Name: Mint Chocolate Protein Bars [no-bake, vegan]
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 10 bars
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 scoops (3/4 cup) plant protein powder (I used MRM Veggie Vanilla); 1/4 cup almond meal/ or flour; 2 TBS cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa); 2 TBS hemp protein powder*; 1/2 cup natural nut or seed butter (no oil/sugar added); 3 TBS brown rice syrup (or honey if not strictly vegan); 1 TBS extra virgin coconut oil, melted; 1/4 tsp peppermint extract; 3 TBS unsweetened non-dairy milk*; Chocolate Topping:; 2 TBS dairy-free mini chocolate chips; 1 tsp extra virgin coconut oil; 1/8 tsp peppermint extract

These Mint Chocolate Protein Bars are the perfect no-bake snack with 8 grams of protein, 11 grams of healthy fats and 4 grams of fiber to keep you feeling full! No-bake, vegan, cheaper than store-bought, and only 30 minutes in the freezer.

Remember when I said I ran out of nut butter and I needed some for my next recipe? Yup, these Mint Chocolate Protein Bars are why. I had my heart set on them for two reasons: because I wrote them down in my blogging calendar for today’s post, and I wanted homemade snacks for this week.Yup, that’s pretty much it. Not to mention they’re easy, quick, cost-effective, and tasty.

What You Need

plant protein powder (I used MRM Veggie Vanilla)
almond, hazelnut, or cashew meal
cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa)
hemp protein powder*
natural nut or seed butter (no oil/sugar added)
brown rice syrup (or honey if not strictly vegan)
extra virgin coconut oil, melted
peppermint extract
unsweetened non-dairy milk
dairy-free mini chocolate chips

HOW YOU MAKE THEM

The process is super simple and pretty much goes like this ::

dry ingredients ^^

wet ingredients for Mint Chocolate Protein Bars

add your wet ingredients (minus milk) ^^

dough for Mint Chocolate Protein Bars [Fit Mitten Kitchen]

after combined, add milk 1 TBS at a time ^^

Mix with your hands at the end until the dough is thick and moist ^^

dough with chocolate on top of Mint Chocolate Protein Bars [Fit Mitten Kitchen]

Press into pan, working dough into all the corners and cover in melted chocolate ^^ Then pop in freezer for 30 minutes

cut Mint Chocolate Protein Bars [Fit Mitten Kitchen]

And voilà! You’ve got yourself homemade protein bars that are just as tasty (if not tastier) as store-bought. Plus, CHEAPER. I went through the cost breakdown in my Gingerbread Protein Bars, which you can see here. ?

☆☆☆☆☆

How to Make…

Mint Chocolate Protein Bars [no-bake, vegan]

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 35 mins

Yield: 10 bars 1x
Scale:

Rate

Ingredients

2 scoops (3/4 cup) plant protein powder (I used MRM Veggie Vanilla)
1/4 cup almond meal/ or flour
2 TBS cacao powder (or unsweetened cocoa)
2 TBS hemp protein powder*
1/2 cup natural nut or seed butter (no oil/sugar added)
3 TBS brown rice syrup (or honey if not strictly vegan)
1 TBS extra virgin coconut oil, melted
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
3 TBS unsweetened non-dairy milk*
Chocolate Topping:
2 TBS dairy-free mini chocolate chips
1 tsp extra virgin coconut oil
1/8 tsp peppermint extract

Instructions

Line a medium-large bread pan with parchment paper, letting hang over sides and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine protein powder, almond meal, hemp protein powder, and cacao powder. Stir until well mixed and set aside.
Add in nut or seed butter, brown rice syrup, melted coconut oil, and peppermint extract. Stir gently until well combined.
Add one tablespoon of milk at a time, until mixture forms into crumbled dough texture (see picture in post). Dough should be moist, but slightly crumbly. Use your hands if necessary to make sure everything is well mixed at the end.
Press mixture into prepared pan with slightly wet hands. Flatten as much as you can. (I used the overhang of parchment paper to press and get really flat.)
In a small microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil together, 10-30 seconds, in increments, until chocolate is completely melted, then add in peppermint extract and stir again.
Pour melted chocolate over bars and place in freezer for 30 minutes, or refrigerator for at least 1 hour to set. Lift parchment paper from pan and cut into 10 bars.
Store bars in airtight container in fridge up to 2 weeks, and in freezer well wrapped for up to 3 months.

Recipes Notes:

*If you don’t have hemp protein or coconut flour, sub with 2 TBS of more protein powder, then adjust liquid at the end accordingly.
*Make sure to add milk only 1 TBS at a time, stirring in between. All protein powders are different and will absorb liquid differently.
-I like to individually wrap bars and store in fridge and/or freezer for a quick snack or easy lunch packing.

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size: 1 bar
Calories: 178
Sugar: 6
Sodium: 142
Fat: 11
Saturated Fat: 2
Unsaturated Fat: 0
Trans Fat: 0
Carbohydrates: 13
Fiber: 2
Protein: 9
Cholesterol: 0

LIKE THE RECIPE? PIN IT

Margaret @ Simple Fit Foodie says

12/10/2019 at 10:56 pm

Oooo yum! Mint and chocolate is one of my favorite combos!! Homemade bars are the best. You really so same money and they taste better:)

- Ashley says
  
  12/10/2019 at 3:27 pm
  
  I AGREE. Who doesn’t love saving money!?
  
Liz @ The Clean Eating Couple says

12/10/2019 at 1:48 pm

These look too tasty to be healthy 🙂 I like it!! Mint + chocolate is one of my favorite combos, and I can’t have whey protein bars, so these are right up my alley 🙂

- Ashley says
  
  12/10/2019 at 7:51 pm
  
  Thanks Liz! You can’t beat the classic mint + chocolate, that is for sure!
  
Abby says

12/10/2019 at 9:07 am

Definitely going to try this! Can I substitute the protein powder (3/4 cup) for more hemp protein? 🙂

- Ashley says
  
  12/10/2019 at 7:33 pm
  
  Hi Abby! I have not tried that exact sub before, but it could work! You just may need to add a bit more (or less) liquid at the end. Like I mention in the post, start with a little liquid at a time, until you get that thick, play-dough like consistency. Your dough should be only the slightest bit dry/crumbly when pressing into the pan. Let me know how it goes for you!