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Home  ›  Recipes  ›  Course  ›  Snacks  ›  Bars & Balls

4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars

See Recipe Review

Posted:

01/09/17

Updated:

09/10/24

By:

Ashley Walterhouse

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.

These homemade protein bars require just 4 ingredients and are made like the favorite Whole30 approved RXBAR using egg white protein, almonds, cashews and dates. Quick and easy, paleo and vegetarian! Customizable recipe!

4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars pinterest image

  • 4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars
  • 4 Ingredients Needed for Homemade Paleo Protein Bars
  • How much does it cost to make homemade protein bars?
  • So what is the texture like of these homemade protein bars?
  • Where can I get egg white protein powder?
  • More Homemade Protein Bar Recipes
  • 4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars

This post is sponsored by my partnership with NOW Foods. All opinions expressed (as always) are my own. Thank you for helping support the brands I trust and have the pleasure of working with, making Fit Mitten Kitchen possible!

As much as I am trying to fill myself up during meals on this Whole30 journey, I sometimes fall short and just really need a snack. I’m big on snacks (as you may know with the many snacks I love to post…) and pretty much carry them with me wherever I go–I’ve even been known to pull out a baggie of mini muffins while watching MSU football at a bar…

But during the first week of my Whole30 I have realized how much I depend on them. I’m making a conscious effort to drink more water during and in between meals to make sure that dehydration doesn’t trick me. But when your stomach is actually hungry (not just bored) it’s time to eat a little something to hold you over until your next meal.

There are few store-bought protein/snack bars that I like, but RXBAR is definitely one of them–mostly due to their ingredients list (simple and no added sugars), which also makes them Whole30 approved. And as much as I love RXBARS, they’re kind of pricey! Usually around $2.30 per bar–depending on where you shop, if you’re just buying by the bar, or if you happen to come across a good sale.

When I noticed that NOW Foods carried pure egg white protein I immediately thought of RXBARS and that I NEEDED to create a DIY version.

4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars

4-ingredient homemade protein bars on pan with cashews, almonds and dates

4 Ingredients Needed for Homemade Paleo Protein Bars

  • almonds
  • cashews
  • egg white protein
  • medjool dates
steps to make 4-ingredient protein bars; egg white protein powder, almonds, cashews, medjool dates and food processor bowl

How much does it cost to make homemade protein bars?

The bars themselves take very little time. And because I was curious to see the price comparison, I even broke it down for you for the dollar amount used in each ingredient:

  • 1 cup almonds – $5.24
  • 1 cup cashews  – $5.44
  • egg white protein – $2.96
  • medjool dates – $6.84

*this is a rough estimate and definitely depends on if you can purchase your nuts and dates in bulk. So if you can have the ability to do that, the price per bar will come out even lower.

TOTAL COST PER BAR – $1.70

On average, you’re saving roughly .50/bar, again depending on various factors. Not to mention saving on packaging/waste 🙂 The savings may or may not be a huge deal to you, but if you’re interested in making more snacks at home, these homemade paleo protein bars may be a good option for you!

So what is the texture like of these homemade protein bars?

Soft and kinda chewy, but not nearly as chewy (or hard) as a RXBAR.

I personally don’t mind the texture of RXBARS. But if you don’t like how hard they can get, these homemade protein bars are a great option. They’re sweet, soft and no you cannot taste the protein!

I’ve even been enjoying them as a breakfast with my collagen coffee. The combination of the fats, carbs and protein holds me over for hours.

Where can I get egg white protein powder?

I typically buy mine on Amazon but I’ve also seen it in grocery stores like Whole Foods and Fresh Thyme.

up close 4-ingredient homemade protein bar on pan with parchment paper, cashews, almonds and medjool dates

More Homemade Protein Bar Recipes

  • Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Blueberry and Magno all covered HERE.
  • Cacao Coffee Protein Bars
  • Cashew Chocolate Energy Balls
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5 from 5 votes

4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars

Prep: 30 minutes minutes
Total: 30 minutes minutes
These homemade protein bars require just 4 ingredients and are made like the favorite Whole30 approved RXBAR using egg white protein, almonds, cashews and dates. Quick and easy, paleo and vegetarian!
These 4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars are paleo, vegetarian and Whole30 compliant!
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Author: Ashley Walterhouse
Prevent your screen from going dark
Servings 12

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw almonds
  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1 cup pure egg white protein
  • 18 large medjool dates, pitted (10 ounces)
  • 2-4 tablespoons water

optional flavor add-ins:

  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
  • 1 cube fresh ginger, or 1 tsp ground
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

Instructions

  • Line a 8×8 pan with parchment paper, set aside.
  • In the bowl of your food processor, process almonds, cashews, and egg white protein until nuts have broken down into small pieces. If using additional flavors (I used cinnamon and ginger here) add them with the first step.
  • Add in pitted dates and process until combined–the mixture will look a little dry. With the motor running about 1 tablespoon of water at a time until mixture is sticky and everything comes together. Depending on if your dates were juicy or dry, you may need less or more water.
  • Once mixtures has come together and is sticky, transfer to lined 8×8 pan. Use slightly wet hands to press evenly into pan. I use his fun little pastry roller to make it extra flat.
  • Place pan in fridge for 1 hour, or freezer for 30 minutes before cutting into bars. Use large sharp knife and cutting board, cutting bars into 12 or 16 squares. Enjoy!

Video

★ Last step! If you make this, please leave a review letting us know how it was!

Recipe Notes:

Bars can be enjoyed at room temperature but keep best in fridge. Store bars in covered container, with parchment paper in between layers. Bars should last about 2 weeks, or freezer about 3 months.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1 bar, Calories: 188kcal (9%), Carbohydrates: 23g (8%), Protein: 9g (18%), Fat: 8g (12%), Saturated Fat: 1g (6%), Sodium: 89mg (4%), Fiber: 3g (13%), Sugar: 17g (19%)
Like this?Leave a comment below!

This post contains some affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through said links, I will receive a small commission. Thank you for your support in helping keep Fit Mitten Kitchen up and running. 

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About

Ashley Walterhouse

Ashley Walterhouse is the founder of Fit Mitten Kitchen, based in the Greater Lansing Area of Michigan, AKA “the Mitten.” Ashley grew up as a picky eater but later discovered that eating healthy was actually easy and fun. She started FMK in 2015 as a way to share her newfound love of developing healthier recipes for all to enjoy.
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5 from 5 votes

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Recipe Rating




55 responses

  1. Cassie
    May 21, 2019

    A friend can only have almonds due to (other) nut allergies any suggestions on substitution for the Cashews? Would more almonds work? What would you recommend?

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      July 1, 2019

      More almonds should work! Or even adding pumpkin seeds. Once you add the nuts/seeds, process until the right texture forms.

      Reply
  2. Leyna
    February 26, 2019

    5 stars
    Instead of egg white protein I substituted in peanut butter protein power because I already had it at home and they still came out great! Everyone who tried them said they were great!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      February 26, 2019

      Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing your substitution. Glad they worked!

      Reply
  3. Bill
    September 25, 2018

    5 stars
    i work in a warehouse and brought these in. people said i should sell them, i’d make a killing. these are oh my god amazing.
    and you can mess with the base to your hearts content! just like the recipe are almost too good, i can’t stop at 1 piece.
    i cut it with toasted oats and coconut to remind people it is healthy, otherwise it’s shameful how good they are:)
    ive given out the recipe to a dozen people already!
    thanks !!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      October 1, 2018

      Wow, Bill! That is incredible. Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and leave a review 🙂 So glad they are loved by you and many others!

      Reply
  4. Jenish
    September 4, 2018

    Can we bake this bar in oven for keep long lasting in room temperature

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      September 4, 2018

      I haven’t tried baking this bar before so I can’t say how it would turn out. I don’t think it would bake and keep any longer at room temperature this way though.

      Reply
  5. Candace
    April 21, 2018

    I want to use real egg whites. How do I adjust for that?

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      April 21, 2018

      Because I haven’t tested that myself unfortunately I cannot give you a confident answer. There really wouldn’t be a way to sub liquid egg white for the powdered and get the same protein amount, without changing the ratio of the other ingredients. Egg white protein powder is really the only way to go here

      Reply
  6. Hannah
    February 3, 2018

    Hi Ashley! First of all, I love the recipe, its great to cut down on the packaging and fun to do a homemade version. However, I used sweetened egg protein powder and am finding the bars SO sweet. Any ideas for some extra filler to counteract the sweet? Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      February 5, 2018

      Hi Hannah, I can see how they would be too sweet using the sweetened egg white protein (I’ll update to make a note to use unsweetened). I’m wondering if maybe dusting them with cocoa powder or cinnamon could help a little bit? It’s hard when the sweetness is already packed in there!

      Reply
  7. Lori Borish
    January 3, 2018

    These sound amazing. I am looking for nutritional content, particularly the amount of protein and number of calories per bar. Thanks for your help.

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      January 3, 2018

      Hi Lori, nutrition calculated for 1/12 is approximately: Calories: 216 Fat: 9 Carbohydrates: 28 Sugar: 22 Protein: 9.

      Hope that helps!

      Reply
  8. Joey
    December 30, 2017

    Oh my I just made these with organic chocolate plant protein, dark chocolate cocoa powder, cinnamon, with a little sea salt on top and they’re DELICIOUS! I can’t wait to experiment with other flavor combinations

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      December 30, 2017

      Awesome, Joey! Thanks so much for sharing your creation 🙂 Glad you loved them!

      Reply
  9. Colleen Snider
    August 8, 2017

    Thank you for posting this. I made these last night and they turned out great. I brought them into my gym this morning and everyone loved them (we are all RX Bar lovers there). I did have to add about 4 TBSP of water because it was pretty dry from the cacao. I think next time I will leave the optional ingredients out and see how it is without the cacao and maybe add some different things.

    Also I wanted to say thank you for posting what you post. I love your thoughts about balance and enjoying life without letting food control you. I follow you on Instagram and you saying things like eat a bagel if you want a bagel really hit home. I love to bake and sometimes not the healthy stuff so I love that you also agree to make a batch of cookies done the “real” way and enjoy them without feeling guilty. Keep doing what you do, I really appreciate the content of your posts.

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      August 8, 2017

      Hi Colleen! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and let me know that you and the gym loved the bars! The egg white protein powder tends to make them a little dry–adding 4TBS of water seems about right to help them come together.

      And thank you so much for your kind words regarding my content. I truly do believe it is the best to practice balance and moderation. I have never had a healthier relationship with food because of that mindset. It feels really good to let go of all of those “rules” and I can only hope that by sharing, I am helping others along the way! Thank you again! It really means so much.

      Reply
  10. Sarah
    August 4, 2017

    Hi Ashley,

    I am wondering Can we use pure egg white instead of egg white protein powder to do the protein bar?

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      August 4, 2017

      Hi there Sarah – I haven’t tried that myself ever so I am afraid I can’t give you a solid answer. I don’t think you’d be able to get the same amount of protein either by using egg whites vs the powder, and the liquid ratio would be thrown off, so you’d probably have to add another dry ingredient like coconut flour to help balance it out.

      Reply
  11. Lauren
    June 29, 2017

    Hey Ashley,
    Can’t wait to try your recipe.. quick question… do you know why these only last a couple weeks when the RXBARs last 9 months? Just curious as to the difference since everything is the same.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      June 30, 2017

      Hi Lauren! I like to just be cautious with homemade recipes since all of the ingredients are fresh and processed by hand. The homemade bars could last longer, but I probably wouldn’t go past a month myself. They can also be stored in the freezer too for longer periods of time. Just make sure they’re wrapped really tightly and sealed in an air tight container so they don’t get freezer burn. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  12. Brandon Cox
    May 12, 2017

    5 stars
    I tried this but mine turned out very sticky and even stuck to the parchment paper. They are not hardening at all. Maybe I added too much water. Any ideas? The taste is amazing though. I just need to work on the consistency.

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      May 14, 2017

      Hey Brandon! Thanks so much for your comment 🙂 I think it could have been the water as well, possibly over-processing a tad. I would add a little less water next time and watch closely in between pulsing for a less sticky consistency. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  13. Amy
    April 24, 2017

    What could I use instead of egg white powder? I don’t live somewhere I can get that easily…

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      April 25, 2017

      You can likely use a whey protein powder, or even a plant-based powder. I would just add a little bit at a time and make sure the consistency is still sticky/moist so you can form bars. I don’t know an exact ratio because I haven’t tried that way myself. I hope that helps a little!

      Reply
  14. Abrielle
    January 11, 2017

    Is there any substitute for egg white protein powder that would give a similar outcome? Also, can you purchase egg white protiein powder at most grocery stores? Thanks 🙂

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      January 11, 2017

      So I’ve used collagen protein before in a similar recipe but I can’t vouch for other protein powders really. I think a plant protein would be your best option. If it ends up being dry, just add 1 TBS of water at a time 🙂
      As far as where to purchase egg white protein, I typically buy most of my protein powders on Amazon, so off the top of my head I am not sure what stores exactly would carry this protein. I feel like most health stores would carry it, and I *think* I saw this egg white protein at Fresh Thyme. Hope that helps!

      Reply
    2. Mackenzie
      January 12, 2017

      @Abrielle – Trader Joe’s has egg white protein now! Life Balance Pure Egg White protein. I’m not sure how much it is but I’m pretty sure it’s not too expensive

      Reply
      1. Ashley
        January 12, 2017

        Yay that’s awesome! Thanks so much for letting us know Mackenzie 🙂

        Reply
  15. rachel @ athletic avocado
    January 9, 2017

    I’m so intrigued with egg white protein powder! I have to try that! Love that these are made with only 4 ingredients and are whole30 approved too, thank you for sharing 🙂

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      January 13, 2017

      Yeah it’s a great option to add to bars! 🙂

      Reply
      1. Barbara Duncan
        January 20, 2019

        Can collagen peptides be used instead of egg white protein?

        Reply
        1. Ashley
          January 20, 2019

          Yes you can! You just won’t need as much liquid. You can use this as a guide if needed – which uses collagen instead of egg white powder. https://www.fitmittenkitchen.com/pumpkin-spice-paleo-protein-bars/

          Hope that helps!

          Reply
  16. Beverley @ Born to Sweat
    January 9, 2017

    these look awesome Ashley! I love so much how simple they are to make, and don’t need to break the bank either. That egg white protein sounds bad ass, i’ve actually never heard of such a thing!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      January 13, 2017

      Yeah the things our food industry comes up with is crazy, but super cool. Especially if you can save some $$ by DIY

      Reply
  17. Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday
    January 9, 2017

    You’re a genius. I also have definitely still needed snacks on Whole30, but I’m much more choosy about what I eat and also more careful to think about whether I’m just bored or thirsty or something. Whole30 or not, these are an excellent idea! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      January 13, 2017

      Yes same! I am trying to snack more mindfully. But I know enough about my body when I am hungry or just need water. I’ve been drinking much more lemon water this month though so that is a plus.

      Reply
  18. Marina @ A Dancer’s Live-It
    January 9, 2017

    5 stars
    Awesome recipe Ashley!! 🙂 RXBars are my jam but sometimes the price of them isn’t…this also might be a dumb question, but could I substitute a plant-based protein powder for the egg white one?

    Reply
  19. Allie @ Miss Allie’s Kitchen
    January 9, 2017

    This is awesomeeeee! I literally spent $50 on booch and RX Bars last week, no lie. I do buy my almonds in bulk from Amazon so this is totally economical for me to do. Plus just got that food processor – yeeeah buddy,

    Reply
  20. Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie
    January 9, 2017

    I am definitely trying to reduce my waste this year when it comes to packaged snacks so this is perfect! And I loooove RX bars so I am pretty sure these would be amazing!!

    Reply
    1. Ashley
      January 13, 2017

      Yes these homemade ones are a great alternative! I am about ready to make my second batch 😀

      Reply
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Hey there!

I’m Ashley – I started Fit Mitten Kitchen in 2015 to share healthier recipes. Here we balance real food with desserts and healthy snacks making life easy, nutritious and delicious.

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