Struggling to reach your protein goals? Check!
Finding it hard to resist that daily chocolate fix? Same!
Thankfully, we no longer have to choose between indulgence and fitness – instead, it’s about finding the harmony in both! Now you can curb your cocoa cravings and fuel your body with extra protein in a delicious and healthier way.
And my top 5 ultimate chocolate protein bar recipes promise to be the best of both worlds; rich, chocolatey decadence while packed with protein that’ll keep you feeling strong with sustained energy.
Flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip and Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth!
Unfortunately, most store-bought bars are filled with artificial flavors, sweeteners, added sugars, and low-quality, milk-derived proteins. All of which are known to cause belly bloating, blood sugar spikes, and intestinal distress. And to make matters worse, many prepackaged bars have an imbalanced calorie-to-protein ratio so you may as well be eating a Snickers bar!
The great news is you can easily make healthier, homemade, DIY protein bars instead! And without the sneaky preservatives, hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, or artificial ingredients that look like they belong in a science experiment! Try whipping up a batch this weekend for a week’s worth of bars – and for a fraction of the price too!
So whether you’re wanting a quick chocolate fix, post-workout protein, or an indulgent dessert, these bars are perfect anytime! They’ll keep you feeling full, focused, and much leaner than the processed store-bought bars. Let’s ditch the sugar crashes and digestive drama and get ready to indulge in guilt-free sweet serenity!
Tips & Swaps
✔︎ Substitute with any of your favorite nut butters.
✔︎ Swap the Cocoa powder for Cacao powder for extra antioxidant power!
✔︎ Add 1 teaspoon of instant coffee if you want a stronger chocolate flavor.
✔︎ To help with cutting the bars, warm the knife blade under hot water between slices. You can also mix up how you cut these bars to make them smaller and more bite-sized.
✔︎ I use Stevia sweetened, sugar-free, dark chocolate chips but you can sub with whatever semi-sweet/dark chocolate chips or chunks you prefer – or Cacao Nibs!
✔︎ Use your preferred protein powder in any of these recipes.
✔︎ Add your favorite chopped nuts for extra protein and magnesium!
Top 5 Ultimate Chocolate Fix Protein Bar Recipes
Triple Chocolate Fudge Brownie Protein Bars
Ingredients:
❏ 1.5 cups black beans (1 15-oz can, drained and rinsed)
❏ 3 Tbsp Cocoa powder or Cacao powder
❏ 1/3 cup Chocolate protein powder
❏ 1/2 tsp sea salt
❏ 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or agave
❏ 5 drops liquid stevia
❏ 3 Tbsp coconut oil
❏ 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
❏ 1/2 tsp baking powder
❏ 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Combine all ingredients except the chocolate chips in a food processor and blend until smooth. (A blender works too but the texture will be better in a food processor)
2. Then mix in half of the chocolate chips.
3. Pour into a greased 9×9-inch pan and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips over the top.
4. Bake the homemade chocolate protein bars for about 16 minutes. They will still look slightly underdone when you take them out of the oven, but that’s Ok because we want them to be fudgy.
5. Let cool, then refrigerate 4-6 hours and the bars will be firmed up and ready to cut and eat. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
*Makes about 8 bars.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars
Ingredients:
🤎Cookie Dough Layer
❏ 3/4 cup Almond flour
❏ 2 Tbsp Coconut flour
❏ 1/4 cup Vanilla protein powder
❏ 1/2 cup Natural peanut butter
❏ 2 Tbsp Pure maple syrup or honey
❏ 1/2 cup Dark chocolate chips.
🤎 Chocolate Fudge Top Layer
❏ 1/3 cup Dark chocolate chips
❏ 2 Tbsp peanut butter
❏ 2 Tbsp Chocolate protein powder
❏ 1 Tbsp Coconut oil
Instructions:
1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the maple syrup (or honey), peanut butter, and a dash of salt.
2. Add the almond flour, coconut flour and chocolate chips.
3. Fully mix ingredients until it forms into a dough that you can easily shape into a large cookie dough ball.
4. Spread the mixture evenly into a 9×13-inch rectangular baking pan lined with parchment paper. Use your fingers or a spatula to make the surface flat and smooth.
5. Freeze the pan while you prepare the chocolate fudge top layer.
6. In a microwave safe bowl, add the dark chocolate, nut butter, and coconut oil. Melt in the microwave in 30 second intervals and stirring in between to prevent the chocolate from burning. (It should not require more than 90 seconds total)
7. Add protein powder and stir well to create a shiny melted chocolate mixture.
8. Remove the pan from the freezer, pour the melted chocolate on top. Use a spatula to spread the layer evenly.
9. Freeze again for 10-15 minutes or until the chocolate layer is set.
10. Cut the bars using a warmed, sharp knife and store the bars in the fridge in an airtight container.
*Makes about 8 bars.
No-Bake Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
Ingredients:
❏ 1 cup Dates
❏ 1 cup Chopped nuts (I used 1/2 cup cashews and 1/2 cup of almonds)
❏ 3/4 cup Chocolate protein powder
❏ 1/4 cup Cocoa or Cacao powder
❏ 1/2 cup Chocolate chips
❏ 1/2 tsp Peppermint extract
❏ 1/4 cup Almond milk
❏ 1/4 tsp Sea salt
Instructions:
1. Place dates in food processor (or blender) and process or pulse until it becomes a crumbly consistency.
2. Add in nuts and continue processing until dates and nuts are more finely ground.
3. Add in protein powder, cocoa powder, and salt and continue to pulse. Then add almond milk, peppermint extract, and chocolate chips and process until a well-combined sticky dough ball is formed.
4. Line a 9 x 9-inch baking dish with plastic wrap and press bar mixture into dish and flatten, making sure it’s even.
5. Freeze for 30 minutes. Then remove from freezer and lift from the dish with the plastic wrap.
6. Use a warmed knife to cut the bars and keep them stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
*Makes 8 bars
No-Bake Mocha Chip Brownie Protein Bars
Ingredients:
❏ 1/3 cup Chocolate protein powder
❏ 1/2 Oats
❏ 1/4 cup Cocoa or Cacao powder
❏ 5 Drops liquid Stevia
❏ 1/3 cup Espresso or strong coffee, cooled
❏ 1/3 cup Dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
1. Combine the protein powder, oats, and cocoa powder in a large bowl. (If adding anything extra like nuts, etc. add them in now)
2. Add the cooled coffee or espresso and mix well.
3. Stir in the chocolate chips until evenly combined.
4. Spread the dough into a 9 by 9-inch baking dish lined with parchment paper. Use your hands or a spatula to press the mixture down. *Optional: Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top and gently press them in.
5. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or until firm.
6. Use a warmed knife to cut the bars and store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
*Makes 8 bars.
Banana Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
Ingredients:
❏ 3 Overripe bananas, peeled
❏ 1/4 cup Coconut oil
❏ 1/4 cup Unsweetened almond milk
❏ 1 Large egg
❏ 1/2 cup Apple sauce
❏ 1/3 cup Vanilla protein powder
❏ 1 cup Coconut flour
❏ 1/2 cup Almond flour
❏ 1 teaspoon Baking soda
❏ 1/2 teaspoon Salt
❏ 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
❏ 1 cup Chocolate chips, divided in half
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350℉
2. Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
3. In a large mixing bowl, mash bananas well. Then add coconut oil, almond milk, egg, apple sauce, and vanilla and mix until blended.
4. In a separate bowl combine dry ingredients; coconut and almond flours, baking soda, protein powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir until blended.
5. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and combine thoroughly. Then stir in half of the chocolate chips.
6. Pour mixture into the prepared dish and sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top.
7. Bake 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
8. Cool completely before cutting and use a warmed knife to cut the bars. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge.
*Makes about 10 bars.
Enjoy! 🤎
