No-Bake Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars – a healthy and portable snack packed-full of protein and made with healthy ingredients like dates, cashews, protein powder and rolled oats for a delicious and sweet no-bake treat.
While I’m a huge fan of baking I’m also a huge fan of not baking. Ha! Especially when the weather warms up, I like to keep our house cooler and keep the oven turned off when possible. And just on cue, our oven malfunctioned the other days so looks like we’ll be taking a week off baking anyway! So when I was craving a cinnamon roll the other day, I shifted gears in my mind and decided to make cinnamon roll protein bars! And let me tell you… they were a great substitute for the real deal!
Here’s What You Need:
raw, unsalted cashews – I’ve only made these with cashews but you could try using a different combination of nuts if you’d like!
dates – adds the perfect amount of sweetness and holds these bars together.
vanilla protein powder – I have been liking the Garden of Life Vanilla Plant-Based Protein Powder lately but any vegan or whey protein powder will work! I do recommend vanilla flavor for this recipe. A note on my preference below.
cinnamon – can’t have a cinnamon roll without cinnamon!
sea salt
rolled oats – be sure to grab gluten-free if necessary
almond milk – I recommend unsweetened almond milk but any non-dairy milk will work.
There are two parts to these bars… the actual protein bar and then the “frosting” drizzle on top. Yes, the frosting is made from protein powder and milk but it’s a really great addition that I don’t recommend skipping!
How much protein is in these bars?
This will ultimately depend on what type of protein powder you use. Here’s how to figure out the amount of protein per serving in each bar:
Determine how many servings goes into 3/4 of a cup i.e. for Garden of Life Vanilla protein there are 1 1/2 scoops in 3/4 cup so 1 1/2 servings. Each serving is 22 grams of protein so that means there are 33 grams of protein total. Now divide that by the number of bars- which I cut into 12. That means there are 2.75 grams of protein per bar. That being said, the cashews + oats also have small amounts of protein as well so likely around 3 grams of protein per bar.
Generally whey protein tends to have more protein per serving than plant-based protein so if increasing your protein consumption is your goal then you’re better off going with whey.
Using Plant-Based Protein
So I’ve tested these no-bake cinnamon roll protein bars with both grass-fed whey protein and plant-based protein. I’ll be honest, the taste is a bit more authentic with the grass-fed whey. They also look a bit more like cinnamon rolls because the plant-based protein tends to add a “greenish” hue to the bars (which you’ll see in these photos). If that’s off-putting to you, stick with whey but if you’re vegan or just prefer plant-based protein powder know that they work just fine!
Storing No Bake Protein Bars
I recommend cutting and storing these bars in an airtight container layered with parchment paper. Keep them in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
PrintNo-Bake Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars
No-Bake Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars – a healthy and portable snack packed-full of protein and made with healthy ingredients like dates, cashews, protein powder and rolled oats for a delicious and sweet no-bake treat.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Bake
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews (could try substituting another nut)
- 1 cup soft, pitted dates
- 3/4 cup vanilla protein powder (whey or plant-based)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (gluten-free if necessary)
- 1 tbsp unsweetened almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
For the protein drizzle:
- 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder
- 1 tbsp almond milk (or other non-dairy milk)
Instructions
- Place cashews and dates in a food processor or high-speed blender and process until they come together in a ball (about 2-3 minutes)
- Break up ball and add in protein powder, oats, cinnamon and salt. Process until oats are broken up.
- Add in 1 tablespoon of non-dairy milk and process until it comes together in a ball again.
- Line an 8 x 8 baking dish with plastic wrap.
- Take “dough” from food processor and spread out in baking dish with hands. Top should be flat.
- Place in freezer for 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile make the protein drizzle by combining the protein powder and non-dairy milk until powder has absorbed the milk.
- Remove bars from freezer and lift out of dish by picking up the plastic wrap.
- Cut into 12 bars.
- Mix the protein drizzle in a small bowl. Add more almond milk if needed.
- Add the protein drizzle to a ziploc bag and cut a very small hole in one corner.
- Pipe mixture in desired pattern over bars.
- Place in baking dish and freeze for another 15 minutes or until drizzle has hardened.
- Keep in fridge for up to 1 month or longer in freezer.
Like this post? Here are others you might enjoy:
- Matcha Protein Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Mint Chocolate Protein Bars
- Almond Joy Protein Bars
- Mocha Protein Bars
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56 Comments
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily
March 23, 2014 at 10:28 pmI havnt had acinnamonrollin 15 years! Love Em! These are sooooo happening ASAP!
P.S. it says no bake but you have a cook time of 30 minutes.
Davida Kugelmass
March 24, 2014 at 11:18 amHi Gwen! I hope you enjoy them!
They are technically no-bake but they do require two 15 minute intervals in the freezer. Still not sure if that counts as “prep time” or “cook time”! For google searches to appear in a certain way you need to include both so I just took a guess! Definitely confusing though 😉
Mary Frances
March 23, 2014 at 9:30 pmThat is me and dates – I just can’t bake with them! So I love that you are a no baker 😉 Join the club!
Kim @ BusyBod
March 23, 2014 at 9:03 pmI really need to find a substitute for dates. They are the staple in so many delicious sounding recipes (like this one). And I can’t have them – grumble!!
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily
March 23, 2014 at 10:30 pmTry raw honey!
Heather @ Run Like a G!
March 23, 2014 at 8:15 pmI love to bake way more than I love to cook 🙂
Lee
March 23, 2014 at 7:54 pmThese are so cute! Okay be honest. How did the drizzle on top taste? I’ve tried to do that before and it was yick.
Davida Kugelmass
March 23, 2014 at 8:26 pmTasted amaaaazeballs. I squeezed the leftovers straight from the ziploc bag into my mouth #classy
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
March 23, 2014 at 5:52 pmDying for these, dying! Ok not dying, but extremely happy! I love cinnamon rolls so much, so put into a protein bar? Yes, girl, yes!
Kim
March 23, 2014 at 3:27 pmWow – I’m impressed with all of your baking experiments – even if they don’t work out perfectly!
I don’t know if baking is like riding a bike – I’ve never been good at it.
And, I don’t use protein powders – I’ve never tried them and don’t really want to (not sure why!).
Alexis @ Hummusapien
March 23, 2014 at 2:57 pmObvi I made these this morning and gifted you with pictures of my ball. Obvi they tastes amaaaaze. You’re the protein bar queen. Hope your hangover is calming itself. In the mean time, bring on da waffles!
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness
March 23, 2014 at 1:38 pmOooh yum, bookmarking now to make soon! I totally know what you mean. I get on a kick of baking for a few weeks, then I don’t bake for a few weeks. Recipe creation in general comes and goes in waves for me! But I feel like I just like to let it flow and create recipes when I’m in the mood to, ya know?
I put protein powder in my smoothies pretty often – usually every other day I’d say. I also eat protein bars probably every other day. I feel like with being a really active vegetarian, I need them to keep my protein intake high enough. No complaints though, I like my smoothies and Quest bars!
Kaitlin @4loveofcarrots
March 23, 2014 at 1:09 pmOh wow these sound fab! I have been trying to figure out something to do with all these dates we have at the store and this just might be it!
Becky @ Olives n Wine
March 23, 2014 at 1:08 pmThis looks like a protein recipe that I can get down with. Typically I think protein powder makes baked goods a little grainy (if that makes sense…) but with the addition of oatmeal, I think it would mix in super well! As for baking, I think it’s like riding a bike but then I’m a bakeaholic 😉
Ksenija @ With An Open Mind
March 23, 2014 at 12:35 pmMay I say that I am really happy about your failed baking attempts!? It’s only because I don’t have an oven for at least 6 more weeks (who knows when Jay and I will find a flat) and now I am actually able to make your recipe… but for the fact that I didn’t bring any protein powder to France. But I am considering to spoil myself with some hemp-protein, since I love to have it in my green smoothies.