Healthier Vanilla Protein Nougat Bars

Be prepared to fall in love with these delicious Nougat Bars. So simple and the best bit is, they will save you big bucks on store-bought protein or candy type bars.

When it comes to sweet treats, few things are as satisfying as a homemade nougat bar. These chewy, flavorful bars are a delightful blend of creamy white chocolate, gooey marshmallows, and a medley of dried fruits and nuts.

Whether you are looking for a quick dessert to impress your guests, a homemade gift, or simply a treat to enjoy at home, these nougat bars are an excellent choice.

The combination of textures - from the crunch of the nuts to the chewiness of the dried fruit - makes each bite a burst of flavor.

These nougat bars are super rich and uber decadent - but they are also secretly healthy and guilt-free!  Yup, that means no butter,no white sugar and no sweetened condensed milk… just pure, fudgy coconutty goodness.

The big secret here is that you will be using homemade condensed milk, free of the LOADS of sugar in store bought stuff. 

The facts are…manufacturers take out about 60% of the water from the milk to “condense” it down. After they “condense” the milk, they add about 40% sugar to fill the void from the water.

I’m sure you’re asking yourself why the manufacturers do this. Well, the added sugar means the shelf life is longer, plus transporting the milk is easier due to not having to store it in cooler temperatures.

Its always about the convenience to them, rather than peoples health.

But when you take the time and effort to make your own condensed milk, especially if its from coconut cream to make this delightful recipe, you get all the real, natural coconut flavor - no artificial food flavorings here!  Each bar or little cube is like a piece of heaven.

The recipe for the homemade condensed milk is below in notes. It really very easy to do and you can keep some in your fridge so its ready to add a dollop on EVERYTHING for a super healthy treat.

It will be something you can enjoy regularly as part of a healthy eating plan. Its high in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), a form of beneficial fat that can increase energy levels and enhance brain function and has many other health benefits.

MCTs also help people lose weight by making them feel fuller longer and encouraging fat burning, they also have anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties that an boost the immune system and promote healthy skin.

These bars make a delicious sweet ending to a meal or an any time snack that contains healthy fats and protein to keep you feeling fuller for longer. Good fats and protein satisfy you, so you won’t be mindlessly snacking later on.

I love storing these healthier nougat bars in the freezer to have on hand for whenever that sweet tooth craving hits! For a perfect creamy texture, remove from freezer10-15 minutes before devouring.

Taste? Just pure bliss! Go ahead and make these you will be sooooo happy you did!

 

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine Healthy Clean Eating

Keyword clean eating dessert or snack, healthier vanilla protein nougat bars, healthy protein bars, protein nougat bars

Servings 16

Ingredients

• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 1 cup condensed milk – store bought or sugar free recipe below in notes
• 1 cup mini marshmallows (sugar free if preferred)
• 1 cup mixed nuts (suchas almonds, pistachios, or cashews)
• 1/2 cup mixed dried fruits (such as dried apricots, cherries, pineapple and papaya)
• 2 scoops protein or collagen powder (vanilla or plain)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

• If you are going to be using the homemade sugar free condensed milk recipe to this first so its ready when you want to make the nougat bars – recipe below in notes.

  Line an 8 x 8” baking pan or dish with parchment paper on the bottom and sides leaving some overhanging to act as a handle to get the bars out easier for cutting.

  Chop the dried fruits and nuts into small pieces.

  In a microwave-safe bowl, combine chocolate chips with the condensed milk. Microwave at 50% power in 30-second spurts stirring in between bursts until the chocolate begins to melt.

  Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the condensed milk and chocolate chips together.

  Stir frequently, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is completely smooth.

  Let cool 5-10 minutes and add dried fruits, nuts, mini marshmallows, protein powder and vanilla extract and gently mix in until evenly distributed.

  Pour the mixture into the lined baking pan and smooth out with a spatula or back of a spoon.

  Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until firm.

  Once set, remove nougat from the pan and cut into 16 bars or more smaller squares.

  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks or freezer for up to 3 months.

  Feel free to customize the recipe by using dark or milk chocolate, different dried fruits, or spices.

Notes

Elevate your dessert game with my sugar free condensed milk recipe.

Avid bakers are all too familiar with sweetened condensed milk, but what about those of us who love to bake but need to cut out excess sugar?

There aren’t too many sugar-free varieties on the market, and the ones I’ve tried… miss the mark. So, I came up with a sugar-free version of classic condensed milk, and now I use it in everything!

There are some recipes that are just better with condensed milk (think fudge and ice cream!)

This is a super simple recipe that creates a delicious sugar free condensed milk, perfect for eating straight out the jar or in your favourite recipes!

Go here for the recipe: Sugar Free Homemade Condensed Coconut Milk 

Print Recipe

If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites