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3 Smart Strategies To Stop Cravings So You Can Lose Weight!

Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars {Low Calorie, GF, Vegan, Paleo}

August 23, 2021

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Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that’s simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love! Low Calorie + Gluten Free + Vegan + Paleo

Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!

One of my favorite recipes from my cookbook are my homemade protein bars. I consistently have women writing to tell me how much they and their family love that recipe!

Today I’m sharing with you a DIFFERENT protein bar recipe from the cookbook. CHOCOLATE PROTEIN BARS!

They’re made with just 6 ingredients, no added sugar and have a ton of protein – something store-bought protein bars always seem to be deficient in. If you’re going to make a protein bar, it should actually have the RIGHT amount of protein in it, ya know?

Click here to pin this recipe!

Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!

Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars

Best of all these protein bars are made with HEALTHY ingredients and they’re easy and tasty! Here’s a few more reasons why I love this low calorie protein bar recipe.

  • High Protein – 14 grams per serving from the protein powder and peanut butter which has healthy fat and some protein.
  • Low Calorie – This protein bar is 236 calories which is considered low calorie. Calories are important, but the nutrient balance is more important as unbalanced protein, fat and carbs in a recipe will driving hunger and cravings.
  • Gluten Free – All the ingredients in this recipe are gluten free.
  • High Fiber – Fiber is key for hormone balance, weight loss, to make you full and so much more! This protein bar has 5 grams of fiber per bar which is great.
  • Healthy Fat – The healthy fat in the recipe helps to balance the protein and carbs and to keep you full!
ingredients to make chocolate protein bars

Ingredients For Chocolate Protein Bars

Here’s what you need to make this healthy chocolate protein bar recipe! I also recommend you have a blender or food processor, parchment paper for easy removal and 8×8-inch baking dish.

  • Bananas, ripe
  • Chocolate Protein Powder
  • Peanut Butter, unsalted with no sugar added
  • Cocoa Powder, unsweetened
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Chocolate Chips
how to make healthy chocolate protein bars

What Protein Powder To Make Protein Bars

There are many protein powder options on the market and it really comes down to your personal preference, but here are a few tips for protein powders and the ones I recommend.

Look for a protein powder that has least number of ingredients. Many protein powders have chemicals and additives that are unnecessary. I recommend a protein powder that is low in added sugar or uses stevia or monkfruit to sweeten it. From a nutritional standpoint, look for a protein powder that has less than 7 grams of fat per serving, has 20-30 grams of protein per serving and is lower in carbs 15 or fewer per serving.

Some protein powders do contain whey protein which some individuals cannot tolerate. Here’s a few options I recommend: whey protein, this plant-based protein or this plant-based protein, beef protein powder (this one is surprisingly tasty).

how to bake chocolate protein bars

How To Make Chocolate Protein Bars

You won’t believe how easy this homemade chocolate protein bar recipe is to make! Step one is mixing the ingredients together in a food processor or blender, reserving the chocolate chips for the top.

Preheat oven and prepare a baking dish with parchment paper (for easy removal) then pour the blended mixture into the baking dish. Smooth the mixture into an even layer. It will be sticky and so I recommend wetting a spatula to help with the smoothing process. Top with the chocolate chips then bake!

Once the protein bars are baked, remove them from the oven and do not slice until they are FULLY cooled – approximately one hour.

How To Store Homemade Protein Bars

Store these homemade protein bars in the refrigerator or freezer. They should not be kept at room temperature for more than a day. Store the protein bars in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks or in the freezer up to 3 months. You can eat them right out of the refrigerator. If you freeze them, be sure to thaw them before eating.

Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!

Substitutions For Chocolate Protein Bars

Here are the substitutions I recommend for this recipe. As always, any substitutions, changes or additions you make will change the nutritional data you see in the detailed recipe card below.

  • Peanut Butter – Any nut butter works! Almond butter, sunflower butter, cashew butter, tahini would all work with this recipe.
  • Bananas – I have not tested this recipe without the bananas and they are the ingredient that binds the protein bars together. You can try replacing one banana (not both) with 1/2 cup of applesauce or avocado, or replacing with 2-3 egg whites. If you try this, please let me know in the comments as this helps others!
  • Protein Powder – Use any chocolate protein powder that you like. I used the Garden of Life Plant Based Protein Powder. But there are MANY protein powder options on the market – I listed some of my favorites above. I recommend you buy the single protein powder packets to find what you like.
  • Vanilla Extract – Use almond extract, chocolate extract or omit.
  • Cocoa Powder – Cacao powder may be used instead
  • Chocolate Chips – Use dairy free if needed.
  • Optional Add-Ins – Raw nuts, raw seeds or dried fruit could easily be added to this protein bar recipe.
Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!

More Protein Packed Recipes To Try

  • Healthy Chocolate Protein Donuts
  • Chocolate Protein Cookie Dough
  • Chocolate Protein Cookies

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Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars

Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!

Author Skinny Fitalicious
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 10 bars
Calories 236 kcal
Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!
Print

Ingredients

  • 2 bananas very ripe
  • 1 cup peanut butter unsalted with no sugar added
  • 1 cup chocolate protein powder
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp chocolate chips
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Prepare an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper.

  2. Blend all ingredients except chocolate in a food processor or blender. Scrape down the sides and blend until smooth.

  3. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish and smooth into an even layer. The batter will be sticky. Wetting a spatula with a small amount of water can help with this. Add the chocolate chips on top.

  4. Bake for 30 minutes then remove from the oven and cool at room temperature at least 1 hour before slicing into bars.

  5. Store the bars in the refrigerator up to 2 weeks or in the freezer up to 90 days. My cookbook has another protein bar recipe and other protein snack options.

Recipe Notes

  • My Amazon shop has more products similar to those used for this recipe and that I recommend to my weight loss clients.
  • If you enjoy this recipe check out my cookbook for more delicious, low calorie recipes.
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Keyword bar, chocolate, gluten free, homemade, low calorie, no sugar added, Paleo, protein, protein powder, vegan
Nutrition facts per serving (1bar)
Calories 236 kcal
Fat 15 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Trans Fat 1 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4 g
Monounsaturated Fat 6 g
Cholesterol 13 mg
Sodium 167 mg
Potassium 368 mg
Carbohydrates 17 g
Fiber 5 g
Sugar 8 g
Protein 14 g
Vitamin A 25 %
Vitamin C 2 %
Calcium 93 %
Iron 1 %

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Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!
Healthy Chocolate Protein Bars are made with 6 real food ingredients and no added sugar. The perfect low calorie and gluten free protein snack that's simple to make and a treat even picky eaters will love!

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.

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  1. Tina Hoff says

    August 24, 2021 at 12:14 pm

    Please add the step where you add the chocolate chips in to the recipe card. Thanks.

    Reply

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Megan is a nutrition practitioner, author of the Low Calorie Cookbook and podcast host of the Dish On Ditching Diets. Megan helps women over 35 lose weight after losing 80 pounds herself. Here you get low calorie recipes for weight loss that balance hormones. Learn more about my weight loss programs HERE!

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