Cookie Dough Protein Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free)
These Cookie Dough Protein Bars are the best sweet breakfast or snack that’s packed with protein all in one little bar! Don’t worry these are vegan friendly and gluten free too!
When it comes to protein bars, I’m a little snobby! I hate the thought of the packaged ones (most of them) because they look SO good, but when you finally break one open it tastes NOTHING like the flavor that was promised.
If you know anything about me you know I love chocolate in any form and sweets! So when I was craving cookie dough but knew I needed a little extra nutrition, it sparked cookie dough protein bars! Thank god for pregnancy cravings right?
These homemade protein bars make breakfast easy and snacks more satisfying because the protein makes you stay fuller for longer! Baking them in batches is best because let’s face it, you can’t have just one!
Not to mention, if you have kids at home these chocolate chip cookie dough bars are a great way to sneak in some protein while they think they are just getting a delicious treat!
What You Need for Cookie Dough Protein Bars
Flour – we are using a combo of almond flour and oat flour for this one! I make my own oat flour from scratch! Just add oats to your blender and blend until a fine flour forms.
Flaxseed – be sure to get the ground flaxseed meal! It offers a good source of fiber and a little extra protein
Nut butter – choose your favorite just as long as it’s all-natural! You know the kind that you have to stir and stir before it’s actually spreadable? Check out my Healthy Kroger Grocery Haul and Trader Joes Grocery Haul for my favorites!
Protein Powder – I chose to use vanilla, but feel free to experiment with other flavors
Maple Syrup – just enough to add the sweetness that most bars are missing!
Chocolate chips – ya’ll know I love Lily’s! Be sure to check them out their no added sugar chocolate is the best!
Other Ingredients: vanilla extract, salt, and sea salt flake for topping
Kitchen Tools Needed To Make Protein Bars
- Loaf Pan
- Hand Mixer (you can use a spatula but the mixer is SO much easier and faster)
- Parchment paper
Tips for Making Cookie Dough Protein Bars
To keep these gluten free cookie dough protein bars vegan friendly, make sure you don’t use whey protein. I actually like plant-based proteins better in these bars anyway. Check out Orgain if you are new to making protein snacks! It’s delicious and works great for cooking.
Don’t skip on the firming time! If you do your bars will fall apart when you try to cut them.
To switch the flavors up, experience the different kinds of protein powder because there are a ton to choose from! Even flavors like birthday cake, chocolate peanut butter, caramel, and seasonal flavors like peppermint cocoa!
How To Freeze Homemade Cookie Dough Protein Bars
After your bars have set up, go ahead and cut them into 8 equal pieces. Place them in a freezer bag wrapped in plastic wrap. I recommend wrapping each one individually so you can grab one and go when you need it!
Let me know what you think about the bars! Tag me on Instagram or DM me!
How to make chocolate chip cookie dough bars nut free:
Replace the almond flour with oat flour to make these bars nut free. You will also want to swap out the nut butter with a seed butter like sunflower seed butter or tahini.
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Other Recipes Made With Protein:
- The Best Pumpkin Protein Muffins
- Protein Chocolate Chip Cookies – No Flour!
- No Added Sugar Salted Caramel Overnight Oats | High Protein Recipe
- Healthy No-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Bars
- NoBake Pumpkin Protein Balls | Gluten-free, Vegan Option
Cookie Dough Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup almond flour
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1/2 cup nut butter of choice Natural, the drippy kind. If you don't have natural, you may need to add 1-2 tbsp melted coconut oil to your bars
- 1/3 cup Vanilla Protein Powder
- 1/4 cup maple syrup can sub honey
- 1.5 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
- Sea salt flakes for topping
Instructions
- Line a standard loaf pan (~9×5) with parchment paper
- Add all of your ingredients except for the chocolate chips to a bowl. Using a hand mixer or rubber spatula, stir until combined and dough has formed. If you don't have natural nut butter, you may need to add 1-2 tbsp melted coconut oil to your bars to help them form properly.
- Fold in chocolate chips. Spread evenly across pan. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes (optional).
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
- Cut into 8 bars & enjoy!
Delicious! I used oat fiber instead of oat flour. You can cut them and eat out of the freezer. Will make again with my homemade peanut butter.
Hello! Super delicious. Was looking for a high protein snack for my 14 year old son and he gave them a thumbs up! Do u store them in the refrigerator?
Yay! So happy you all enjoyed them 🙂 They can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. I don’t recommend leaving them on the counter.
I would love to try this. Is there an alternative to almond flour they would work okay? Also what are the nutritional facts of each bar please?
You could try oat flour but I haven’t tested it. I don’t provide nutritional information but you can add it to a nutrition calculator online if you’d like.
Thank you for graciously sharing this recipe . Is there no baking required in this recipe ?
Correct – they are no-bake protein bars 🙂
Hi , thanks for the recipe . A fried shared it with me. Is no baking required in this recipe ?
That’s right! No baking required 🙂
Best protein bars ever thank you!! I used Orgain Vanilla Bean protein powder and it’s amazing!
What size baking pan do you use?
A loaf pan! The standard size is ~9×5.