No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Easy no-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars make the perfect healthy snack or treat that you can keep in the fridge and enjoy all week! Vegan and gluten-free.

There is something so ridiculously magical about the combination of peanut butter and chocolate.

The sweet and the salty. The bamboozling fullness and velvety smooth mouthfeel. The utter SATISFACTION of it all. I can't!

Since traveling through Japan and having an overall wicked busy past few months, I've been buying a lot of snack bars. And I believe there is absolutely a time for pre-made snacks.

Not wanting to invest the mental energy or time into whipping out the food processor makes it worth throwing ready to eat snacks in your cart. Certain seasons of life demand it!

But I cannot lie. I've been itchin' for my own cheaper (and quite often tastier) versions of said protein bars. You may be familiar with my Matcha Protein Bars and Cookie Dough Protein Bars. Both are SUH GUDDDDD. Think of these as their long lost cousin that's not so lost.

Medjool dates like the ones used in this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars recipe are the dream sweetener. I learned on my trip to Yuma, Arizona years back that dates are actually a fresh fruit, not a dried fruit. Right off the tree they're insanely moist and almost juicy!

They never go through a drying process like raisins or dried cranberries. Packed with fiber and a host of vitamins and minerals, they get the job done both in caramely flavor AND texture. Bonus points!

How to Make Homemade Protein Bars

Making these delish Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars is really quite simple. You'll need a food processor to grind the dates (find them in the refrigerated section at Trader Joe's or at Costco by the fresh fruit) plus a handful of ingredients like peanuts, walnuts, and protein powder that you likely already have on hand.

I like raw cacao powder for the antioxidant benefit but good old unsweetened baking cocoa works totally fine here, too. You do you, boo!

You want the mixture to form a "dough" ball and sometimes adding a splash of water helps everything come together depending on how *moist* (sorry!) your dates are. Dates last for a really long time but if yours are feeling hard, wrap them in a moist paper towel and microwave them for a bit OR let them soak in hot water for a few minutes.

Just promise me that you won't forget to remove the pit. I've ended up accidentally grinding those more than once and let me tell you, it is not a pretty sound. They are not the garbage disposal's friend!

Fun fact! Did you know peanuts have more protein that any other nut? They boast a whopping seven grams of plant-powered protein per serving. To be honest, I don't use a ton of protein powder these days but I do like the extra boost it adds to grab and go snacks.

Which Protein Powder is Best?

This and this are my favorite protein powders. Now that I think of it, chocolate  flavored protein would probably be v tasty in here as well! I always go with plant-based protein powder so I have no idea how these would be with whey. Try at your own risk.

If you don't have protein, you can swap it out for oats or coconut or whatever you fancy.

How to Store Protein Bars

I like to store these gems in the freezer because I think the texture is amazing. The fridge or freezer will work and they last for quite a while!

CRAVING MORE SNACK GOODNESS? DON’T MISS MY OTHER GO-TO RECIPES:

• Cookie Dough Protein Bars
• Salted Chocolate Covered Oatmeal Bites
• No-Bake Matcha Protein Bars
• Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Snack Bars
• Cherry Vanilla Protein Bars

Go change the world, Popeye!!

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

★★★★★ 5 from 6 reviews

• Author: Alexis Joseph | Hummusapien
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Total Time: 15 min
• Yield: 8 bars 1x
• Category: Snack
• Method: No-Bake
• Cuisine: American

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Description

Easy no-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars make the perfect healthy snack or treat that you can keep in the fridge and enjoy all week! Vegan and gluten-free.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup pitted soft medjool dates, packed (about 12 large dates)
• 1 cup salted peanuts (plus more for topping)
• ½ cup walnuts
• ¼ cup vanilla plant-based protein powder
• ¼ cup cacao powder
• 1 tbsp water, if needed
• 2 tbsp chocolate chips
• ½ tsp coconut oil

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Instructions

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment or wax paper. If your dates are hard, soak them in a bowl of warm water for a few minutes to soften up.
2. Place dates, peanuts and walnuts in the bowl of a large food processor. Process a minute or two, or until a crumbly mixture is formed.
3. Add protein powder and cacao powder. Use a spatula to break apart and stir mixture a bit by hand before processing again until a dough ball is formed. If mixture won’t form a ball, add a tablespoon of water
4. Place mixture in pan and flatten well with hands until even and smooth.
5. Melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small microwave-safe bowl. Drizzle over bars and top with crushed peanuts. Freeze overnight.
6. Cut into 8-10 bars. Store in air-right container in freezer for best texture.

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Recipe by Alexis Joseph of Hummusapien™. Photos by Eat Love Eats.