My sons are very much into fitness and always looking for protein bars. So whenever I go to visit my boys I try to make them some sort of protein bake. I find store bought bars expensive and often full of sugar. I have used some sugar in these, as it is necessary for the creaming process but tried to keep it to a minimum.

Apple Protein Squares

INGREDIENTS

100g almond butter

50g butter, softened

60g brown sugar

2 eggs

100ml Greek yoghurt

100g unsweetened apple sauce

½ tsp caramel essence

½ tsp vanilla essence

120g ground oats

70g whey protein powder

50g ground almonds

½ tsp bicarbonate of soda

½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp ground cinnamon

50g chopped pecan nuts

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan. Line a 20cm square brownie tin with baking parchment.

In a bowl, beat together the almond butter, butter and brown sugar until soft and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time followed by the yoghurt, apple sauce, caramel essence and vanilla essence.

In another bowl, combine the oats, almonds, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon and chopped pecans. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin, level the top and bake in the preheated oven for 25 – 30 minutes, until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before turning it out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.