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
fran
March 12, 2016 at 3:18 pmHi, would love to try these. First what should the consistency be if I use whey powder? Also, any nutritional value for these? thank you.
Davida Kugelmass
March 13, 2016 at 11:19 amWhey and other protein powders will yield similar results! You may need to add a bit more liquid (1-2 tbsp) if using whey. I unfortunately don’t have the nutritional value of the recipe. Feel free to enter it into a nutrition calculator online!
Lyndsay
March 10, 2016 at 7:45 amWhat is the nutritional content?
Abby
January 13, 2016 at 5:31 pmI stumbled upon this recipe today looking for some healthy snack ideas. I made them and I loved them! I had to add a bit more of the almond milk (maybe 2 tsp?) to get them to that sticky point, but you were spot on with that suggestion I also did some rough calorie counting and divided by 12 and they come out approximately 100 cals. Talk about the best 100 cal snack I’ll have in a day!
★★
The Healthy Maven
January 14, 2016 at 3:05 pmso happy to hear you enjoyed them! I make them all the time and just love having them on hand to snack on!
connie
December 7, 2015 at 2:13 amhi there, just to be clear… •2 T almond milk means 2 tablespoons?
Davida Kugelmass
December 7, 2015 at 8:26 amYes!
Jessica Wilson
July 6, 2015 at 7:41 pmMade these and love them!!! They’re so good straight out of the freezer!
Didn’t have almond milk so just used water since I used half almonds and half cashews like you did and when I make almond milk I always just blend almonds and water so I thought it’d be fine, and it was!
Also don’t have a food processor (yet lol obviously need one for these recipes eventually!) but I have a Vitamix so I just blended the nuts in that then mixed them into pre-pureed baking dates along with the rest of the ingredients. Took a little while but worked! – Just in case anyone else doesn’t have a food processor. And you can also buy almond meal/flour or another nut flour if you don’t have a high powered blender!
Thanks for the recipe!! Will be making again 🙂
Davida Kugelmass
July 8, 2015 at 6:32 amSo happy you enjoyed them and thank you for your thoughtful comment! I always love hearing about people’s variations and I know they are so helpful to others as well. Now I’m inspired to go whip up a batch! Thanks so much Jessica!
angie
May 30, 2015 at 3:02 pmnever mind i loaded it on my fitness pal
110 calories per bar
7gr fat
15gr carbs
4gr fibres
8gr sugar
3gr protein
you’re welcome 🙂
angie
May 30, 2015 at 3:09 pmsorry this is the correct
Nutrition Facts
Servings 12.0
Amount Per Serving
calories 126
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6 g 10 %
Saturated Fat 1 g 4 %
Monounsaturated Fat 3 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 2 g
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 0 mg 0 %
Sodium 97 mg 4 %
Potassium 122 mg 3 %
Total Carbohydrate 11 g 4 %
Dietary Fiber 2 g 7 %
Sugars 8 g
Protein 8 g 16 %
Vitamin A 3 %
Vitamin C 3 %
Calcium 6 %
Iron 1 %
angie
May 30, 2015 at 2:58 pmanybody knows the macros in this bar?
Deborah
April 17, 2015 at 1:28 pmI just want to thank you for this! I know this post is a year and a half old, but I somehow just stumbled upon it yesterday and decided to try them last night. OMGosh. Delicious! You’re awesome!
Davida Kugelmass
April 17, 2015 at 2:01 pmAw thank you! You totally made my day 🙂 One of my fav recipes too! So happy you’re enjoying them 🙂
alisha
February 11, 2015 at 12:46 pmwhat is the measurement for the almond milk?!
Davida Kugelmass
February 11, 2015 at 2:35 pmTWO tablespoons! Enjoy!
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Ana
September 4, 2014 at 12:35 amWhat’s the nutritional information on this?
Anyone know? I’d really appreciate it! !
Nadia. Cabrales
September 3, 2014 at 9:32 pmHi, want to try these tomorrow , can I substitute the mint ? What are your substitute suggestions ?
Davida Kugelmass
September 3, 2014 at 9:38 pmyou could certainly leave out the mint though I haven’t tried it myself. Perhaps try replacing it with vanilla extract or almond extract. Let me know how it tastes without it!