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!
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 Ingredients Needed for Homemade Paleo Protein Bars
- almonds
- cashews
- egg white protein
- medjool dates
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.
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
4-Ingredient Homemade Protein Bars
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!
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 1x
- Category: snacks
- Method: food processor
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup raw cashews
- 1 cup pure egg white protein
- 18 large medjool dates, pitted (10 ounces)
- 2–4 TBS water
optional flavor add-ins:
- 1 TBS 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!
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
- Serving Size: 1/12
- Calories: 188
- Sugar: 17
- Sodium: 89mg
- Fat: 8
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 0
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 0
Keywords: paleo protein bar, copycat rxbar, whole30 protein bar
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.
Sarah says
Hi Ashley,
I am wondering Can we use pure egg white instead of egg white protein powder to do the protein bar?
Ashley says
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.
Colleen Snider says
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.
Ashley says
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.
Joey says
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
Ashley says
Awesome, Joey! Thanks so much for sharing your creation 🙂 Glad you loved them!
Lori Borish says
These sound amazing. I am looking for nutritional content, particularly the amount of protein and number of calories per bar. Thanks for your help.
Ashley says
Hi Lori, nutrition calculated for 1/12 is approximately: Calories: 216 Fat: 9 Carbohydrates: 28 Sugar: 22 Protein: 9.
Hope that helps!
Hannah says
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!
Ashley says
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!
Candace says
I want to use real egg whites. How do I adjust for that?
Ashley says
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
Jenish says
Can we bake this bar in oven for keep long lasting in room temperature
Ashley says
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.
Bill says
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 !!
★★★★★
Ashley says
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!
Leyna says
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!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Awesome! Thanks so much for sharing your substitution. Glad they worked!
Cassie says
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?
Ashley says
More almonds should work! Or even adding pumpkin seeds. Once you add the nuts/seeds, process until the right texture forms.