No Bake Chocolate Protein Bars
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No bake chocolate protein bars are a quick, easy, and healthy snack! They are vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, refined sugar-free, and easily customizable for keto and paleo diets. These homemade protein bars taste like a delicious dessert, but they are secretly good for you. Combine your favorite chocolate protein powder with peanut butter, cocoa, almond flour, and maple syrup to make this nutritious post workout treat. Made in just 10 minutes with simple ingredients!
Homemade vegan protein bars
If you have ever browsed the protein bar section of a grocery chain, you’ll know what I mean when I say there’s an endless supply of options to choose from. However, those options are not always the best. After scanning the ingredients label on nearly every bar, you’ve probably (a) walked away in disappointment or (b) knowingly settled for a mediocre bar.
You may have wondered, “Why are they all filled with weird ingredients? Why is sugar the first ingredient in so many of these bars? Wait, why is refined sugar even IN these supposed health bars?” If you’ve been searching for a protein bar that’s made with minimal ingredients, truly healthy, and tastes DELICIOUS, I have just the recipe for you!
These homemade chocolate protein bars are made with no refined sugar, no dairy, and no additives. With just a handful of ingredients, you can create a high protein snack that tastes like dessert. Nobody will guess that they are actually good for you!
These chocolate protein bars are:
- Vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and grain-free
- Soft, chewy, peanut buttery, and rich with chocolate flavor
- Keto and paleo-friendly
- A low carb & high protein snack
- Super quick & easy // ready in 10 minutes
- Refined sugar-free & sweetened with real maple syrup
- A nutritious way to satisfy your chocolate cravings!
What are chocolate protein bars made of?
- Chocolate protein powder: The key ingredient! This is the main source of protein and it provides chocolate flavor. You can use any type – like pea, brown rice, hemp, and more. If you aren’t vegan, the recipe will still work with non-vegan powders like whey protein.
- Peanut butter: I absolutely love the flavor of peanut butter, but you can replace it with another variety like almond butter, cashew butter, or even hazelnut butter. For a nut-free option, use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead.
- Maple syrup: These are made with no refined sugar, so they are sweetened with maple syrup instead. You can substitute it with another liquid sweetener and achieve pretty similar results, like agave nectar or coconut nectar. Honey will work, but it is thicker and stickier so just keep that in mind. You may want to adjust the other ingredients if you use honey.
- Almond flour: Ground almonds, also known as almond flour, helps bind the dough together. It is grain-free and gluten-free, so don’t be tricked by the word “flour” in its name.
- Cocoa powder: For rich chocolate flavor, add cocoa or cacao powder to the dough.
- Chocolate chips: Top them with your favorite chocolate chips.
- Coconut oil: This is an optional ingredient used in the chocolate topping, but I really recommend adding it. Coconut oil helps to create a runnier consistency so the melted chocolate spreads more easily. Additionally, it softens the chocolate layer so it won’t break apart when you slice the bars.
- Vanilla extract: For added sweetness and warmth. I’m a firm believer that no treat is complete without a dash of vanilla extract.
- Salt: A pinch of salt complements the rich chocolate. Don’t skip it!
How to make 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.
First, combine the peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, maple syrup, almond flour, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl. Mix the ingredients together to form a chocolate dough.
Next, line a square baking dish with parchment paper. This helps prevent the dough from sticking to the pan.
Then, combine chocolate chips and coconut oil in a bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir in between, then microwave for another 30 seconds. Pour the melted chocolate over the dough and evenly spread it.
Chill them in the freezer for 5 minutes or until the chocolate sets. After, slice into bars and enjoy!
Recipe variations
This recipe is so versatile. You can customize it and make adjustments meet your specific dietary needs.
- Keto: use sugar-free maple syrup and stevia-sweetened chocolate chips
- Paleo: be sure to use almond butter instead of peanut butter, and paleo versions of the other ingredients
- Sugar-free: simply use maple syrup, protein powder, and chocolate chips that contain no added sugar
- Peanut-free: use another nut butter, like almond butter or cashew butter
- Nut-free: skip the nut butter and use sunflower seed butter or a sweetened tahini instead
Tips for perfecting this recipe
Add flaky salt on top. Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of the bars to decorate. It also adds a delicious sweet and salty flavor!
How to make clean-cut slices: Place the knife under hot running water for 15 seconds. Dry the knife with a clean paper towel, then slice the bars. Be sure to wipe the knife clean between each cut.
Use your favorite protein powder. The powder is one of the main ingredients in this recipe. Therefore, make sure you use a brand that you truly love! You can get creative and use a uniquely-flavored protein, like mint chocolate, caramel, coffee, etc.
Do not pack the protein powder. Instead, gently spoon the protein powder into a measuring cup. If you pack the protein powder into the measuring cup, you will use too much and the protein bars will be very dry.
Storage: Store these vegan protein bars in a sealed container in the refrigerator. They will keep for up to 1 week. The bars are also freezer-friendly; they’ll keep for up to 3 months inside the freezer. I recommend placing a square of parchment paper between each one to keep them from sticking together.
More vegan protein bar recipes
- Cookie Dough Protein Bars
- Brownie Protein Bars
- Birthday Cake Protein Bars
- Protein Truffles
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Balls
If you try these No Bake Chocolate 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!
Print
No Bake Chocolate Protein Bars
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Snack, Dessert
- Method: Mix, no-bake
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
No bake chocolate protein bars are a quick, easy, and healthy snack! These homemade protein bars are vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, low carb, and customizable for keto and paleo diets. They’re made in 10 minutes with peanut butter, almond flour, cocoa, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup. That’s right – no refined sugar! Enjoy them as a post workout dessert. #protein #proteinbar #chocolatepeanutbutter #peanutbutterbars #nobakedesserts #vegansnack
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 3/4 cup chocolate protein powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp almond flour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips (or more)
- 2 tsp coconut oil (optional, see notes)
Instructions
- Combine peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, maple syrup, almond flour, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt in a bowl. Mix together to form a ball of dough.
- Line a square baking dish with parchment paper. Press the dough across the bottom of the dish.
- Combine chocolate chips and coconut oil in a bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir together, then microwave for another 30 seconds. Pour melted chocolate over the dough and spread in an even layer.
- Chill in the freezer for 5 minutes or until the chocolate sets. Slice into 8-12 bars, depending on your preferred size. Add flaky sea salt on top (optional) and enjoy!
Notes
- Coconut oil is an optional ingredient, but it provides two benefits. First, it helps to create a runnier consistency so the melted chocolate spreads easily. Second, it softens the chocolate layer so it won’t break apart when you slice the bars. I highly recommend keeping it in the recipe.
- Store the bars in a sealed container inside the refrigerator. They will keep for 1 week. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months.
- Nutrition information below uses stevia-sweetened chocolate chips.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 6g
- Fat: 13g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 15g
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Haven’t made this recipe yet but it looks promising.
Just to clear this up for me…is the Nutrition information for the 8 bar or the twelve bar size? So is 230 calories per bar for an 8 bar cut or a 12 bar cut? Does that make sense?
Hi, Linda! It is for a batch of 12 bars. If you slice them into 12, they will be about 230 calories. This, of course, can vary depending on the brand of protein powder you use (because all brands are a bit different). Enjoy! 🙂
These are sooo good!!!! Not a fan of chocolate protein bars in general but I wanted to use up some protein powder I had and wow these are actually addicting to make:( The dough is great too in that its not sticky or messy! ugh nice job creating this recipe!
I am so happy to hear you really enjoyed these homemade chocolate protein bars, Jessica! Thanks for your sweet comment! 🙂
How do you get 15 grams of protein per bar? My math says almost half that
Hi Jay! The amount of protein will vary depending on the type of protein powder you use. I must be using a protein powder with a higher protein content than whichever one you used to calculate the nutrition facts! What brand are you using? If you want the bars to be higher in protein, simply use a brand of protein powder that contains more protein per serving 🙂 Enjoy!
These look delicious! Could you use coconut flour instead of almond? Would the measurements change? Thank you!
Thank you so much, Lori! 🙂 I have not tested this recipe with coconut flour. Coconut flour has a different texture and flavor that almond flour, so I wouldn’t recommend swapping it. Oat flour would give you better success!
I absolutely love these ! Perfect for a post-workout snack and actually taste amazing.
I used plain flour instead of almond flour as that’s all i had at home and they came out great. Will be making these again as soon as my current batch is finished😁
Hi, Lilly! Thank you so much 🙂 I am so happy to hear you love these no-bake chocolate protein bars! However, I do not recommend using plain flour since this is a no-bake recipe. If that’s all you have, you can use it but please make sure you heat treat the flour before making the recipe. Plain flour cannot be eaten raw. It must be baked at 350 degrees F for 5-7 minutes to kill off any potential harmful bacteria. (This is partly why we are always told to not eat raw cookie dough! Raw flour and raw eggs pose the risk of salmonella.) Let the flour cool completely, and then proceed with the recipe. Once you heat treat the flour this way, it is safe to consume raw 🙂 On the other hand, if you use almond flour or oat flour instead, you do not have to heat treat it in the oven. That’s why you will commonly see no-bake recipes using almond flour or oat flour (instead of plain flour). I hope that helps! Enjoy!
This recipe is going into my regular rotation! So good and easy. I used agave instead of maple syrup but otherwise followed the recipe to the letter. Your recipes are perfect for showing that vegan cooking is healthy and delicious — thank you!
Aw thanks so much, Mary! I appreciate it! 🙂
SO good. Delicious after workout or middle of the day snack that’s a sweet treat, but healthy. Absolutely love.
Thank you so much, Lindsay!! Happy to hear you enjoyed these chocolate protein bars 🙂
Hello.
I only have vanilla protein powder. How much cocoa powder should I add to make up for the chocolatey flavour?
Thank you!
Hi Nouran! I wouldn’t want you to use too much extra cocoa powder because the dough will be too dry then. You should be fine leaving the recipe as is (2 tbsp cocoa powder) with that vanilla protein powder. The protein bars will just be less rich/intense in the overall chocolate flavor. If you like the taste of your protein powder, you’ll enjoy the protein bars! 🙂
Can I use Hazelnut flour or oat fiber instead of Almond?
Hi, Karyn! I have not tested this recipe with hazelnut flour or oat fiber. However, hazelnut flour is quite similar to almond flour, so it should work just fine. You may need to use slightly more of it, since it is more delicate (and provides less structure) than almond flour though. Thankfully, this recipe is quite forgiving & easy to play around with because it’s not being baked. I recommend using hazelnut flour and just adding a little extra if the mixture looks too “wet.” Enjoy! 🙂
I am allergic to maple; is there an alternative I could use? Would love to try these! As a newbie vegan, I have found your site to be extremely helpful and informative. I’ve found several recipes I’m going to try. Thank you!
Hi Amanda! Yes, if you are OK with eating honey, I would use that instead of maple syrup. Alternatively, you can try coconut nectar but the consistency is a little bit different from maple syrup (so you may have to play around/adjust the amounts slightly for the other ingredients). I’m so glad you have found my site helpful on your journey! Enjoy! 🙂
Is there a substitute for almond flour?
Hi Susan! I recommend following the recipe exactly as it is written. You can use oat flour instead, but the bars will be a bit more dry. You will likely have to add a little extra maple syrup or nut butter if you use oat flour.
Made this, love it! Recommended!!
Thanks so much, Katja! Happy to hear you love & recommend these homemade chocolate protein bars 🙂
Sooooo good! Tastes like a Reese’s!
Thank you, Carey! I’m so glad you enjoyed these homemade protein bars 🙂
These bars are so delicious and easy to make. My high school son, who is very into nutrition and working out, begs me to make these each week. 5 stars!
So happy to hear that, Candace! Thank you so much for sharing 🙂