Chocolate Protein Bars

Great

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

Blitz the oats briefly in a food processor to break them up, leaving some roughness - you don't want a powder here.

Step 2

Add oats and protein powder to a mixing bowl and combine. Mix choc spread and nut butter in another bowl, then add to the dry ingredients. Use the tips of your fingers to rub the butter into the dry ingredients, until you get a breadcrumb-like mixture.

Step 3

Add milk, one tablespoon at a time, while stirring, until the dry ingredients have been pulled together into clumps, but the mixture isn't sticky. We usually end up using 5-6 tablespoons. Turn the mixture into a lined 8x8 tin, or two lined 2lb loaf tins and press down until flat and even (using the base of another tin works well here). Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of boiling water. Chop the hazelnuts finely and add to the melted chocolate, then pour over the base and spread evenly. Refrigerate until set. Cut into 10 bars and store in your favourite box. Enjoy! Notes: The key with these bars is the consistency, which will vary based on the protein powder you use. Use the milk as a binder, adding it bit-by-bit to pull it together much like you would with water when making pastry. If you need to add a bit more milk than the recipe says in order to pull the dry ingredients together, go for it. Any chocolate will do for the topping, as long as it melts well.