These easy No Bake Almond Nougat Protein Bars are deliciously chewy, paleo and gluten free. They are made with egg white protein powder, which is one of the most bioavailable protein powders available. Plus, it gives the protein bars their nougat vibe.
Egg white powder has become one of my top picks to use in protein bars and balls. It is made from egg whites that have been dried and pasteurized to remove pathogens and extend shelf life. If you can’t tolerate whey or casein protein and want to avoid the chalkier texture of vegan protein powders, it’s a great option.
Best egg white protein powder for no bake bars
For me, the best egg white protein powder to use in no-bake bars is an unflavored one that is 100% dried egg whites. This type of powder is used in commercial protein bars like the RXBAR. You can buy egg white powder online or in supplement stores. Check the ingredients list before purchasing. It should just list egg white powder, pure egg whites, egg albumen or egg albumen powder.
There are also flavored egg white protein powders available. However, I find that the added flavors and sweeteners can leave an artificial taste when used in protein powder recipes. That’s why I prefer to use unflavored protein powder, then add my own sweetener and flavors.
How to use egg white powder
You can use egg white powder like any other protein powder. However, I personally don’t use it for smoothies where you’re just mixing it with water and a few other ingredients. This is because it can give a slightly bitter taste when it’s the main ingredient.
However, unflavored egg white powder works well in recipes like these no-bake nougat protein bars. It blends with the other ingredients and gives a beautiful chewy texture.
Egg white powder as a substitute for whey protein powder
If you have a recipe that calls for whey protein powder, it will usually work well with egg white powder too. It provides a similar texture to whey protein powder when making protein bars and balls at home.
Similar to whey protein powder, egg white powder works best in recipes where there is some liquid, like a liquid sweetener or moisture from something like fresh Medjool dates. The liquid helps to dissolve the powder to a degree so that it blends better with the other ingredients.
Ingredients for no bake almond nougat protein bars
- Raw almonds: Almonds form the base of these no bake almond nougat protein bars. Raw and unsalted almonds work best. We blend them into a flour before adding to the recipe.
- Egg white powder: Egg white protein powder gives the bars a boost of bioavailable protein while keeping the recipe dairy free. You can use whey protein powder as a substitute.
- Raw honey: Raw honey is suitable for a paleo diet, but any syrup sweetener will work. If you prefer a milder taste, brown rice syrup is a good option. Or you could use a sugar-free syrup if you want sugar-free protein bars.
- Coconut oil: Coconut oil helps the bars set firm after chilling in the fridge.
- Vanilla extract: Vanilla is always a good addition to sweet bars and slices. You can use vanilla extract, vanilla paste, vanilla powder or fresh vanilla bean if you have it.
- Almond extract: I love to use a dash of almond extract for a subtle marzipan vibe. It’s totally optional though.
- Salt: Salt enhances the flavor of the bars. I highly recommend adding some to the mixture.
- Water: A small amount of water helps the protein powder blend smoothly with the rest of the ingredients.
More protein powder recipes
- Coffee Whey Protein Balls
- Choc Mint Protein Balls
- Clean Protein Bars
- Chocolate Whey Protein Bars
- Chewy Choc Chip Oat Protein Bars
You can find more ideas on the Protein Powder Recipes page.
No Bake Almond Nougat Protein Bars Recipe
Serves
12 bars
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
30 mins chilling
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 1 1/2 cups / 214 g raw almonds
- 1 cup / 100 g unflavored egg white powder (see Note 1)
- 1/4 tsp fine salt
- 3 tbsp / 45 ml / 42 g coconut oil
- 2 tbsp / 30 ml / 30 g boiling water
- 1/3 cup / 80 ml / 113 g raw honey (see Note 2)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp almond extract (optional)
For the topping:
- 2.2 oz / 60 g dark chocolate, melted
- 1 tbsp / 10 g raw almonds, chopped for sprinkling
Method
- To make the bars, blend the almonds in a food processor or blender until they turn into a flour consistency with some clumps starting to form (see Note 3).
- Tip the almond mixture into a large bowl with the egg white protein powder and salt. Mix well to combine, pressing out any large clumps. Make a well in the center.
- Add the coconut oil and boiling water into the well. If your coconut oil is solid, mix it with the boiling water until it melts. Add the honey, vanilla extract and almond extract. Mix everything until well combined and you get a dough consistency.
- Tip the dough into a loaf tin lined with baking paper. Press it into the tin firmly with the back of a spoon. For the topping, spread the melted dark chocolate over the slab and sprinkle over the crushed almonds.
- Chill the slab in the fridge for 30 minutes or until firm. Once firm, slice into bars with a sharp knife.
Notes
- Egg white powder – You can buy unflavored egg white powder online or at supplement stores. The ingredient list should say 100% egg white powder, pure egg whites, egg albumen or egg albumen powder. You can also use unflavored whey protein powder as a substitute if you don’t need the bars to be dairy free.
- Sweetener – Some raw honey varieties are quite strong in flavor, so make sure you use one that you enjoy. For a milder taste, brown rice syrup works well. Sugar-free syrups should also work if you want sugar-free protein bars.
- Blending the almonds – If you have a small food processor or blender, like the one I use in the recipe video above, blend the almonds in batches to avoid overcrowding the processor. As the natural oils from the almonds are released, the flour will start to clump together.
- Storage – Store the protein bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can freeze any bars that you won’t eat within this timeframe, then defrost in the fridge as needed.
Nutrition Facts
- Serving size: 1 bar
- Energy: 233 Calories / 976 Kilojoules
- Total Fat: 15.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.8 g
- Total Carbohydrate: 10.4 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2.8 g
- Sugars: 8.9 g
- Protein: 11.9 g
- Sodium: 52 mg
- Potassium: 29 mg
Can’t wait to try this recipe. can I leave out the coconut oil or substitute something?
Thanks Maureen. The coconut oil is needed in this recipe to hold the mixture together since it firms up when chilled. You could try using melted butter instead, but it will change the taste of the bars.
Alternatively, you could check out these No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls, which don’t include coconut oil. I hope that helps 🙂
Can I substitute pre-round almond flour for grinding the almonds?
Yeah almond flour should work as a substitute for grinding whole almonds – just make sure to weigh out an equal amount of almond flour in grams for the recipe (214g) since the cup measurement will be different for almond flour vs whole almonds. I hope that helps!