Chocolate Protein Bars – Easy 5 Ingredient Recipe!

With just three ingredients and no baking required, this is the easiest homemade chocolate protein bars recipe you will ever find!

Healthy Chocolate Proteins (No Artificial Sugar)

Why you’ll love these chocolate protein bars

Extra chocolatey. They taste like chocolate brownies, yet are healthy at the same time.
Soft, chewy texture. Both the flavor and texture are so much better than packaged protein bars. It’s not even a contest.
More protein per bar. You get over 20 grams of protein in just one bar, with fewer net carbs and similar calories to popular grocery store brands like Barebell, Quest, and RXBAR.
Easy to customize. Vary the flavors and ingredients to suit your own personal tastes and diet. The bars can be dairy free, sugar free, low carb, keto, gluten free, and vegan.
Balanced post workout snack. Skip the sugary energy drinks or processed snack bars, and reach for one of these high protein chocolate treats instead.

Also try these fudgy Protein Brownies

Step by step recipe video

Chocolate Protein Bar Ingredients (No Sugar, No Artificial Sweeteners)

Key ingredients

The magic of these homemade protein bars is in the simplicity of their clean, natural ingredients. No artificial sweeteners or natural flavors, no seed oils, and no soy protein isolate or preservatives are needed.

Chocolate Protein Powder – Use three fourths cup of your favorite chocolate protein powder. Options that work include soy, whey, casein, pumpkin seed, or pea protein powder.

It is important to go with a brand that you already know you like, because some people find certain protein powders to have an aftertaste. Once you find a go-to brand and flavor, save money by buying in bulk online or at retailers like Costco.

Nut butter – I love cashew butter, almond butter, or peanut butter to make chocolate peanut butter protein bars. Nut free sunflower butter is a great choice, as is Homemade Nutella.

Sweetener (optional) – Choose your favorite type of sugar or no sugar substitute, such as pure maple syrup, honey, unrefined date sugar, xylitol or erythritol.

The amount will depend on your own personal taste preference. Especially if your nut butter and protein powder are already sweetened, you may find that added sweetener is not necessary at all.

Salt – Just half a teaspoon salt for the entire recipe will give depth of flavor to the chocolate. And feel free to sprinkle flaky sea salt on top of the finished bars at the end.

While you can technically omit the salt entirely from the chocolate protein bar recipe, I recommend including it for best taste.

Water – Instead of unhealthy oil or added sugar, the low calorie chocolate protein bar recipe calls for three tablespoons of water.

Chocolate chips (optional) – For double chocolate protein bars, pour four ounces melted dark, semi sweet, or white chocolate chips or chopped chocolate over the pan and let sit until hard.

Katie’s favorite flavor variations

Mint Chocolate: Follow the base recipe below, stirring 1/4 teaspoon pure peppermint extract into the water.

Peanut Butter Cup: Use peanut butter as the nut butter of choice.

Coconut Dark Chocolate: Use melted Coconut Butter in place of nut butter. Sprinkle shredded coconut over the bars before the melted chocolate coating sets.

Chocolate Covered Raspberry: Pulverize 3 tablespoons of freeze dried raspberries, then stir the powder in with the other ingredients. Or use the same method to make chocolate strawberry or blueberry bars.

Mocha Chocolate Chip: Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon instant coffee granules into the water, or replace the water with espresso or strong brewed coffee instead. Throw in a handful of mini chocolate chips if desired.

Other flavor ideas I love include cookie dough, salted caramel, chocolate brownie batter, oatmeal chocolate chip, and chocolate banana. What are some of your dream chocolate protein bar flavors?

Natural Protein Bars Without Sugar Or Whey

How to make the best chocolate protein bars

Line the bottom of a square 8 inch pan, or any pan of a similar size, with wax or parchment paper. Set this pan aside.
If your nut butter is not already soft and easy to stir, gently heat it up in a small saucepan on the stove top or in the microwave until easily stirrable.
Stir the protein powder and salt together in a medium mixing bowl.
Add the water, optional sweetener, and softened nut butter to the bowl, then stir until all ingredients are well combined.
Transfer the dough to the prepared pan. Use a spoon, spatula, or clean hands to spread it out evenly. One trick I love is to take a second sheet of parchment paper and press down firmly to get the protein dough into all corners of the pan.
If you’d like to add an optional chocolate coating, set the baking pan aside while you make the topping.
Carefully melt the chocolate chips, either in the microwave or using the double boiler method. Stop before they are fully melted, and stir until sauce is completely smooth.
Pour the chocolate sauce over the pan of uncoated protein bars, and smooth out with a spatula or large spoon.
Let sit until the chocolate firms up, then slice into bars.
Store leftovers in a covered container on the counter for three days, in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for up to three months.

Double Chocolate Protein Bar Recipe (Just 3 Ingredients)

The recipe was adapted from these Homemade Protein Bars.

1. To make the homemade chocolate protein bars, first line the bottom of an 8 inch square pan (or any similar sized pan) with parchment paper.
2. If nut butter is not already soft, gently warm it up (in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove top) until easy to stir.
3. In a medium mixing bowl, stir the protein powder and salt. Then stir in the water, optional sweetener, and nut butter until well combined.
*The amount of sweetener will depend on your own personal tastes, and if you are using sweetened or unsweetened protein powder and nut butter.
4. Smooth dough into the lined pan. Use a spatula or your hands and a second sheet of parchment paper to press down firmly, spreading the dough out evenly into pan. (Alternatively, you can simply form the dough into bar shapes with your hands.)
5. If adding the chocolate topping, carefully melt chocolate chips in the microwave or a double boiler.
6. Pour melted chocolate sauce evenly over the pan of protein bars, smoothing it out with a spoon or spatula.
7. Either refrigerate or let sit on the counter until the chocolate sets. Slice into bars or squares and enjoy.
8. Cover leftovers and store at room temperature for three days. Or refrigerate for up to two weeks or freeze for up to three months.