Hemp Protein Bar Recipe

Hempseeds are an awesome little superfood to add into your diet. They've got good proteins, minerals, and lots of good healthy fats. And they taste awesome and nutty and sweet.

In addition to featuring a heap of nurturing hemp protein and hempseeds, this hemp protein bar recipe features a variety of other plant-based protein sources. We've got some pumpkin seeds (also high in zinc and iron), coconut (good, healthy fats), and chia seeds (loaded with calcium and fiber). Not only do they contain all this healthy stuff, they taste great and are good little afternoon snacks (or for breakfast, or after yoga, or whenever!). This hemp protein bar recipe is adapted from Green Kitchen Stories, one of my favorite blogs (read a review of their cookbook, Vegetarian Everyday, here!).

hemp protein bars! yums!

Hemp Protein Bars

1 cup pumpkin seeds + 2 Tablespoons for garnish
¾ cup dried shredded coconut
½ cup hempseeds
½ cup hemp protein powder or more hempseeds
¼ cup chia seeds
Pinch sea salt
15-20 Medjool dates, pitted
⅓ cup coconut oil
¼ cup raw cacao powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or ½ teaspoon ground vanilla

In a food processor or blender, pulse pumpkin seeds, coconut, hempseeds, hemp powder, chia seeds and salt until ground but still slightly chunky.
Add dates, coconut oil, cacao powder and vanilla to processer blend until smooth. Mixture should be slightly tacky.
Press the batter evenly into an 8x8 inch baking dish, using a measuring cup to press evenly. Sprinkle on remaining 2 Tablespoons pumpkin seeds and press into mixture. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then cut into bars or squares. Wrap them in parchment or waxed paper and store in an air-tight container. Bars will keep around a week in the fridge.

Yield: 8-12 bars

Hempseeds image from here, other photo copyright Vibrant Wellness Journal