Birthday Cake Protein Bars

Birthday cake protein bars are no-bake, vegan, gluten-free, and so easy to make! This high protein snack is a healthy way to satisfy your dessert cravings. The soft and chewy bars are topped with creamy white chocolate, rainbow sprinkles, and loaded with sweet cake batter flavor. They are made with wholesome ingredients like plant-based protein powder, cashew butter, and almond flour. Ready in just 10 minutes!

Have you ever wished to eat birthday cake without all of the sugar that’s packed inside? Well, your dreams are officially coming true! With these birthday cake protein bars, you can finally satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy, protein-packed way.

This homemade protein bar recipe brings ALL of the sweet cake batter flavor and festive colors, but none of the junk that you’d typically find in a funfetti cake. Instead of plain flour and butter, we’ll use almond flour and cashew butter. To replace cane sugar, we’ll use real maple syrup. What about the frosting? We have that covered, too! Replace it with your favorite vegan white chocolate or healthier sugar-free white chocolate chips (if you aren’t dairy-free).

You’ll love enjoying these homemade protein bars as a midday snack or a post workout dessert. I mean, what more motivation do you need to hit the gym than knowing these babies are waiting for you afterwards? Curb your cravings with this guilt-free treat *while also* refueling your muscles with 17 grams of protein. Win-win!

PS: If you love making your own protein bars at home, check out my No Bake Chocolate Protein Bars and No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars. They are made with similar ingredients, so I know you’ll love them as much as this recipe.

These birthday cake protein bars are:

• No-bake, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and grain-free
• Sweet, soft, chewy, and loaded with vanilla flavor
• Quick, easy, and made in 10 minutes
• Customizable for keto, paleo, and sugar-free diets
• A healthy high protein snack to curb your dessert cravings
• Tastes just like funfetti cake batter!

Ingredients in homemade protein bars

For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.

• Birthday cake protein powder: There are so many brands to choose from, so feel free to use your favorite! If you can’t find a cake batter protein powder, plain vanilla protein will work just as well.
• Cashew butter: This is the best nut butter to use when you’re making a sweet treat, like cake or cookie dough. It has a milder and sweeter flavor than peanut butter.
• Almond flour: Otherwise known as ground almonds, this is a wholesome alternative to all-purpose flour. I recommend using a superfine variety, like Bob’s Red Mill Superfine Almond Flour.
• Maple syrup: Maple syrup naturally sweetens these healthy protein bars.
• White chocolate: Use your favorite brand of white chocolate chips. If you’re vegan, make sure you choose a dairy-free variety.
• Sprinkles: Rainbow sprinkles make these homemade protein bars so much fun! You can even take it a step further and use holiday-themed sprinkles around Halloween, Christmas, or Valentine’s Day.
• Vanilla extract: Pure vanilla extract helps bring about that classic cake batter taste we are aiming for.
• Almond extract: Surprisingly, this extract tastes nothing like almonds. It has a strong, sweet flavor and only a quarter teaspoon is needed.
• Salt: Add a pinch to balance the other rich flavors.

How to make protein bars

First, add the birthday cake protein powder, cashew butter, almond flour, maple syrup, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt to a bowl. Mix together until dough forms.

Next, line a square baking dish with parchment paper. This will prevent the dough from sticking to the bottom of the pan. Also, it will help you remove the bars to slice them later on. Don’t skip it!

Then, add the white chocolate chips to a bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until the white chocolate is completely melted. After, pour it over the dough and spread in an even layer across the dish.

Lastly, chill in the freezer for 5 minutes or just until the white chocolate sets. Depending on your preferred size, gently slice them into 8-12 bars. Enjoy!

Recipe variations

These plant-based protein bars may already be dairy-free and gluten-free, but do you want to make them suitable for a keto or paleo diet? Try the tips below in order to customize them to your liking!

• Keto: Use keto-friendly ingredient swaps, like stevia-sweetened maple syrup and sugar-free white chocolate. If you cannot find keto white chocolate, coconut butter will work as a replacement. Try using keto sprinkles or shredded coconut on top!
• Sugar-free: Simply choose sugar-free brands for any ingredients containing sugar, like maple syrup, sprinkles, and white chocolate. This may seem like a daunting task, but you’d be surprised by how many sugar-free alternatives you can find online nowadays.
• Nut-free: You can achieve similar results by using sunflower seed butter instead of cashew butter, and oat flour instead of almond flour. The bars won’t have as rich of a cake batter flavor, but it will allow you to enjoy this snack without consuming nuts.
• Paleo: Almond flour, cashew butter, and maple syrup are suitable for a paleo diet. However, to make these protein bars truly paleo, be sure to use paleo-approved protein powder and white chocolate. Additionally, use paleo sprinkles or replace them with coconut flakes instead.

How to store vegan protein bars

Keep these cake batter protein bars in a sealed container to maintain a fresh taste and texture. They should be kept inside the refrigerator for 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months. If you are freezing them, place a square of parchment paper between each bar so they do not stick together.

If you try these Birthday Cake Protein Bars, please let me know your thoughts by leaving a rating and comment below! Ready for more? Subscribe to my newsletter or follow along on Instagram and YouTube!

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