Chocolate Whey Protein Bars

For a high protein snack, these Chocolate Whey Protein Bars are easy to make at home. They are also gluten free, nut free and no bake. Plus, they are delicious drizzled with some melted dark chocolate.

You can make the recipe into four or six bars, depending on your preference. When divided into six, each bar contains 191 calories and just over 14 grams of protein. For a higher dose of protein, you can divide the mixture into four larger bars with 287 calories and just over 21 grams of protein. I sweeten the bars with brown rice syrup, but if you wanted to reduce the calorie content you could use a sugar-free syrup sweetener instead.

Benefits of homemade protein bars

Making your own homemade protein bars allows you to control what goes into them. This give you the benefit of tailoring the bars to suit your needs.

First, you can choose to use a high quality protein powder. I usually use a grass-fed whey protein isolate. For this recipe, I used a chocolate whey protein powder that isn’t heavily sweetened. Alternatively, you could use unflavored and unsweetened whey, since the recipe includes some sweetener and cacao powder.

Second, you can adjust the type of sweetener used to meet your requirements. You can use a liquid sweetener such as brown rice syrup, maple syrup or honey. Or, if you need to keep your sugar intake to an absolute minimum, you could use a liquid sugar-free sweetener.

Third, you can customise the flavor. Even though I use a chocolate whey protein powder in this recipe, I like to add some extra raw cacao powder for a more intense chocolate taste.

Is it cheaper to make your own protein bars?

It is usually cheaper to make your own protein bars. Even though you have the upfront cost of purchasing your ingredients, you will be able to transform those ingredients into protein bars that cost less per bar than store-bought varieties. Especially if you compare your homemade bars to the better quality, more expensive store-bought ones.

Ingredients for chocolate whey protein bars

• Chocolate whey protein powder: I like to use a chocolate grass-fed whey protein isolate. But whey protein concentrate or a blend will also work if that’s what you have at home. You can also use unflavored whey protein, since the recipe includes cacao powder and some sweetener.
• Oat flour: You can make your own oat flour by blending rolled oats in a blender or food processor until you get a flour consistency. It helps to firm up the texture of the protein bars.
• Raw cacao powder: To increase the chocolate flavor of the protein bars, I add some raw cacao powder to the recipe. Regular cocoa powder will also work as a substitute.
• Coconut flour: When blended with the oat flour, a little bit of coconut flour gives the bars structure.
• Coconut oil: A small amount of coconut oil helps the protein bars set firm when chilled. It also improves the texture.
• Brown rice syrup: I use brown rice syrup to add extra sweetness to the bars, in addition to the sweetener in the chocolate protein powder. You can substitute maple syrup, honey or a sugar-free liquid sweetener if you prefer.
• Water: Some water is needed to help the whey protein powder blend with the other ingredients. You could also use your favorite milk as a substitute.
• Dark chocolate: I love to drizzle melted dark chocolate over the protein bars as an extra treat. It also provides textural contrast.

How to store whey protein bars

Since there is some water added to these whey protein bars, it’s best to store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can freeze any extra bars that you won’t eat within this time frame. They can be defrosted in the fridge overnight as needed, or let them soften slightly at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.

More protein powder recipes

• Choc Mint Whey Protein Balls
• No Bake Almond Nougat Protein Bars
• Clean Protein Bars
• Coffee Whey Protein Balls
• Chewy Choc Chip Oat Protein Bars

Check out the Protein Powder Recipes page for more ideas.

Chocolate Whey Protein Bars Recipe

Notes

1. Protein powder – Whey protein powder is needed for this recipe because its stickiness when mixed with the water holds the bars together. I use chocolate flavored whey protein, but any whey protein powder will work.
2. Oat flour – You can buy oat flour or make your own by blending rolled oats in a blender or food processor until you get a flour consistency.
3. Mixing the dough – The dough will be sticky, but if it’s way too sticky to manage, add a little extra coconut flour. If it gets too dry, add a little extra water.
4. Handling the dough – I wear plastic food preparation gloves while handling the dough to avoid sticking, but you can do it with clean bare hands.
5. Storage – Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze them if you will take longer to eat them. You can defrost them in the fridge overnight or let them soften slightly at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.

Nutrition Facts

• Serving size: 1 bar (with 70% cocoa dark chocolate for drizzle)
• Energy: 191 Calories / 801 Kilojoules
• Total Fat: 6.5 g
• Saturated Fat: 4.4 g
• Total Carbohydrate: 20.1 g
• Dietary Fiber: 3.2 g
• Sugars: 7.3 g
• Protein: 14.3 g
• Sodium: 20 mg
• Potassium: 97 mg