If you are craving something sweet but want to keep it healthier, these no bake protein candy bars are perfect. They taste like candy but come with the bonus of being packed with protein and clean ingredients. You get the indulgence without the tummy upset!
These bars have the perfect combination of creamy peanut butter and a sweet, chewy caramel layer made from dates aka, nature’s candy. I love to use dates as a base in most of my snack balls, no-bake bars, or if I need a natural sweetener in a cookie or frosting. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars. You don’t need many dates to make something sweet!
Dates are a great snack on their own and they are high in fiber, rich in antioxidants, great for heart health and they provide a little energy boost thanks to the natural sugars. They are little morsels of natural sugar and a great alternative to refined sugars.
The dried fruit has a caramel-like sweetness that can also help reduce cravings for sugary snacks. I’m always on the hunt though for creative ways to dress up my dates, and I just knew these bars would be delicious! If you haven’t cooked with dates yet, you have so many delicious uses just waiting to be discovered!
The base of these bars is soft yet sturdy with a subtle sweetness from the honey, while the rich chocolate coating on top adds a slight crunch when you bite into it. The balance of sweet, salty, and chocolatey flavors makes them feel like a treat, but they are so much better for you than traditional candy bars.
Why they are better than store bought candy bars:
While yes, candy is…..candy, this doesn’t mean it can’t still be rich in nutrients and void of inflammatory agents found in most traditional store bought treats (think refined sugars, inflammatory oils, conventional dairy, etc.) Here are a few reasons why this healthy protein bar recipe is a much healthier option.
+ No refined sugar – Instead of using processed sugars like cane, corn syrup, maltodextrin, agave or artificial sweeteners that can spike your blood sugar and mess with your gut microbiome, this recipe uses only a small amount of honey, dates and vanilla extract to sweeten.
+ A high quality protein source – Incorporating protein powder into this recipe is one of my favorite health hacks to minimize a blood sugar spike, which in turn wreaks havoc on your hormones.
Eating protein-rich foods has many health and fitness benefits, including:
Speeding recovery after exercise and/or injury.
Reducing muscle loss
Building lean muscle
Helping maintain a healthy weight
Curbing hunger
A well-balanced diet with proper ratios of macro nutrients (protein, healthy carbs and fats) provides all of the: energy you need to keep active throughout the day. nutrients you need for growth and repair, helping you to stay strong and healthy and help to prevent diet-related illness.
+ High in nutrients – One of the reasons why candy has been deemed “unhealthy” is because it typically lacks nutrients that work to keep our blood sugar balanced, hormones happy and provide an overall feeling of satiation, hence why most of the time we are still hungry after consuming.
This healthy recipe sneaks in a ton of nutrients to help keep us satisfied and helps us avoid intense food cravings for high sugar/fat unhealthy stuff when we lose control.
+ Optimal balance of protein, fat, carbs and fiber – Unlike pretty much all store bought candy, this healthy candy bar recipe also sneaks in plenty of high quality fats and fiber, that work in tandem with the protein to give our hormones the building blocks they need to do their jobs effectively and keep our bodies ticking along in a healthy manner.
We already know that lots of candy bars are loaded with refined sugars, unhealthy fats, and artificial ingredients, (which I don’t mind on occasion), but as an everyday treat, I want more wholesome. These bars are different – they are made with better for you ingredients like peanut butter, dates and protein powder. You still get that delicious candy-like flavor and texture, but with extra protein and fiber, so they are more satisfying and won’t leave you with a sugar crash.
Add-in options – You can make these bars even more exciting by adding in some fun ingredients. Mix in some chopped nuts, coconut flakes, or mini chocolate chips into the base for extra texture. For a little extra crunch, try adding puffed quinoa or rice cereal to the base layer. You can also drizzle some extra peanut butter on top of the chocolate layer for a fancier finish.
Making these bars is super easy and doesn’t require any baking! You just mix the base ingredients, press them into a pan, and top them with the creamy date caramel. After freezing to set, you cut them into bars, melt some chocolate, and spread it over the top. A final chill in the freezer and they are ready to enjoy.
These healthier homemade candy bars couldn’t be easier to make – they come together quickly in a blender. The perfect amount of chew, and just the right amount of crunch. Plus, the flavor is to die for!
Healthy Homemade Protein Candy Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oat flour (oats blended to a flour)
- 1/2 cup almond flour (or more oat flour)
- 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup peanut (or any other nut or seed) butter
- 3/4 cup any milk
- 1/4 cup protein or collagen peptides powder
- 1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Date Peanut Butter Caramel
- 1 1/2 cups dates, soaked 30 minutes and drained
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup any milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chocolate Topping
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Line a 7 x 5-inch loaf 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.
Base Crust
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the oat flour, almond flour, coconut, peanut butter, milk, protein powder, honey and vanilla extract and mix until a thick dough forms.Press the dough mixture into an even layer at the bottom of the lined pan.
Date Peanut Butter Caramel
- In a food processor combine the dates, peanut butter, milk and vanilla extract and blend until smooth and creamy.Place the pan in the freezer for 1-2 hours to set.Once set, cut into 9 bars or more smaller squares. Set out on parchment paper lined tray ready for the chocolate topping,
Chocolate Topping
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in small dish and microwave with 20 second bursts stirring between each one until melted and smooth.Or use double boiler method - (pot of boiling water with a bowl resting on top) melt the chocolate chips and the coconut oil together.Top each bar with a dollop of melted chocolate or drizzle the chocolate over each bar. Return to the freezer for 20 minutes for chocolate to set. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 1 week or freezer for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, protein-rich, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here: Blended Bites
