Protein Muffins

A recent study found that we’re most likely to snack at 11.01am, 3.14pm and 9.31pm. This isn’t anything ground breaking; 11.01am and 3.14pm are between meal times and during work hours when you’re likely to be in an office environment and reaching for something to give you a boost. 9.31pm is most likely an after dinner pang of needing ‘a little something’ with your evening cup of tea. 

So how do you snack healthy? For a start, forget about junk food. Sugar or fat laden foods will give you a spike in energy before a crash that will most likely encourage you to have another, and another. Replace these treats with a snack that’s made from whole foods that are full of slow releasing energy that will keep you feeling fuller for longer. Oats are great for this. 

We love protein balls and we’ve got a whole roster of recipes you can take advantage of, but sometimes you want something a little different. Thus, we bring you the Protein Muffin! We spent a while trying to get these right – recipe creation isn’t all that glamourous and involves a LOT of washing up. So we did the messy part so you get to enjoy a wholesome snack that will keep hunger at bay.

METHOD:

Preheat the oven to 180C (160C for fan ovens) and pop muffin cases into a muffin/cupcake tin. 

Whizz up the oats in a blender or food processor until you have a smooth but course flour. Add your Neat Nutrition Protein (we used naked whey but feel free to experiment) and the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix well with a wooden spoon or spatula before adding the tahini, egg and coconut milk. You’ll get a thick mixture like below: 

Spoon your mixture into the prepared muffin cases, making sure to fill to about two thirds full. Sprinkle some chopped hazelnuts and sesame seeds on the top which will turn golden in the oven.

This recipe should make six muffins. It doesn’t sound like much but they won’t be at their best after a couple of days so you don’t want to waste any. If you’ve got a house full of hungries though, adjust the quantities as required.

Pop them in the oven for around ten minutes, but keep an eye on them and remove when the tops are golden brown and they’re cooked all the way through. If in doubt, stick a sharp knife or skewer into one and if it comes out clean, you’re all set to go! Allow to cool and enjoy with some nut butter – we love the Pip & Nut Honey Cinnamon Cashew Butter – it goes perfectly with these!

Protein Muffins
(Makes 6) 

• 1 cup of oat flour
• 2 servings of Neat Nutrition Protein
• 1 tablespoon of milled flaxseed
• 1 tablespoon of chia seeds
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tablespoon of tahini
• ½ cup of coconut milk
• Chopped hazelnuts and sesame seeds for topping 

(Nutritionals per serving: Calories = 139; P = 7.9g, C = 11.5g, F = 7.2g)*

*All calorie and macro calculations are estimates and will vary depending on portion size and ingredients used