Chocolate Blueberry Protein Bars

Dry Ingredients:
Dash of salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 T. nutmeg
1-2 T. cinnamon
1-2 T. ginger
1-2 T. maca powder
2-3 T. cocoa powder
Less than 1/4 c. xylitol/coconut palm sugar
1/4 c. chia seeds
1/4-1/2 c. protein powder
1 1/2 c. flour

Add-Ins:
1/4 c. chocolate chips1/4 c. frozen blueberries

Wet Ingredient:
1 c. applesauce

Directions:

Mix dry ingredients.  Mix in add-ins.  Mix in applesauce.  If too wet, add more flour or protein powder.  If too dry, add more applesauce.  Stir well.  Bake in lightly greased 7x11 glass pan @ 375 degrees for approximately 20 minutes.

Notes:

-I try to use as much organic ingredients as possible.  The higher quality your ingredients, the better the bar is for you.  

-I use whey protein powder, but if you want to use a plant-based protein, that should work too.  You can add more than recipe calls for.  I plan on adding more in my next batch.

-Amount of xylitol/sugar just depends on how sweet you want it.

-You can use whatever add-ins you like.  I just love blueberries and chocolate. 

-I love the little Boreal blueberries from Trader Joe's.  They are pesticide free and are tiny which works well in bars.

-I use a blend of flour (1 c. Wholesome Chow organic gluten free all purpose baking mix and 1/2 c. of wheat) and I like the consistency it gives (somewhere between bread and a cake).  It's not gluten free, but you could leave out the wheat flour and replace with extra 1/2 c. of the flour you use.  The all purpose baking mix contains tapioca which helps to bind the ingredients.  If you use just straight flour (like brown rice or coconut), I would add in an egg (or tapioca flour/starch or a flax egg) to help bind.