Saturday, August 30, 2008

Peanut Butter Protein Bites: No Bake


WARNING! The following recipe contains an absurd amount of peanut butter. So much so that you are risking your life if you choose to eat these without a liquid beverage in arms length to wash it down. Eat at your own risk.

Okay, with all the liabilities out of the way lets get to it. If you know anything about me, you know that I am very passionate about what I eat, and with that you also know my favorite ingredient is definitely peanut butter. This is also my favorite non-shake recipe made with protein powder as well, which says a lot. It's so tasty in fact, I don't make it that often because the bites disappear too fast. What can I say, when it comes to peanut butter I have no self control.

Peanut Butter Bites: No Bake

Ingredients:

5 Scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder (A little over 1 cup, roughly 100g of protein)
1 TBSP - Agave Nectar
1 tsp - Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp - Cinnamon
1/4 C - Water
1/4 C - Oat Flour
1/2 C - Low Fat Plain Yogurt
1 C - Natural Creamy Peanut Butter
Optional: Ground Flax Seed or Almond Meal


Instructions:

Blend the Agave, Vanilla Extract, Cinnamon, Yogurt and Water until smooth. Put that mixture into a mixing bowl with the peanut butter and add in the protein powder one scoop at a time. The mixture will appear to be extremely dry but keep mixing, you'll get there. Once that is done mix in the oat flour.

Use your hands to form the mixture into little bites (slightly larger diameter than a half dollar). Makes roughly 25 bites depending on size.

NOTE: Don't make them too big or else you'll need to break out a jug of milk. Some might choose to do that anyway.

If you haven't eaten the bites at this point, feel free to sprinkle some flax or almond meal over the bites. Chill the peanut butter bites for a couple hours in the fridge. Now be careful, 4 or 5 of these bites will really fill you up.

Variations

  • Elvis' Balls - The original recipe was dubbed Elvis' Balls by one of my friends, because I made it with banana flavored protein powder, and honey (instead of agave as I hadn't discovered it yet) and had rolled the mixture into balls.
  • Reese's Peanut Butter Bites - Drop the Vanilla extract and Vanilla protein powder in favor of Chocolate protein powder for a treat that will remind you there's no wrong way...
I've been working on these peanut butter bites for a couple years and they finally were elevated to masterpiece status with some inspiration from a peanut butter recipe found in Gourmet Nutrition. Without seeing their peanut butter bar recipe I would have never thought to add the vanilla extract or cinnamon to this gem. If you like this recipe be sure to check the cookbook here.

This recipe is a contest entry for The 4th Great Peanut Butter Expedition. Be sure to check it out if you like peanut butter as much as I do.

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Hey Gregg I noticed you forgot when to add the peanut butter. I have GN2 so I was able to 'figure' it out. I tried this last night (the reese's version) and they seem to be a little 'runnier' than the original recipe.

Just my 2 cents :D thanks for recipe when I licked the spatula they tasted great!

Gregg said...

@Jared

Good catch, thanks! I just fixed it, go figure I forget the most critical ingredient in the instructions.

What protein type and brand did you use? I'm wondering just how runny they were. I like to throw them right in the fridge after I make them to make sure they keep there shape. Also could try freezing them too, that makes for a tasty frozen treat.

Unknown said...

I used Biotest's metabolic drive. Well maybe runny wasn't a good word. They were really really stick. I didn't want to use my hands to make them because half the mixture would get stuck to my fingers and I'd end up eating half of it right then and there. I ended up scooping servings into some containers and eating it with a spoon.

You are correct they were a little firmer after spending a day or so in the fridge. Still a little sticky though.

Unknown said...

could it have been the yogurt instead of the cottage cheese (from GN2)?

Allie said...

Oh my goodness! I think I just found my breakfast recipe... Thank you for sharing! It might be a good idea to only make a single serving - otherwise I could be in BIG trouble!