This soft, no-bake, Gluten-Free Protein Bars Recipe recipe makes an ideal on-the-go snack! Made with vanilla protein powder and sweetened with just a hint of maple syrup, these dairy-free bars come in at a minimum of 11 grams of protein per serving.
"These protein bars are delicious and easy to make. I just love no-bake snacks that are not messy and are kids approved."
-Vladka
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 45 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 10 Bars
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 234 kcals and 11 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Almond flour, vanilla protein powder, almond butter, gluten-free oats, dried fruits.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan-friendly,high-protein, no-bake, refined sugar-free.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: These homemade protein bars are easy, no-bake, and packed with clean ingredients for a healthy, satisfying snack.
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If I added up how much I used to spend on store-bought protein bars, I’d probably cringe. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized how easy it is to make your own at home, and honestly, how much better they taste (have you had this peanut butter vanilla protein bars recipe?!).
If you’re new to snack prep, learn everything you need to know about how to make your own protein bars (step-by-step guide!). These gluten-free protein bars are both fueling and filling, with simple ingredients that come together fast, making them a true busy mom win.
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💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Easy to make: Made with basic high-protein food staples and prepped in just 5 minutes.
Easy to customize: There are so many ways to vary these gluten-free protein bars that you can make something almost new each time.
Filling: With 10 grams of protein, lots of healthy fats, and packed with fiber, the bars make a great snack.
Texture: Thick and chewy but they hold up well at room temperature.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Almond flour: Not to be confused with almond meal or ground almonds. Almond meal helps give this gluten-free protein bar an indulgent flavor without a gritty texture. (learn the difference between almond flour and meal).
- Regular oats: Oats are an easy way to bulk up the protein bars recipe and stretch it further. Plus, they're a great source of recovery post-workout. Make sure to use gluten-free oats as needed, though.
- Vanilla Protein Powder: The protein you choose will affect the flavor and the texture of the bars. Make sure you choose a gluten-free protein as per any allergy requirements. Originally, these high-protein snack bars were made with Botanica Perfect Protein.
- Almond butter: Any nut butter will work for protein bars, just make sure it's fresh so that it blends more easily. We obviously love using no oil peanut butter, too.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Flavor Variations
Ultimate chocolate: Swap the dried fruit for chocolate chips and drizzle on some dairy-free chocolate glaze. Or, coat them like this chocolate protein bar recipe.
Salted caramel: Skip the dried fruit and top the protein bars with coconut milk caramel sauce followed by flaky sea salt.
How To Make Gluten-Free Protein Bars
Step 1: Mix the oats, almond flour, and protein.
Step 2: Whisk together the syrup, nut butter, and vanilla extract.
Step 3: Add in the dried cherries and portion the mixture into an 8x8 pan.
Step 4: Press crushed almonds on top of the dairy-free protein bars and freeze to set.
Important Teaching Tips
The kind of protein powder you choose will affect both the taste and texture of the bars as well as how to make them (this applies to my favorite gingerbread protein bars, too). Here is the breakdown on which protein powder is best:
- Vegan protein: Originally made with a vegan protein powder (specifically Botanica Perfect Protein) these tend to absorb more liquid. If the batter looks super dry and crumbly, you need to add a splash more milk to the recipe.
- Fermented vegan protein: Absorbs the most liquid out of the bunch. Add 1 tablespoon more of nut butter, and you'll need more milk.
- Beef protein: I have recently switched to beef isolate protein powder for health reasons, and it's perfect. Delicious in flavor and great to mix in. It will create a stickier texture, but you won't need as much dairy.
- Collagen powder: This is my favorite when making protein bars for kids as it's the cleanest source you'll find. It blends easily, and you will probably not need as much milk since it doesn't absorb like crazy. Learn more about what collagen powder is and know you'll need a bit more sweetness in the bars.
If using a vegan protein powder, the gluten-free protein bars do get soft when they sit out for too long. So, keep them in the fridge until ready to eat. However, this isn't the case with beef protein, and they hold up perfectly at room temperature.
Store the post-workout bars in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days and enjoy chilled. Or freeze them separated by pieces of parchment paper for up to 2 months. Let them sit on the counter to thaw for about 15 minutes.
Gluten-Free Protein Bars FAQs
Most store-bought nutrition bars contain added sugars that can be detrimental to fitness goals. Making protein bars allows you to be in control of how much (and what type) of sugar is added.
Swapping out peanut or almond butter for a different nut butter is a great way to change the flavor of a protein bar recipe. Try using almond-hazelnut butter or cashew butter.
How your protein bars stick together is a result of the protein powder you choose. If you're using a vegan protein powder and notice that your bars are crumbling, you'll need to add an extra bit of nut butter and dairy-free milk. Outside of that, make sure to press the bars firmly into the pan so that they hold their shape.
More Wicked Protein Recipes You'll Love
If you tried this Gluten-Free Protein Bar Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Gluten-Free Homemade Protein Bars
Video
Equipment
- Mixing Bowls
Ingredients
- ¾ cup Almond flour
- ½ cup Old Fashioned Oats gluten free
- ½ cup Beef based protein powder
- 2 tablespoons Coconut Oil measured solid
- ⅓ cup Almond butter
- 1 tablespoons Maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons almond milk
- ½ cup dried cherries
- ⅛ cup almonds chopped
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the first four ingredients.
- Heat the coconut oil until melted and whisk it in with the almond butter and syrup,
- Pour wet into dry and mix slightly.
- Slowly add in the almond milk 1 tablespoon at a tome and mixuntil combined.
- Add in the dried cherries and mix again.
- Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper. Scoop the mixture into the pan and using another piece of parchment paper, press the bar mixture evenly into the pan. Press hard to make sure they stay together.
- Top the mixture with the almonds and use a silicone spatula to press them into the mixture.
- Place in the freezer to set for one hour.
- Remove and cut into ten bars.
- Keep in the freezer until ready to eat (or place in the fridge). Can be eaten straight from the freezer or chilled in the fridge.
Notes
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup non-dairy milk
- ½ cup + 2 tbs protein powder
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
4pics says
This is a great recipe! I made it as a dairy-free protein bar and it was delicious!
fitasamamabear says
Ahh awesome! Glad you enjoyed them!
Elizabeth S says
These are great. I was so sick of buying and paying a ton of money for them. This solved that and I am going to swap some ingredients out and make them my own concoction in the future!
fitasamamabear says
It's so much cheaper to make them eh? And you can add in your favorites etc
Ksenia says
Made a batch this weekend, and it's only Monday afternoon and I already ate 1/4 of it! The kids took a bar each in their lunch boxes, so this was a hit with everyone
fitasamamabear says
Haha it's SO easy to snack on!
Rebecca Blackwell says
I've made these twice so far and they are the perfect thing for breakfast on the go. My whole family loves them so much I plan to keep them on hand all the time!
fitasamamabear says
So happy the fam loves them, that's huge!
Vladka says
These protein bars are delicious and easy to make. I just love no-bake snacks that are not messy and are kids approved.
fitasamamabear says
No bake stuff saves my sanity too!