Amy, thrilled you love them G x
Christine says
Fabulous recipe. Thanks for sharing. It was so tasty, I had a hard time stopping! But no sugar high and then energy level drop after eating it
Georgia Harding says
So glad you enjoyed them Christine G x
Liz says
This looks amazing, thank you.
We don’t eat coconut oil – any idea what I can sub with? Light olive oil? Butter?
Georgia Harding says
Butter is the best option as it needs to solidify when chilled. I use it often in this recipe too G x
Lauren says
My goodness these are absolutely amazing. I’m 30 weeks pregnant and a huge chocolate lover but have obviously been trying to cut right back on processed foods high in refined sugar. These are the perfect snack! The only issue is trying to stop at one bar!
Well Nourished Team says
Hi Lauren, so glad you loved them 😊