How to Make Homemade Vegan Protein Bars without Protein Powder! Easy real food based vegan protein bars that are naturally sweetened, healthy, gluten free, and nut free. So simple and delicious!
Well this week kinda turned into gluten free Vegan recipe week, didn’t it? I promise I didn’t plan that, but you know what? It’s all about going with what feels right and good. Speaking of feeling good, we’re finally on the tail end of seasonal allergies here in Texas! Bye Bye Cedar Fever! This makes me feel good about adding certain foods back in our diet now that sinuses are clearing. But you know what? Um, I’m still diggin making homemade allergy friendly (and vegan friendly) recipes. It’s a good challenge for me in the kitchen and as a nutrition specialist. Hence these homemade vegan protein bars. No protein powder needed!
Gasp! You read that right. NO protein powder needed for these vegan protein bars. As mentioned above, I’m trying to switch things up now and not rely so heavily on vegan protein powders for extra protein. That makes sense, right?
You know what they say… variety really is the spice of life! And there’s definitely something to be said about varying foods in your diet. Seasonally, weekly, daily, etc. Proven fact, YOU NEED VARIETY! Plus, it is possible to develop food sensitivities if you overdose (daily) on certain foods. This definitely happened to me with eggs. That combined with seasonal allergies left me not feeling so well).
So, unless you’re on a strict gut healing protocol and need to temporarily limit foods, eating a variety of wholesome real foods is one way you can improve your overall nutrient intake. That being said, it’s been a long time since I’ve made vegan protein bars with REAL FOOD (protein rich) ingredients such as chickpeas. As soon as I realized this, I just knew it was time to practice what I preach. AMEN!?
Chickpeas are a real food ingredient that are so versatile when it comes to vegan baking and making homemade vegan protein bars. They are a great source of plant protein that is rich in amino acids.
And when you combine chickpeas with dried apricots, chia, and gluten free oatmeal, you get a pretty amazing source of plant based (non-heme) iron as well! Why? Because dried apricots contain higher levels of most nutrients per ounce since they are dried. Just a handful contains 10% of daily recommended iron intake. A variety of nutrients all in one wee little vegan protein bar.
I know, I sound too sciency. But here’s my point. —> You can easily get adequate amounts of protein, iron, and omegas from real food ingredients. No need to add protein powder to make Vegan Protein Bars. That is of course if you want to. No judging either way!
See, pretty simple!! And you can take all the credit because they are HOMEMADE vegan protein bars! Haha, watch out Martha, we are upping our baking creativity here.
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Homemade Vegan Protein Bars
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 30 min
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 8-9 1x
Description
Homemade Vegan Protein Bars {Gluten Free, Nut free}
Ingredients
- 1 3/4 cups whole chickpeas (organic and from a can, rinsed,works great)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats or quick oats (gluten free) *rolled oats have more protein*
- 1/3 cup dried apricots (around 8 dried apricots)
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries or cherries
- 2 –3 tbsp chia seed
- 4 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2/3 cup unsweetened almond or coconut milk
- Dash of cinnamon
- dash of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Wash and dry your chickpeas. Set aside.
- In a blender combine your oats, chia, and apricots. Blend until chopped. Pour into large mixing bowl.
- In the same blender, add chickpeas. Blend until chopped but not pureed. Similar to an oatmeal like texture.
- Add chickpea meal to apricot/oat mixture.
- Add in your honey, milk, cinnamon, salt, and cherries. Mix all together.
- Press batter into well oiled or greased 9×9 pan.
- Bake at 350F for about 30 minutes or until edges are golden brown and center is no longer a soft, batter just a little moist.
Notes
Be sure not blend the chickpeas into a puree, just a chopped mixture.
I used this blender to make these bars. Worked great!
- Category: snack
- Method: bake
- Cuisine: american
Keywords: vegan, protein, bars, snacks, gluten free, healthy
Each bar has 9 grams of protein and 12% Iron! That ain’t’ too shabby for a no protein powder vegan protein bar!
I’m diggin it. Yep, totally diggin it. Post workout fuel, breakfast, whatever. They are perfect for all.
That being said, I also have half the batch frozen and ready to be thawed out this weekend. There is a certain someone (ahem, my husband) is coming home from New Zealand and has requested a ton of “Cotter creations.”
Ya’ll he’s been for 6 weeks! I cannot wait to have him home. My favorite taste tester.
Well friends, have a wonderful weekend. Maybe you’ll do some light baking or meal prep. If so, I hope you give these homemade vegan protein bars a try. Keep me posted if you do.
Or you can just come visit and I’ll make more. Just bring extra chickpeas. Deal? 😉
What’s your favorite vegan protein bar? Do you have a recipe? Do share!
Cheers!
Terrific recipe! I wanted an easy to make protein bar recipe made out of 100% whole foods and this was exactly what I needed. I also added vegan chocolate chips for a little extra goodness. Wife loves them (who I made them for).
I’ve actually made them 3 times so far and will whip up another batch after work. The fact that they are mostly handled in the food processor makes it super easy. Love em!
★★★★★
Thanks, Chris! So glad you and your wife love these!
Yes, super easy with the help of the food processor!
Are these okay to refrigerate after taking out of the oven? If so should I let them cool to room temp first and then cover them and put them in the fridge? How would it affect consistency of the bar?
Thank you!!
for sure! I usually refrigerate them anyways.
Hi! I just made this recipe and it tastes so yummy! Although I entered it into MyFitnessPal and the nutrition facts it gave me were way off from yours, although I only changed cherries to cranberries, all else is exactly as written. How many servings are your nutrition facts based on? Should I cut larger bars (less than the 9-10 servings listed) so they have more protein per bar? Thanks!
Hi Tara! I calculated these in nutrifox but happy to recalculate. Mind sharing your stats? Thanks Autumn!
Sure! With Goya chickpeas, almond breeze unsweetened, and Whole Foods organic dried fruit, MyFitnessPal says one serving (of 9 bars) has 132 cal, 3.8g protein, 2g fat, 26g carbs. It could def be wrong but I wanted to ask you just in case it was based on a different amount of bars. Thanks!
K just recalculated with 8 bars. I think the biggest difference is with the oats. Rolled oats have more protein. I am not sure how I got 230 for the first round. It must have been with 6-7 bars. SO thank you!
Do you think these bars would freeze well?
Totally agree Jess
I love e recipe that doesn’t use protein powder! Even though it can be a whic, and convenient way to add protein, it’s nice to get creative and use real food sources 🙂
I have been trying to lay off the protein powder and focus on whole ingredients lately! Love the use of beans in this recipe! I have tried making brownies and Blondies but never would have thought to try it in protein bars! The texture seems so interesting!
ohhh blondies are genius! i gotta try that next
Hi Lindsay! I’m so impressed that you made these with CHICKPEAS! I love those, and I can totally see how they’d work in a nutty bar – they taste fairly nutty, after all.
Brilliant idea!
thanks helen! I truly loved them. SO filling too!
These look AMAZING! I love that you included chickpeas in the mix! <3
thanks friend. I knew you’d love! <3
Well you know I’m not a huge fan of using protein powders, so this make my whole food loving heart squeal with delight. Bring ’em on Baby!
I puffy heart you! like A LOT!
6 weeks!! I wish I was there to keep you company! Glad he will be home soon and you will give him lots of Cotter creations! these look great and I love that you are experimenting with different varieties of protein sources! pinning for sure!
you’re the best! <3 you
These sound fab! I need a new blender/ food processor. Would be great in lunches.
Wish i could share mine!
What else can I say except, yum! This has “make me” written all over it!
Haha well I love that! Hope you do!
Yess I am ALL ABOUT those plant based protein sources and I love the ingredients.. and there’s no sugar! It sounds so good! I’m actually kind of surprised I haven’t made something like this haha. I use chickpea flour a lot 😀 making these SOON!!d
I can’t keep dried apricots in my house, they disappear like it’s going out of style. But I will buy some to make these because you are a genius and I just have to try this recipe, because well chickpeas and apricots and chia seeds oh my!!
I think you guys would love!
Loving the fruit in these! Apricots are just so yummy 🙂 Definitely intrigued by baking with chickpeas!
Do they taste like chickpeas cause I am not a fan BUT I know they are good for you! 🙂 They are so pretty!
This is so smart! These look incredible! Pinning for later!
I love that you used whole foods in these! I don’t have any issues with using protein powders sparingly, but I definitely prefer to stick to using whole foods, and I totally agree that having a little variety in there is never a bad thing 😀 You know what’s crazy? I’ve still never tried using chickpeas in my baking. Definitely need to change that!
Really? I have a feeling you’d be amazing at baking with chickpeas!! As with everything
Love love love. You should make these in ball-form too. 😉
wee balls. Wee pea balls. 😉
I need to start making some of these at home. I think I spend too much money on bars. I already make my own almond butter at home, why not some bars too??
i know! i need to make more nut butters too. Gah, sometimes I get inspired. others times I go to whole paycheck LOL!
These look simply delicious Lindsay! I hear you on variety, I know for me sometimes it is habit, rut, or phase as I tend to stick with things and then over do them and move on and then rotate them in either. I think of it like when I was a kid and I would get a new cd and play a song over and over and over and then move on and add it into the rotation and depending on how much I liked it may play weekly, monthly, ect…
haha OMG yes! i used listen to a TAPE! bahah. over and over
The recipe looks great and I will be trying these, but please remember that honey definitely isn’t vegan. Maple syrup will work, as will brown rice syrup. Thanks!
Oh good catch! I usually put vegan friendly and say agave. My mistake. I’ll be sure to correct that. Thanks
This could not have come at a better time!! Dairy and I aren’t getting along so well and I’m trying to limit my use of protein powder. Thank you for giving me another high protein snack option!! ???
Keep posted! I would love to know how they turn out for you
Yay! A recipe sans protein powder. Often I see recipes that sound good but I have yet to find a protein powder I actually like. Don’t like the taste (or after taste) of any of them. These bars sound terrific and I look forward to trying them out. Thanks Lindsay! Hope your weekend is marvelous.
keep me posted!! Would love to know if you like them like i do!
Can’t wait to try this. All these ingredients seem like they will taste amazing together. Plus, I haven’t made a protein bar sans protein powder in a long time!
Love that these don’t have any protein powder and are made with Chickpeas! How creative. You seriously are a genius 🙂
you are the creative one! <3
I have actually never made bars, but I will gladly try yours if you come and stay with me in Nantucket…Pretty Please! XOXO
It’s like what would happen if trail mix and a falafel had a baby. Love it!
O chickpeas <3 What would life be like without them?! It would be TERRIBLE! Hahaha!
I love this recipe so much Lindsay! I am sending this to a whole bunch of my clients that don’t like to use protein powder. They look incredible! You are AMAZING! XO
thank you! so glad! p.s how are you feeling?
Bars are such a great portable option when I need snacks on the run. Love that these are made with so many healthy ingredients, and I’m sure they’re WAY better than the packaged stuff.
I love using chickpeas in baking why have I never thought to put them in a granola bar? I need to try this!
YUM! Totally making these this weekend (Plus dried fruit!)… I need all the snacks I can get these days! Plus I don’t need to spend a zillion dollars on random things 😉 Maybe a matcha bar in the future?!
ohh good idea! I need you to be my assistant!