How’s your January going so far? Most of you know I’m starting the HGG Reset next week, but in the meantime one of my biggest tips for people who are trying to eat healthy and find a comfortable relationship with food is to start meal prepping as much as possible. That includes your snacks and treats!
Abra and I constantly have a supply at RXBars on hand for traveling and while we work, but sometimes it’s fun to make your own because not only are they easy but they’re also inexpensive!
I get a lot of questions about my favorite snacks to pack and what I eat. Usually I snack on a few favorites during the week to mix it up:
apples with peanut butter drizzled all over
homemade protein bars (like these ones!)
carrots + hummus
banana with nut butter
So let’s talk about how to make homemade protein bars and why these bars are pretty great (and so freaking easy to make):
Cashew butter: I love using cashew butter because it’s mild and really allows the chocolate flavor to come out. Don’t worry though, you can also use peanut butter or almond butter.
Coconut oil: Coconut oil helps to keep the bars together and adds additional flavor. There is no substitute (except butter) so please don’t ask me for one!
Honey: I like to use honey to sweeten the bars a bit, but if you’re vegan, you may want to use brown rice syrup or coconut palm syrup.
Rolled oats: I like using oats because they add a complex carb to the protein bar. You can use gluten free oats if desired.
Chocolate protein powder: I want to recommend my favorites for you. I use Aloha Plant Based protein powder in most of my baking recipes. Another great one is Tera’s Whey Chocolate. Please let me know if you use any other chocolate protein powders that you recommend in the comments section!
Dark chocolate: The dark chocolate adds a double chocolate dose of love to the bars so don’t skip it!
I hope you love keeping these bars in the fridge and enjoying them as a snack or after dinner treat. They’re packed with both protein and a good amount of fiber to fuel you post workout.
If you make these, be sure to tag #ambitiouskitchen on Instagram or leave a comment below and rating the recipe! xo.
More high protein snacks to try:
Peanut Butter Cup Protein Bars
Salted Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Protein Candy Bars
Coconut & Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
5-minute Protein Peanut Butter Energy Bites
Layered Banana Split Protein Smoothie
Sea Salt Cashew Butter Chocolate Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cashew butter (just cashews + salt)*
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/4 cup honey (use coconut palm syrup if vegan)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup your favorite chocolate protein powder* (OR ½ cup vanilla protein powder + 2 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder)
- 2/3 cup rolled oats, gluten free, if desired
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- For the topping:
- 3 tablespoons chocolate chips or 1 ounces 85% dark chocolate, dairy free if desired
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
- Fancy sea salt, for sprinkling on top
Instructions
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Heat cashew butter, coconut oil, honey and vanilla in a saucepan over a very low heat.
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Remove from heat and stir in protein powder until smooth, then fold in oats and chia seeds. Place in a 8x4 inch loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
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Add chocolate and coconut oil in a small saucepan and place over low heat until melted. Drizzle over the tops of the bars and tilt pan to cover completely (or a nice thick drizzle will do). Sprinkle with sea salt.
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Place in fridge for 1 hour before removing from pan and cutting into 10 squares. Store bars in fridge tightly wrapped or in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Recipe Notes
*Feel free to use your favorite chocolate protein powder. I like to use Aloha's Chocolate protein powder, which is plant-based.
*To keep these bars vegan: Use a vegan protein powder and coconut palm syrup or brown rice syrup instead of honey.
*Feel free to sub peanut butter or almond butter for the cashew butter. If you are looking for a nut-free protein bar, try using sunflower butter & using a protein powder that is nut free.
64 comments
This is exactly what I need for my breakfast on the run! Thanks for sharing!
Yes! Perfect on-the-go. Enjoy!
Good timing! Last night I made you chai banana bread with cashew glaze so I can make these next! Hope you had a fab honeymoon it looked fun!!
Delicious!! Yes – try these out 🙂 And thanks so much!
YUM YUM! These seem super easy to whip up, the perfect high protein dessert too!
Yes super easy! Love them for a protein-packed treat 🙂
These look scrumptious!
Thank you! They are 🙂
I’ve been looking for some new snacks to make and take to my new job teaching Pilates reformer classes. These will be perfect! They look delicious!
Awesome! I hope you (and your classes) love them!
Do you think I could make these with quinoa flakes instead of oats?
That should work!
Has anyone tried a pea protein powder with these yet? Wondering how they’d turn out!
Yes, a little gritty, but really not too noticeable!
Can I sub a non-liquid sweetener?
I guess the white bits in the bars in the pic is oatmeal?
Does Chocolate Protein alone give it a nice chocolaty flavor?
Can I sub flax seed meal for the chia seeds?
Can these be packed for snacks and keep their shape or there a need for refrigeration?
Thanks for your help and thanks for this recipe. I want to try these soon.
I haven’t tried these with a non-liquid sweetener, so I’m not sure how the texture will hold up (the helps keep it smooth!) The white bits are oatmeal grains. The chocolate protein does give it a nice chocolatey flavor. Flaxseed meal should be fine instead of chia seeds. And yes, they will hold up if packed for snacks, but I’d recommend storing them in the refrigerator!
thanks for your reply. I will give it a try with my healthy sugar substitute and let you know how it turns out. Besides the chocolate protein powder i will probably put some extra organic cocoa in.
Happy Baking!
Let me know how it goes!
I Loves Tone It Up Chocolate Protein. It’s a great plant-based protein powder.
I’m sure it would be great in here!
Hey Monique!
This looks like a fantastic recipe and I love having grab and go snack bars for the week. I have question about protein powders, I’m totally new using them so was wondering if you have any more insight. I recently bought collagen protein to add to my smoothies, so it’s not flavored and I assume a little different than other powders. Do you have any experience with that kind/think that would still work in these (with the addition of cocoa powder to keep it chocolatey)? Thanks so much!!
Hi Stephanie! Love using collagen, especially in smoothies 🙂 I think about 1/2 cup of it + 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder should still work in here. Collagen does tend to thicken things up a bit more than regular protein powder (as I’m sure you’ve noticed in your smoothies), so if need be you may want to add a bit more cashew butter or honey. Check out the video to gauge the consistency! Enjoy!
I’ve made these twice now and I love them! I found them a bit sweet the first time, so the second time I used 1/2 Vega vanilla protein powder, and 1/2 hemp protein (unsweetened and unflavoured) and I found them to be even better! The chocolate flavour from the cocoa was even more pronounced. I also added some pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes for extra crunch, delicious!
Perfect! Yes – these are great for customizing to your taste preferences 🙂 The pumpkin seeds and coconut flakes sound delicious in here!
Omgoodness…these were to die for. I had some friends over and I asked them if they needed a drink…they asked for a snack as well…darn it ate up the last of bars I had left. And were shocked at how yummy they were. Guess I’ll have to make more.
YES these are my favorite to share with friends! You’ll have to stock up your fridge with some more 🙂 Glad they all enjoyed!
Incredible!!!
I was so disappointed after making these. The batter was really dry and didn’t stick together very well. I had to use at least double the chocolate/coconut oil to cover the bars. So bummed cuz yours looked so good!
Hi Eva! Very strange – I would double check your cashew butter and be sure it was a natural, drippy kind! Also make sure to press the dough into the shape of the pan as much as possible before refrigerating.
Hi Monique, I have a question about the cashew butter (also almond butter in the other recipes). If you need to produce it on your own, would you just put cashews and little salt in the blender?
I live in a small village in Europe and I am not sure whether I can get this kind of product so easily.
Thanks
Yes! You can blend them in a high-powered blender (or preferably a food processor) until it’s smooth – check out a how-to here!
Hey Monique! I made these last night and they were fabulous! I did not actually have any protein powder at all so I just ended up using a little bit of cocoa powder instead and though they weren’t as thick as yours looked, they turned out deliciously! Looking forward to trying more of your recipes (and making these again with protein powder!)
Hi Susan! So glad you enjoyed these (and that the cocoa powder worked out well!) You’ll have to let me know how you like them with the protein powder, too 🙂
I made these today and I love them. Thank you for sharing!!
You’re beautiful.
So glad you enjoyed!!
Just made these bars for my family! My mom and brother both loved them. They are so easy to make and I love that they are made with simple, wholesome ingredients (unlike many store-bought bars). Perfect chocolatey snack or dessert!
Amazing! I’m so glad your mom and brother loved them too 🙂 I stock up on these and keep them in my fridge for treats all the time!
So yummy I can’t stop eating them, in fact i just ate 3 pieces 😱
Thank you!!
You bet! Such a great treat 🙂
I am totally going to make these!! They look so good!
Thank you for sharing ❤️🌱
I’ll use my Isagenix vegan protein powder – it’s a mix of brown rice and pea protein and super chocolatey!!!
I love these…😋
Do you have similar recipes with protein powder that I can make?
Thank you!!
HI there- how long do these last? If they are in a container for travel… before I make them I just wanted to know- thanks! 🙂
Hi Beth! These will probably last a few days 🙂
Used part tahini & part almond butter because only had that, added flax and hemp seeds and skipped topping bc I got lazy but they are so good anyway. Great pre or post workout.
Perfect! Love these pre + post workout.
I am going to make these right now! So excited. I love Arbonne’s Chocolate Protein. It is a pea, brown rice and cranberry protein
Perfect! Hope you love these 🙂
Delicious ‘on the go’ snack. Instant energy and so easy to make.
Absolutely – one of my favs.
Just made these and they are delicious!!! Thank you for another great recipe.
So happy to hear that!!
Hi Monique,
I made these and they are addictive! However, the guilt in me would like to skip the sweetener next time (I used brown rice syrup). Is this possible to do as I’m assuming it will change the texture maybe??
Thanks!!
Hi Thoa! I don’t think that reducing the sweetener would work well because the bars wouldn’t stick together as well. You could probably try using a tablespoon or two less though.
I didn’t know what to expect but these are delicious! They taste like a Perfect Bar. I used Tera’s Whey chocolate protein powder and Trader Joe’s cashew butter. They’re a great on-the-go breakfast if you cut them into larger bars.
So happy to hear that! And yes LOVE these ones on-the-go.
These are so delicious just made them today and followed the recipe exactly!
I have tried so many of your recipes and they all turn out wonderful. I was looking for a change from my usual go to peanut butter bars. These are perfectly sweet and salty with the fancy sea salt flakes on top. I made a few changes. I used collagen powder and omitted the cacao and used half rolled oats and half unsweetened coconut flakes. Delicious and will make again. Thanks!
Amazing! So happy you found these ones – such a great treat or snack!
Just wondering if I can substitute the chocolate protein powder for cocoa powder? I feel silly asking, but I’d love to make them, but currently can’t have protein powder!
Unfortunately I wouldn’t recommend, as it would likely be too much cocoa powder. These no bake bars are a delicious alternative! https://www.ambitiouskitchen.com/no-bake-superfood-brownie-energy-bars-video/
Is it possible for you to give the recipe in grams?
I’ve tried converting it, but it doesn’t make sense to me with the different kinds of ingredients.
Also, are the chia seeds necessary or can they be left out?
Unfortunately I haven’t measured these out in grams so I would try using an online conversion calculator if possible. Feel free to leave the chia seeds out!
These are delicious! They were super easy to make, Literally dumped all the ingredients in a bowl and then dumped that into the pan. I used chocolate protein powder and added a bit of collagen powder. I wasn’t even careful about the measurements and they still turned out excellent in taste and texture. The inside is so satisfying and the chocolate topping adds an element of decadence. These were my treat each day and they delivered, Five Stars
So easy and delicious! Glad you enjoyed 🙂