All the classic cinnamon sugar flavor rolled into an easy, no-bake, dairy-free protein bar. These snickerdoodle protein bars are an irresistible flavor combination with a high protein twist. Made in just minutes these protein bars are a great snack to have on hand for busy moms.
Soft, chewy perfection is what you’ll think of when you whip up these snickerdoodle-based dairy-free protein bars!
They’re made with easy, gluten-free pantry ingredients and perfect for busy days. No baking, no fuss, just an easy, no-bake recipe.
As a Certified Nutrition Coach, when it comes to protein bars I’m all for them. Not only do they help busy moms amp up their protein intake (learn more about increasing protein intake) but they’re great for the mom who is running around chaotically with kids (ummm all of us).
Plus, you can reap the benefits of a dairy-free diet.
Learn more about homemade protein bars and how exactly to make them perfect every time.
Then, whip up these snickerdoodle ones (and these dairy-free Twix protein bars) and call it a day.
Why You’ll Love This Protein Bar Recipe
- Easy to make
- 7 main ingredients
- Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan
- Can be made paleo
- Great for busy days
- 13 grams of protein in each bar
- Wickedly delicious cinnamon sugar flavor
Ingredients You Need
Vegan vanilla protein powder: the kind of protein you choose affects the taste and texture of the bars. These vegan protein bars were made best with a pea protein powder like these double chocolate protein bars no nuts.
Cinnamon + sugar: the staples in all things snickerdoodle! Use any sugar you like or have on hand.
Cassava flour: before you freak out wondering what the hell cassava flour is, it’s a paleo flour. It’s awesome to have on hand but Gluten-free 1:1 baking flour works just as well.
Almond flour: opt for blanched almond flour (learn the difference between almond flour and ground almonds) to make sure there’s a smooth texture in the dairy-free protein bars.
Maple syrup: real maple syrup is best flavor-wise and holds the protein bars together.
Nut butter: we personally love peanut butter but almond butter is great as well. Make sure it’s runny and fresh though so that it mixes well.
Dairy-free butter: I like to use a local vegan butter so that I know there are not many oils in it. However, any vegan butter will work.
How To Make It
- Melt the butter and combine the maple syrup, butter and peanut butter together.
- Combine the remaining ingredients for the bars and mix.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones and mix until sticky.
- Portion into a loaf pan. Press down until smooth and even.
- Sprinkle the topping over the protein bars. Press it in.
- Set in the fridge for one hour.
Expert Teaching Tips
Any butter and sugar will work for the snickerdoodle protein bars. I prefer a local dairy-free butter to scale back on harmful oils.
Butter is what helps give the snickerdoodle flavor. so, though coconut oil will work it will also alter the flavor.
Make it paleo: to make the dairy-free protein bars paleo, make sure to use coconut palm sugar and cassava flour in the recipe along with regular butter. Likewise, you’ll need a paleo-approved protein powder.
Gluten-free 1:1 baking flour can be subbed for cassava flour.
The bars are delicious as soon as you make them but don’t hold together as well until they set.
Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet.
Storing The Protein Bars
Store them in the fridge or freezer in an airtight container. In the fridge, they will last up to one week.
Freeze them in an airtight container and separated by pieces of parchment paper.
The snickerdoodle protein bars hold together well enough at room temperature.
Which Protein Powder To Choose
Each protein powder is unique in its breakdown which means it absorbs and tastes differently.
These dairy-free protein bars were made with a pea protein powder which tends to absorb a lot of liquid (not a fermented protein though!).
Learn more about choosing a protein powder for your goals.
If using a brown rice protein powder you may need a bit of additional protein powder or to scale back the butter by one tablespoon.
I like to use Genuine Health’s Fermented Vegan Protein Powder.
Made with 20 grams of plant-based protein, this vegan protein powder is dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and certified organic.
But my personal favorite is that this pea protein is fermented. This normally meals a little less "protein powder bloat" because it helps break down the grains, nuts, and legumes.
This protein powder literally gives you the best of both worlds.
Shop the Genuine Health Store on Amazon.
Inside the Strong and Sweet Guide, you’ll discover exactly how much protein you need each day, how to choose the right protein powder, and enjoy over twenty-five easy ultra-simple snack recipes, each packed with 17 grams of protein or more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dairy-Free Protein Bars
If you need to omit nuts in a homemade protein bar simply sub hemp milk in place of the almond milk and use sunflower seed butter (sunbutter) in place of the cashew butter. It will alter the texture slightly but they'll still be delicious.
Protein bars when made with minimal sugars and no processed oils can be a healthy addition to any diet and a tasty way to increase daily protein intake.
Snickerdoodle flavor tastes like buttery cinnamon sugar. Most recipes will use a variation of sugar with ground cinnamon and whatever butter suits their dietary preference. Though many cookie recipes use cream of tartar, not all do.
Other High Protein Dairy-Free Snacks
- Pumpkin protein overnight oats
- Snickerdoodle protein cookies
- Salted chocolate mug cake
- Energizing vegan protein bars
Snickerdoodle Protein Bar Recipe (Gluten-free)
Video
Equipment
- Loaf pan
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan vanilla protein powder
- ¼ cup cassava flour*
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup almond flour
- ½ cup almond or peanut butter
- 2 tbs maple syrup
- 2 tbs sugar*
- 4 tbs dairy-free butter measured solid
Topping
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoon sugar
Instructions
- Melt the butter and combine the maple syrup, butter and peanut butter together.
- In a large bowl, combine the remaining ingredients for the bars and mix.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ones and mix until sticky.
- Portion into a silicone (or parchment paper lined) 8x3 loaf pan. Press down until smooth and even.
- In a small dish, combine the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the protein bars. Use a silicone spatula to press the topping in.
- Pop in the fridge for 1 hour to set.
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Krista says
This is my new post-workout snack. So easy and quick to make and super yummy!
fitasamamabear says
Happy to hear you loved them!
Denise says
Chewy, filling, and the cinnamon sugar combo is just right. I so love the snickerdoodle twist and it's really handy for those busy mom days!
fitasamamabear says
Cinnamon sugar is always a win lol
Bea says
I’ve been looking for a homemade protein bar recipe, and I’m glad I found this post! I tried it the first time and my protein bars turned out great! So tasty! Shared some with my friends and they loved them! Making another batch for next week.
fitasamamabear says
Happy to hear you loved it!
Colleen says
I love how I can get super easy, gluten-free, and the sweet cinnamon flavor in one treat. Guilt-free, can have seconds anytime.
fitasamamabear says
Easy is key in my house.
Janice says
Been trying different protein recipes because I've been in a low-carb diet since 2021 and this one is my favorite so far. It's my post-workout snack and I have been making this for my weekly prep since I saw this recipe.
fitasamamabear says
Ah that's amazing!!
Trish says
High protein, no-bake, and snickerdoodle flavor? All 3 of these in one made these a hit for me. I appreciated your simple directions with photos so I couldn't mess them up even if I tried. I will definitely make these again and I won't share them with my husband this time, lol!
fitasamamabear says
Haha it's a flavor you can't wrong with!
Mika says
Whipped up these protein bars today! It's so easy to make and perfect for for busy days! I'll make sure to make a batch that will literally last me for a month! This is so good!
fitasamamabear says
They're such a tasty snack to have on hand!
Etsuko says
I've been experimenting with cassava flour recently, but this was my first attempt at a sweet recipe using it. I loved the cinnamony flavor and I used regular butter because I enjoy the taste of traditional snickerdoodles so much. They came out really yummy.
fitasamamabear says
Yay!! I love that you have a staple to use it up!
Rovi says
Thanks to your easy-to-follow recipe, I got it right this time! I am a cinnamon lover, so I enjoyed this protein bar very much! They are perfect for busy days when I need a quick and convenient bite.
fitasamamabear says
Happy to hear you loved it!
Sage Scott says
Because I have to work hard to get enough plant-based protein, I've been on a kick to try different protein bars. Love these so much! (Probably because I'm a big fan of snickerdoodes.)