Vegan Protein Bar Recipes

Protein bars can be a quick, convenient snack option when you are pressed for time. But it is very challenging to find a vegan protein bar because many products on the market have ingredients like milk, honey, and protein. So why not try some homemade recipes.

Most protein bars are filled with preservatives, additives, and artificial ingredients. All this can negate the potential benefits of snack bars. Amid all these, there are nutrient-rich protein bar options. Here is a list of easy homemade vegan protein bar recipes you can try to ensure that you are eating the right one.

Best Recipe

The Easy No-Bake Vegan protein bars only needs four ingredients that are not hard to find. The preparation method is very straightforward, as it could cost you 10-15 minutes. Unlike other recipes that are frozen for longer, these protein bars are frozen for about 10-15 minutes.

Sinful Recipe

The Cookie Dough Protein Bars recipe is a sinful one. With the optional chocolate coating, it is easy to get carried away and feast on them.

1. Easy No-Bake Vegan Protein Bars

The protein bar has four ingredients that are easy to find. You probably have them in the house. Also, you do not need an oven because these protein bars are not baked.

The base of the bar is peanut butter, and you can add walnut butter for extra taste. Any other seed butter would work well. This vegan protein bar type is naturally sweetened because of the maple syrup. It is also crunchy and delicious.

You can make several of them and freeze them for when you need a snack. As stated before the differ from most recipes because when frozen, they may last one month.

Ingredients

• 1/3 cupful of Amaranth
• Three tablespoons of unflavored protein powder or vanilla protein
• Between 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1 cup of walnut butter, creamy salted peanut butter or any other nut butter.

Method

• Use a plastic wrap and line it on an 8×8 baking pan.
• Heat the amaranth in a big pot over medium heat. Put about 2-3 tablespoons at a time and cover immediately. After 10 minutes, it will pop, and you are left with half the amount.
• In a bowl, slowly put the popped amaranth
• In another bowl, mix the syrup and peanut butter. Add the protein powder and stir it.
• Slowly add the popped amaranth and stir using a wooden object. Gradually add the rest of the popped amaranth until you achieve a dough-like texture.
• Put the mix into a baking pan and freeze for 10-15 minutes.
• After freezing, cut the bar into nine cubes.
• Optional- drizzle melt vegan dark chocolate on top.

2. Gluten-Free Vegan Protein Bars

This easy recipe has an easy vegan and gluten-free protein bar base. It has three different options you can choose from. You can use almond cherry, mango coconut, and peanut butter banana.

This vegan recipe does not need baking, just like the first recipe. But it has more ingredients. The extra ingredients give the protein bar healthy proteins, fat, and fiber.

The healthy proteins and fat are also needed in the body. The fiber can help improve blood sugar levels and cholesterol levels. It keeps heart diseases and diabetes at bay , among other ailments.

Ingredients for the base

• 1 cup of any seed butter (peanut butter too) of your choice like cashew peanut, almond or sunflower seed.
• ¼ cup of maple syrup
• ¾ to 1 cup of vegan protein powder in any flavor like vanilla,
• Berry or chocolate protein powder.
• ½ cup of gluten-free oat flour.
• Two dates (scarred and minced).
• Two tablespoons of ground flaxseed.

Method

• The best thing about this recipe is that it is customizable. You can use other ingredients like seeds, nuts, dried fruit, and vegan chocolate, depending on your preference.
• To make the base, you need to put all the ingredients in a food processor and grind until smooth.
• After that, fold in other ingredients into the food processor.
• After transfer the mixture in a 6-inch pan with plastic wrap.
• Freeze for about 10 minutes and then cut into several pieces.

3. Cookie Dough Protein Bar

This incredible protein bar sounds like a cheat day snack. This is yet another no-bake option that makes it convenient and straightforward. You only need to put aside a few minutes of your time to prepare them.

You will use a plastic wrap so that the protein bar does not stick to the pan. This recipe has an optional ingredient of chocolate coating, which gives it a good taste. It will turn out thicker than other protein bars, but the guilty pleasure taste will blow you away.

Read along as we give you the recipe to this wonderful protein bar.

Ingredients

• 13/4 cups of oat flour
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ½ cup of protein powder (vanilla plant-based)
• ¼ teaspoon of baking powder
• Pure maple syrup
• 1/;4 cups of almond milk
• 1/3 cup of cashew butter (Feel free to use almond
• butter or peanut butter)
• One teaspoon of vanilla extract

For the chocolate topping, you should have a mixture of

• ½ cup of vegan chocolate strips
• One tablespoon of coconut oil
• One tablespoon of cashew butter or peanut butter
• Sea salt (as you desire)

Method

• Use a plastic wrap and line it on your 8×8 baking pan
• In a big bowl stir together the protein powder, oat flour, seas salt, and baking soda
• Next add the cashew butter, maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla. Stir them together until you make a dough-like mixture.
• Press the mixture evenly onto the baking pan
• To make the chocolate toppings, put all the ingredients in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 1 minute with 20 minutes second intervals to stir.
• Add the chocolate drizzle over the mixture that is in the baking pan
• Freeze for about 2 hours. Slice the huge chunk into 9-12 bars and top with sea salt as desired. You can eat it as a snack.

4. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Proteins

This vegan protein bar recipe is another easy option as it does not require cooking or baking. If you follow the recipe, you will need 10 minutes to make it. Those are best perfect for boosting your protein intake and also making a fulfilling snack that you can eat for a few days.

It is great because it calls for different sized oats, which adds texture to the bars. Also, it contains a lot of protein. It is a win-win.

Ingredients

• ¾ cup of peanut butter
• ¼ cup of almond milk
• ½ cup of syrup (brown rice)
• 1 cup of rolled oats
• 11/3 cup of jumbo oats
• One tablespoon of vegan protein powder
• ¼ cup of vegan dark chocolate strips (You can have more for decoration)

Instead of peanut butter, you can use any other nut butter in the house like vegan butter. Also, with this recipe, use brown rice syrup and not maple as it has less of a sugary taste. If you do not like chocolate, vanilla is a good option.

Method

• Warm the peanut butter (other nut butter), brown rice syrup, and almond milk in a saucepan and over medium heat.
• You should stir slowly to avoid burning. Continue to stir until the mixture is liquid and smooth.
• In a large bowl, mix the jumbo oats, rolled oats, protein powder, and dark chocolate pieces.
• Stir in the previously made peanut butter mix until you come with dough and the chocolate chips melt.
• Transfer the mixture into a baking pan (preferably square in shape) covered in parchment paper. Spread the mixture evenly.
• Add the extra chocolate chips on top.
• Freeze for about 1 hour or freeze for 30 minutes. After that, cut into several pieces and store them. Nice and easy!

5. Vegan Hemp Protein Bars

This is yet another no-bake, gluten-free, all-natural, and oil-free recipe. Hemp is a powerful source of protein and also other nutrients. You are assured of getting your powerful dose of protein power with this one.

Hemp is high in magnesium, omega-3, iron, zinc, and manganese. It also has anti-inflammatory properties. The recipe is quite easy, with only a handful of ingredients required.

The protein bar is naturally sweetened because of the maple syrup and dates. You have the cinnamon for blood-sugar stabilizing effects and a pre-workout energy booster.

In a more general sense, you have a healthy snack any time you want it. The best part is that it requires only a few minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

• ½ cup of maple syrup
• A handful of raw almonds
• One teaspoon of cinnamon
• One tablespoon of plain organic hemp protein
• Maple syrup
• Hazelnut butter or any other nut/seed butter (including peanut butter)

Method

• Place the almonds in a food processor and grind until all are broken down.
• Add the raw dates inside the food processor and continue to mix.
• Add all the other ingredients in the food processor and process until you achieve a dough-like mixture
• Place the dough in a squared baking dish measuring 8×8 lines with parchment paper or plastic wraps.
• Lace in the freezer for 60 minutes or the refrigerator for 2 hours.
• Soon after, cut the huge chunk into small bar-like pieces.

6. Vegan Chickpea Almond Protein Bar

These protein bars are packed with protein. The recipe has chickpeas, which are a good source of protein. It also has protein powder, another extra dose of protein. With this bar, you will have zero excuses not to have sufficient protein in your diet.

These homemade protein bars are also easy to prepare as it has only five ingredients that you probably have in the kitchen somewhere.

These protein bars have a good amount of nutrition with protein, healthy fats, and fiber. They are a great post-workout treat and would make an amazing on-the-go snack.

Next time you can even make them a speedy breakfast when you have an early day, Meaning you can get a good head start.

Ingredients

• One tablespoon chickpeas drained and rinsed
• Three scoops of vegan vanilla protein powder
• ¼ cup of almond butter (seed butter or peanut butter).
• ½ cup of maple syrup
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract

Method

• Put all ingredients in a food processor and process until the mixture becomes dough-like.
• Place the mixture in a loaf tin.
• Refrigerate for 2 hours or freeze for 1 hour and then cut into squares.

FAQs

Why Should I take Protein Bars?

Blood Pressure

High protein intake helps to reduce hypertension or high blood pressure. This is because the sugar content in them is quite low.

Muscle Building

One of the main benefits of protein is that it builds strong and healthy muscles. Eating vegan protein bars spurs protein synthesis in muscles. It also slows down protein breakdown and hence gives you toned and lean muscles.

The protein in vegan protein bars increases the levels of amino acids in the body, thus helping to support muscle building. Also, the higher the quality of protein, the leaner the muscle mass you get.

Weight Loss

One of the benefits of high protein intake is that it helps with weight loss. It accomplishes this by reducing your hunger, so you feel fuller. Protein is very fulfilling than glutens and carbohydrates. Thus you will get more energy and feel more full even though you are consuming fewer calories.

Also, proteins require twice as much energy to digest than carbs. This means that it helps you lose more weight. When you eat a certain amount of protein, you also keep belly fat at bay. This is by maximizing the protein synthesis in your body.

Bone building

Another benefit of protein is that it contributes to building stronger bones. It can even help prevent certain degenerative bone diseases, including osteoporosis. Protein has many different amino acids which help to build and support healthy bone development.

Stronger nails and hair

The other benefit of protein is that it will help you develop stronger hair and nails. Protein is one of the building blocks of both hair and fingernails.

This means that having more protein in your system helps you have stronger nails and hair. It also helps them grow quicker too.

Muscle Repair and Strengthen Gains

The protein in your vegan bar will increase the strength gains that you get from weight lifting. Thus, if you get stronger rapidly, you ought to find lifting weights easy.

Moreover, once you lift weights for a prolonged duration of time, your muscles need to recover so they can get bigger and stronger. Protein helps speed up this recovery process significantly. Thus it allows you to get back in the gym sooner than you expect.

Better Sleep

With a high intake of protein, you will notice that you feel more energized throughout the day. It goes without saying that at night you feel tired. This is because proteins help the body optimize chemical transmitters in the brain.

The chemicals they develop help you feel more energized throughout the day. At the same time, they tell the brain to sleep during nighttime.

Are protein bars healthy?

Protein bars give out the most convenient method to supply your body with loads of energy. Those people who do not have time should make these snacks their ultimate choice. They are a fanatic easy way to start homemade protein bars.

But make sure that the bar is healthy-friendly. To do this, check the ingredients carefully and ensure that they are organic without any additives.

What to look for in healthy vegan protein bar Recipes

Protein

If you are buying or making protein bars, this is 90% what you should be looking for as the main ingredient. However, you should ensure that the bar has enough protein amount for you. People are different; you could have diabetes or need protein intake for a number of reasons.

Some protein bars have 3 grams of protein, while others have up to 25 grams. Again whichever protein bar works for you depends on your protein needs. If you are lifting weight or exercising almost all the time, you need more protein use in your body.

Extras

Protein bars like the vegan protein bars from the recipes above will contain extra ingredients like healthy fats, carbs for energy, or fiber for digestions. Others contain minerals and vitamins as well.

These are part of the things you should look for or include in your vegan protein bar recipes. It is important to note that some bars contain a lot of sugars, especially added sugars.

Vegan protein bars should not have this. Instead, you should have natural sugar from things like honey, dates, or syrups.

On the other hand, some protein bars contain bad fats, and these are things you should not consume in mass quantities. This is especially when you want to lose weight and stay healthy.

Flavors, fillers, and consistency

Flavor and consistency may seem to be obvious properties, but some bars do not taste very good. Some also have dry and chalky consistency.

For vegan bars that do not have the fulfilling tastes we desire, you are going to need to look for good consistency. If you are eating protein bars every day, there is no point in eating something that makes you plug your nose every time.

Finding the best vegan protein bars is about looking for the above considerations. It is also about avoiding such things as additives, bad consistency, and texture.

Do protein bars make you fart?

Some types of protein bars can make you fart regularly or more. Other kinds will not have this effect on you. Some bars are made from whey powder, which comes from milk.

They cause flatulence in some people, especially if they have an intolerance to dairy products. Vegan alternatives have very little flatulence, so you do not have to worry about that.

Can I only eat protein bars?

As much as protein bars have many health benefits, you cannot only consume them. They can only be used as meal replacements, but this does not mean they are actual substitutes.

They should be eaten as snacks and in addition to a balanced diet full of different food groups and nutrients.

Can protein bars cause me stomach problems?

They can cause stomach issues for certain types of people, depending on the protein they contain. For instance, many bars are made with whey protein and soy protein.

Both ingredients are allergens, and they might cause stomach upsets in intolerant people. You can settle for better sources of vegan protein like pea protein.

Should I eat 3 bars a day?

Generally, it is not advisable to eat three bars in one day. But it depends on the calorie content and ingredients at hand. If they include healthy superfood ingredients like coconut and chia seeds, it is probably okay to consume a couple each day.

However, if they are high in calories and artificial sugars, it could be bad for your health.

Should I eat bars after or before a workout?

It depends. The most advisable time to eat them would be before a workout session. This way, you get to maximize the potential benefits. Consumption of carbs and proteins should be before working out as this will provide the body with sufficient energy it needs. Also, you enrich the muscles with the building blocks they require for repair.

Can you eat a bar for breakfast?

Yes, there is no problem if you consume a bar for breakfast. The exception, however, is that it should not be a staple breakfast meal. A nice crunchy bar is a great on-the-go nutrient-dense morning snack.

Should I eat a bar after my cardio?

It is okay to consume a bar after cardio, but it is not necessary. The high protein content in your vegan bar is designed to help build and maintain muscles more effectively.

In contrast, cardio exercises do not focus on building muscle. They are more about getting your heart pumping and burning calories.

Are protein bars better to take than protein shakes?

Contrary to popular opinion, protein bars are better than protein shakes. This is especially if you are trying to increase both carbohydrate and fat intake. Here, they act as a more balanced meal replacement. This gives your body a lot of macronutrients it needs.

Even so, this depends on the ingredients present. So make sure that you consider all these tips on your recipes when choosing which vegan bar to make.

How Much Protein Do Adults Need?

The amount of protein an adult need to consume per day depends on many factors. These factors include age, gender, weight, activity level, and medical history, among other factors.

The basic recommendation for protein intake is around 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. An easy way to estimate your daily protein intake is to take your body weight and multiply by 0.36.

Can protein bars make me gain weight?

It is not that they make you gain weight. If you are eating too many of them that have a high-calorie count from fats, carbs, and sugars, then yes. Because it says, protein on the label does not mean that it will be the only ingredient.

Some bars are packed with artificial sugars, fillers, and additional calories, even though the label does not indicate it. This is why you should take 15 minutes’ prep time for the best vegan protein bars.

These bars offer good fiber and protein levels while having enough carbs and calorie levels. Also, they have a decent flavor, and the ingredients are not that hard to find.

Are protein bars healthier than real food?

The answer is no. Almost all experts agree that natural protein sources are better than protein bars. This is especially if you are using protein bars as meal replacements. Dieticians like food first then the bars. In other words, do not replace natural food with thus snacks.

Is one protein source better than others?

This is not true. There is no single test that shows this because all proteins are absorbed similarly in the body.

But you should ensure that the protein you settle for is compatible with your dietary needs. It should also be something you are not allergic to. You can use protein from brown rice, peas or oats, as well as soy protein.

Conclusion

There are many vegan proteins on the market today. But most of them do not have healthy ingredients. Just because you are on a vegan diet does not mean you have to give up on good protein bars.

You can still get ones that are full of plant-based protein, as shown above. They will fill you up and boost your protein intake. You cannot go wrong with either of the easy recipes on this list. This list will help you find a healthy and convenient snack for fitness and health needs.

Even better, you can resort to following the vegan protein bar recipes above for homemade protein bars. The recipes are quick and easy for everyone to add an important building block to their bodies. Remember, apart from the type of protein, you must look at other ingredients, consistency, and taste.

The best vegan protein bar recipes are determined by if you want to lose weight, gain muscle, or simply a snack. There is something for everyone. So the next time you do try them, make sure you are taking them for yours needs. Homemade protein bars can also taste great enough to help you squash cash or chocolate cravings.

Did You Know?

Did you know that consuming the maximum 25 grams of protein at one time is the maximum you can use at one time, the rest is stored as energy.