You will find roughly over fifty kinds of vegan protein bars currently available, with unlimited flavor options and ingredients. One factor I’ve observed though is the fact that many of them are really full of sugar, whether or not this’s &"natural&" or otherwise. Sugar isn’t probably the most nutritionally-friendly component to the physiques, even when it comes down by means of a vegan, natural source. Tapioca syrup, cane juice, cane syrup, brown grain syrup, fructose, dates, and coconut sugar are natural, however they still raise bloodstream sugar levels and trigger sweet cravings. These sweeteners also decrease leptin in your body, a hormone that informs you whenever you’ve had enough to consume helping keep the bloodstream sugar stable. For your body, sugar is sugar is sugar is sugar. Period.
With regards to sweets, fruit is definitely ideal for you and also just a little dried fruit every occasionally doesn’t hurt either. However, for individuals individuals with bloodstream sugar issues like myself or who're just responsive to sugars generally, there aren’t many naturally sugar-free options within the vegan protein bar selection. So a few several weeks ago, I made the decision to rectify the problem within my own kitchen. I researched various recipes but tend to only find vegan protein bars with dried fruit, syrups, fructose, coconut sugar, or some other sort of sugar incorporated. After several trial and errors, I finally developed an component list for any sugar-free vegan protein bar that’s not just scrumptious, but incredibly friendly for your bloodstream sugar, too.
I adore they contain no nut butter and therefore are only around 100 calories per bar with 10 grams of protein each? They are the ideal filling snack on the run and therefore are simple to create for those who have an additional 20-half an hour per week. Listed here are five steps to creating an excellent sugar-free vegan protein bar:
1. Choose a Great Protein Powder
Firstly when creating a sugar-free protein bar: pick a top quality protein powder. not just one with sugar, clearly. It's also wise to select one that utilizes organic or non-GMO ingredients whenever you can. It’s a good idea to check a couple of in a smoothie first and select which one you like probably the most. This is the biggest base inside your bars, would you like to make sure it’s one you like. A number of my personal favorite flavors are French vanilla, vanilla, mocha mint, and chocolate. I personally use cup of protein powder within my recipe to create a total of eight bars.
2. Give a Couple of Thickening Agents
To get your vegan protein bars to bind together without resorting to dried fruit, nut butter, syrups, or sugar, you’ll require a couple of ingredients for everyone as thickening agents. I personally use a mixture of milled chia (chia meal), flax meal, and coconut flour which always attain the perfect texture each time with no requirement for sugary binders. I personally use two tablespoons all of coconut flour, flax, and chia meal within my recipe to create eight bars. Should you don’t like coconut flour, folded oatmeal work. However, coconut flour is greater in protein and much more insulin-friendly.
3. Add Stevia
I understand many people aren’t keen on stevia. but personally I simply like it. If you’re an admirer, it'll make your bars taste a lot better and also you only need some bit because it’s very strong. I personally use only a teaspoon of the pure white-colored stevia extract (not diluted powders offered in many stores) that's highly concentrated and it has no bitter aftertaste. A liquid stevia product would work well too, and you should use 10 full drops of liquid stevia for any recipe to create eight bars.
Using stevia provides you with a far more natural, sugar-free flavor without resorting to sugar substitutes or sugar. Should you’re not keen on stevia, try erithrytol or xylitol rather, that have zero glycemic effect and therefore are 100 % natural. Play one tablespoon of those given that they’re less potent than stevia.
4. Then Add Flavor
Your protein bars will taste great should you pick a high quality protein powder, however i also suggest adding an additional punch of flavor. Great ideas are flavored extracts like alcohol-free vanilla, cacao powder, and/or spices. I really like using cinnamon within my protein bars, but you may also use ginger root, cardamom, nutmeg, apple cake spice, pumpkin cake spice, or simply a pinch of salt. In either case, adding a a little bit of spice will assist them taste better and in addition it means they are more nutritious. Cinnamon regulates your bloodstream sugar and both cinnamon and ginger root help with digestion. Anything you use, I suggest a maximum of a teaspoon per recipe to avoid hindering the flavour from the overall bars.
5. Don’t Your investment Liquid
Obviously you can’t create a protein bar with only dry ingredients alone you’re likely to likewise need some liquid. I personally use a mixture of water and unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but you can get creative and employ soy milk, flax milk, coconut milk, coffee, coconut water, or perhaps carrot juice for any carrot cake flavor. Just be sure you buy unsweetened varieties rather of sugary milks or juices to help keep these bars sugar-free.
I’m a fan of almond milk and water because the mixture lends a creamy flavor that mixes well and utilizes another ingredients. Use sufficient liquid to thicken your bars right into a dough-like consistency that resembles cookie dough. I've found that always equals to at least one 1/2 cups total of a mixture of water and almond milk. If you want to add extra water to attain a dough-like consistency, you can add it. It ought to roll-up right into a thick ball, not seem like muffin batter.
To Put Together Your Bars:
It’s a good idea to combine your dry ingredients (steps 1-4) together first after which add some liquid last. After you have all your ingredients mixed together, just press the dough flat into an 8 inch square glass baking pan together with your hands, and make certain to distribute it evenly over the entire pan. Bake at 350 for ten minutes if you want your bars slightly soft like I actually do or do twenty minutes for any firmer bar. Don’t over-bake them or they’ll be very dry and hard. You would like them to become slightly soft to touch whenever you take them off in the oven.
I love to let mine awesome around the counter for around half an hour before packaging them up into individual baggies. You are able to store within the fridge if you want, however i prefer keeping them within the freezer in freezer safe bags for extended storage. Should you freeze them, all that you should do is let one thaw for ten minutes around the counter and they’re prepared to eat.
Strategies for Success:
Get creative together with your flavors and check out out different vegan protein powders to determine what ones you want. Keep in mind that the flavored options will taste far better inside a protein bar than plain options like regular hemp protein or regular grain protein.
You may also add fun sugar-free toppings if you want for example raw cacao nibs, chopped nuts, or coconut flakes, but make sure to do that before baking so they’ll stick to your bars better.
I really hope you’ll give these a go and allow me to read your comments! Organization your personal vegan protein bars?
Image source: Louise McClees
