These No-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Bars are made with just 7 ingredients and in just 20 minutes! No need to turn your oven on or spend hours slaving in the kitchen to make the ultimate on-the-go snack.
Do you ever get flashbacks with recipes? This recipe brings me right back to when I was still living with my parents and my siblings stole all of the treats I made. I love that this recipe has stood the test of time and I still make (and crave!) them today.
The world seems to go crazy over protein balls and energy bites but I don’t see many people make their own protein bars. That changes today! I promise this recipe is just as easy as energy balls… maybe even easier because you don’t have to roll out 32859 balls.
Why Protein Bars?
In my past life, I would have thought protein bars were what bodybuilders and extreme weightlifters needed and ate. That is so not the case! Everybody needs protein… Protein helps with bone health, boosts your metabolism, and helps your body repair after a workout or injury. I don’t think we necessarily need to look to add more protein to our diet but making sure you have a little bit of protein with every snack and meal is a good goal! Which is where these chocolate protein bars come in. They taste amazing and are a balanced snack that you can enjoy any time of day! Plus, you can’t beat the flavor combination of chocolate and mint… so good!
RELATED: No-Bake Protein Oatmeal Energy Balls
Ingredients in No-Bake Mint Chocolate Bars
- dates
- nuts – I used cashews and almonds
- protein powder (whey or plant-based works great)
- cocoa powder
- peppermint extract
- almond milk
- sea salt
How to Make the Best Protein Bar
You need two kitchen supplies to make these bars: a food processor and a baking pan. Start by pulsing the dates in a food process until they’re chopped up into pieces the size of a pea. Add in the nuts and process until the mixture is finely ground. Add in the rest of the ingredients and process until a sticky ball is formed.
Place the bar mixture into a baking dish lined with parchment paper and flatten using your hands. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes to allow the bars to set a bit. Remove from the freezer, cut into 12 bars and store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
PrintNo-Bake Mint Chocolate Protein Bars
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 Bars 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup of dates
- 1 cup of nuts (I used 1/2 cup cashews and 1/2 cup of almonds)
- 3/4 cup protein powder (I used Vega One French Vanilla but whey protein works too)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp peppermint extract
- 2 tbsp almond milk (if using whey protein, you will need to use slightly more)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
Instructions
- Place dates in food processor and process until pea-like consistency is reached.
- Add in nuts and continue processing until dates and nuts are finely ground.
- Add in protein powder, cocoa powder, salt, peppermint extract and almond milk and process until a well-combined sticky ball is formed.
- Take a 9 x 9 inch baking dish and line with plastic wrap.
- Place bar mixture into dish and flatten, making sure the top is even.
- Place in freezer for at least 15 mins.
- Remove from freezer and lift plastic wrap out of dish.
- Cut into 12 bars.
- Store in fridge or freezer.
*edited: the original recipe used 1/2 cup puffed cereal (I used puffed millet but puffed rice or amaranth works) stirred in at the end. The recipe works with or without it.
Like this recipe? Here are some you might also enjoy:
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Protein Bars
Grain-Free Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Matcha Protein Energy Bars
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141 Comments
April
September 2, 2014 at 1:35 pmI am totally in love with these bars. IN LOOOOOOVE. Just thought you should know. Totally yum.
Davida Kugelmass
September 2, 2014 at 9:15 pmAw thanks April! Gotta thank Alexis for passing on the good word. They’re one of my favs!
Paige@FitNotFad
February 20, 2014 at 9:11 pmUgh yesssssss chocolate mint is the BEST! I pinned these immediately and can’t wait to make them. Also MUST know the tea you were drinking! I have a chocolate mint tea from Might Leaf but am always looking for more….
dina
January 26, 2014 at 6:58 pmthey look great!
Kathy @ Vodka and Soda
October 8, 2013 at 8:37 pmthat happened when i was in school too except we didn’t hav any healthy food to be stolen; it was gross, typical-university-broke-student food like ramen noodles, canned soup, chips etc LOL
this looks SO GOOD!!
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli
September 30, 2013 at 9:30 pmOh Davida! I can relate to this 100%! For as long as I can remember, my father has worked the night shift…and for most of my childhood, I also remember that once he came home at the end of his shift…while all the house was quiet…he became a FOOD THEIF!! My mom would buy us “treats” sometimes…special cereals, snacks, and my favorite little if-I-ate-one-now-I-would-probably-die-from-a-sugar-high coffee cake bars from Little Debbie. My sister and I would have to HIDE them in our rooms so my dad wouldn’t eat them! haha! And yeah, don’t even get me started on the week-long arguments that ensued with my college roommates after someone finished a box of cereal that I’d bought only two days before! MINE!!!!
Love the pictures! Love the recipe! Love that you put protein powder in them…I swear those all date/nut bars do absolutely NOTHING for my hunger! Putting these on the list of things to make for sure! 🙂
Trish @ infinebalance
September 27, 2013 at 7:50 pmI can totally relate… I feel the same way about “my food.” It’s mine. Don’t touch.
Davida @TheHealthyMaven
November 5, 2013 at 10:59 pmGlad we’re on the same wavelength 🙂
christine
September 27, 2013 at 11:48 amwhat purpose does the protein powder serve? could I sub something else?
Davida @TheHealthyMaven
November 5, 2013 at 10:58 pmNo purpose really! You could sub in some oats or try just omitting completely,
nutritiouslysweet.com
September 20, 2013 at 12:20 amMmmm! These sound awesome and are super simple!
Heather @Gluten-Free Cat
September 19, 2013 at 1:39 pmMy husband asked me the other day, “are we out of treats or are you hiding them somewhere?” Ooops, he’s on to me! These are definitely worth hiding! Thanks for sharing them at Raw Foods Thursdays. I’d love to make them over the weekend! (And rethink my hiding places…) 😉
Davida @TheHealthyMaven
September 22, 2013 at 12:35 amMy hiding places are constantly changing!
veganmiam.com
September 19, 2013 at 11:07 am*however
veganmiam.com
September 19, 2013 at 11:07 amIt is hard to resist these yummy desserts, howeve it is easier to share if you make the desserts for others! I have one brother who loves to eat everything, except for fried foods (he doesn’t like them) and he always eat more of my leftovers (which is better than having leftovers!) I can see why it is hard to share with even more siblings! These no-bake mint chocolate protein bars look mouthwatering – I love a bit of peppermint flavor with the chocolate in these – and I haven’t tried the Vega products yet, is the French Vanilla flavor your favorite?
I’m really good at sharing with families or friends around. I give them big portions than my portion (I’m too generous and it’s nice not to have leftovers). But if I am on my own, I devour it completely (a really bad thing…) and it’s better to share it with people around.
gschroer
September 19, 2013 at 4:33 amChocolate and mint are my absolute favorite combination! For some reason I connect it with Christmas but I do enjoy them all year round 🙂 These look amazing!