The Best Chocolate Brownie Protein Bars (vegan + gluten-free)

The BEST Chocolate Brownie Protein Bars- Naturally sweetened with dates, these no-bake protein bars are simple to make and a great source of fiber. Each bar has 10 grams of protein! (vegan, gluten-free + oil-free)

This recipe started with a love affair for Good Cravings Walnut Brownie Protein Bars. They are the BEST protein bars and I’m pretty picky about my protein bars. They actually remind me of Little Debbie Fudge Brownies. Does anyone remember those? I don’t want to think about how many I ate as a child but man, were they good.

Fortunately these chocolate brownie protein bars are a much healthier alternative. They don’t have artificial sweeteners, oils or other ingredients you can’t pronounce. Just whole foods combined with plant-based protein powder for a tasty treat that helps you hit your protein goals.

Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar Ingredients

• Medjool Dates- Dates create the base for these protein bars while also providing natural sweetness. While technically you could substitute them with another dried fruit, I would stick with dates for best results.
• Almond Butter– Almond butter provides a healthy source of fat and moisture. Feel free to use any nut or seed butter that you prefer, just make sure it is natural. You want a nice, drippy texture to the nut/seed butter. Nothing with added oils.
• Applesauce– Unsweetened applesauce adds more moisture to the bars while keeping them light in texture. You could probably substitute mashed banana or pureed pears but I feel like applesauce has the most subtle flavor making it the most ideal choice.
• Water–  Because the recipe calls for a lot of protein powder, we need all the moisture we can get! About 4 tablespoons of water should be enough but you can always add more, if you feel it’s necessary.
• Vanilla Extract– If you had to skip one ingredient, you could leave this one out. I prefer to use non-alcoholic vanilla for my no-bake recipes so that I don’t taste the alcohol.
• Protein Powder– I have tested these with both unflavored protein powder and chocolate protein powder. Using the latter makes for a deeper chocolate flavor, which I prefer. But the protein content is higher with unflavored.
• Cacao Powder- Raw cacao powder is higher in both protein and antioxidants so from a nutrition perspective, it is the best option. You can also use unsweetened cocoa powder but the flavor will be slightly sweeter as cacao powder is naturally more bitter in taste.
• Sea Salt– If you like your treats sweet and salty then be sure to add a large pinch of salt to the mix.
• Walnuts- These are totally optional but I personally love the crunch they provide with each bite, not to mention the healthy fats. Feel free to substitute any mix-ins you like. Nuts, seeds, coconut, or dried fruit would all be delicious!

How to Make Chocolate Brownie Protein Bars

1. Add dates to a bowl or saucepan filled with hot water. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to soften.
2. Strain excess water from the dates then add to the bowl of a food processor. Add almond butter, applesauce, vanilla and water. Blend until mostly smooth.
3. Add the protein powder, cacao powder, and salt. Blend again until a thick dough forms.
4. Transfer the dough to a bowl. Stir in desired mix-ins such as walnuts.
5. Press the dough into a lined loaf pan until flat on top. Cover and refrigerate for several hours.
6. Slice into 12 bars. Serve and enjoy!

Do you have to have a food processor?

For best results, I recommend using a food processor. You could try to chop and mash the dates by hand, but I can’t guarantee the results would be the same.

Another option is to use a high speed blender for the wet ingredients then transfer to a bowl and stir in the dry by hand.

more high protein vegan + gluten-free treats

• 5-Ingredient Chocolate Protein Pudding
• Vegan Chocolate Protein Mug Cake
• Fudgy Sweet Potato Protein Brownies
• Vegan Protein Energy Bites
• Easy Protein Granola
• Chocolate Protein Chickpea Brownies
• 5-Ingredient Chocolate Chia Seed Protein Pudding
• Oatmeal Cookie Protein Energy Bites

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

The Best Chocolate Brownie Protein Bars (vegan + gluten-free)

Naturally sweetened with dates, these chocolate protein bars are simple to make and packed with fiber. Each bar has 10 grams of protein!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Setting Time3 hours hrs

Total Time15 minutes mins

Servings: 12 bars

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

• 6 ounces Medjool dates, pitted
• ⅓ cup natural almond butter, or any drippy nut/seed butter
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 4 tablespoons water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 scoops chocolate protein powder, scoop size varies depending on brand; recipes calls for 120g
• 5 tablespoons cacao powder
• large pinch of sea salt
• ½ cup chopped walnuts, optional; can sub different nuts, seeds, dried fruit or shredded coconut

Instructions

• Bring a small pot of water to a boil. Remove from heat. Add pitted dates and allow to soak for at least 10 minutes. Strain excess water.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the soaked dates (after straining), almond butter, applesauce, water and vanilla extract. Blend until mostly smooth.
• Next, add the protein powder (120g), cacao powder, and salt. Blend again until a thick dough forms. You may have to scrape down the sides in between blending to assure everything is evenly combined. The dough should hold together when pressed between your fingers. If it seems too dry and isn't holding together, try adding 1 tablespoon of water at a time and blending again, until it holds together.
• Transfer the dough to a large bowl. Add the chopped walnuts (or other desired mix-ins). Using a rubber spatula, fold them into the dough.
• Line a 9x5" loaf pan with two small pieces of parchment paper, placed perpendicular to one another. Transfer the dough to the loaf pan then press down with the spatula, until the dough is spread across the pan and flat on top. Cover with another piece of small parchment paper and refrigerate for about 3 hours, until set.
• Use a large knife to slice the dough into 12 bars, each about ¾-inch thick. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Notes

Nutrition Facts are an estimate and will vary depending on specific brands you choose.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 10g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Sodium: 43mg, Potassium: 284mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 24IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Calcium: 109mg, Iron: 1mg

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback!