Cookie Dough Protein Bars Recipe
These easy protein bars taste like raw cookie dough and are made with all natural ingredients for a wholesome treat! Mix it up by adding various nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.
Servings: 16 Bars
Calories: 238kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups medjool dates pitted
- 1 cup protein powder or more almond flour
- 1 cup finely ground almond flour or 2/3 cup quick oats
- ½ cup unsweetened almond butter
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup water*
Chocolate Layer
- 1 ⅓ cups chocolate chips
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter or coconut oil
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients for the cookie dough layer to a food processor. Process until a crumbly dough forms. You may need to stop the food processor several times and scrape the sides with a rubber spatula in order to help it blend. The mixture should resemble a dry cookie dough, but should press together easily when pinched. If need be, add 1 to 2 additional tablespoons of water until you get the right consistency.
- Line a 8-inch or a 9-inch square pan with parchment paper. Transfer the cookie dough to the pan and press it into an even layer using your hands.
- Microwave the chocolate chips and butter (or coconut oil) in a microwave-safe bowl for 20-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the cookie dough layer and spread it evenly. Refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes to 1 hour, or until the chocolate has hardened.
- Pull on the sides of the parchment paper to release the whole batch of bars and transfer them to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut individual squares.
Notes
*If you’re omitting the protein powder and using more almond flour, reduce the water to 2 tablespoons unless more water is needed for blending.
Nutrition
Serving: 1bar (of 16) | Calories: 238kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 101mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 17g