1cupcreamy peanut butter or almond butterplus 2 tablespoons
10medjool datespitted (about 1 cup)
1 1/2cupsold fashioned rolled oats
2tablespoonschia seeds or flaxseed meal
1/2cupvanilla protein powdervegan if desired (I tested the recipe with Bob's Red Mill Nutritional Booster, which is unfortunately no longer available)
1/4teaspoonkosher salt
2 to 4tablespoonsalmond milk
1/3cupmini chocolate chips
Instructions
Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang on two sides like handles.
To the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, add the peanut butter, dates, and rolled oats. Pulse several times until the mixture breaks down, and the ingredients begin to incorporate with one another.
Scrape down the bowl then add the chia seeds, protein powder, salt, and 2 tablespoons of milk. Pulse until all ingredients are well combined. Depending on your food processor, this may take a few minutes.
Check the consistency of your dough. When you pick up a small handful of it and squeeze, it should hold together and resemble cookie dough. If it is too dry, continue pulsing in milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until you reach the right consistency. Transfer the mixture to a mixing bowl. Add the chocolate chips and, with a spatula (or your fingers), stir to combine the chips and moisten any bits of dough that the food processor didn't incorporate evenly.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan and press it into an even, flat layer. Transfer the pan to the freezer for 15 minutes or to the refrigerator for 1 hour, until the bars firm up.
Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment handles and transfer them to a cutting board. Slice into bars of the desired size (I made 12) and enjoy.
Notes
TO STORE: Store the bars in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Due to their “no bake” consistency, the bars will become soft at room temperature.
TO FREEZE: Place the bars in an airtight, freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months.