Healthy Snickers Protein Bar

This delicious and healthy Snickers Protein Bar recipe is dairy free, gluten free, vegan, and packed with protein. They make a great for a mid-day snack, healthier dessert, or even post-workout option. 

Photography by Jaia Taboada for Nutrition in the Kitch

There’s Nothing Like a Healthy Snickers Protein Bar

Seriously, there’s nothing like it…oh, except for maybe a real Snickers chocolate bar. These healthy must-make protein bars are a delicious, much healthier knockoff of those caramel, peanut, and nougat bars enveloped in rich milk chocolate. 

Instead of corn syrup, sugar, artificial flavour, palm oil, and milk fat (just some of the ingredients in the regular version), my recipe has whole food ingredients, no dairy, and is packed with protein! 

Healthy Ingredients in a Snickers Protein Bar 

If you’ve made a goal to eat better this year, reducing refined sugar in your diet is a fantastic place to start (you should also check out my 10-Day Green Smoothie Cleanse!). Although it’s not easy to kick sugar to the curb, these healthy protein bars feel like a sweet treat but don’t contain any refined sugar. The protein in them also helps to prevent those sugar cravings! 

These bars are made with just a handful of ingredients and are much less intensive to make than they appear, making them great for even novices in the kitchen. 

Here’s What You’ll Need:

• Raw peanuts 
• Pitted dates (Medjool dates work great!)
• Natural peanut butter
• Almond flour
• Natural vegan vanilla protein powder or collagen peptides (note: collagen is not vegan but is unflavoured and you can’t taste it!)
• Pure maple syrup
• Unsweetened almond milk
• Dark chocolate chips
• Coconut oil

As you can see the ingredients are much healthier than in a traditional Snickers bar, but the taste is still spectacular! 

Are Snickers Protein Bars Good for You?

When it comes to protein bars there is a huge variety out there. The company that makes Snickers bars created their own protein version but the ingredients are essentially the same as a typical chocolate bar with the addition of whey protein (which contains dairy).

I would not say that those bars are healthy as they are not made with whole foods and still contain almost 10g of refined sugar each. 

My snickers protein bar recipe has mostly natural, unrefined ingredients (except for the dark chocolate chips, which are lower in sugar!). The sweetness mainly comes from dates which are high in fibre and low on the glycemic index (they won’t spike your blood sugars) as well as pure maple syrup which is another great natural sweetener. My bars also get protein from natural plant-based protein or high quality collagen peptides.

So, these are definitely good for you! 

Kitchen Items You’ll Need:

To make a delicious homemade Snickers protein bar you will need a few specific cooking tools and accessories, most of which you already have in your kitchen! Here’s what you’ll need:

• 1 8″ x 8″  square or 9″ x 7″ rectangular baking dish or pan
• Parchment paper
• Mixing bowls
• Food processor (see recipe for my recommendation)
• Baking sheet (no baking required!)

Whether you are aiming to reduce your refined sugar intake, or want a healthy and seemingly indulgent snack option, this protein bar recipe is a must-make

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Have you ever made your own healthier homemade chocolate or protein bars? Tell me about it in the comments and be sure to pin the photo below the recipe to save this one for later!

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Healthy Snickers Protein Bar

Yield: Makes 12 bars

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Chill Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 20 minutes

These delicious knockoff snickers protein bars are healthy, vegan, and packed with protein for a perfect snack or treat!

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Ingredients

Nougat Layer

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour
• 1/2 cup your favourite vegan vanilla protein powder or 1/4 cup collagen peptides (non-vegan)
• 1/3 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk

Date Caramel Layer

• 1/2 cup raw peanuts
• 1 1/2 cup dates (soaked in hot water for 5 minutes to soften, then drained)
• 3 tablespoons natural peanut butter

Chocolate Coating

• 1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions

1. Line an 8'×8″ or 9"x7" baking dish with parchment paper.
2. To a large mixing bowl add the almond flour, maple syrup, protein powder and almond milk and mix together mix until a crumbly and sticky texture is achieved.
3. Transfer the mixture to the baking dish and press evenly to create the base layer, then place in the freezer for 20 minutes or until solid.
4. While the nougat is chilling, you can start preparing the caramel layer.
5. In a food processor, blend together the soaked and drained dates with the peanut buter until creamy and smooth, stopping every so often to scrape the sides with a spatula.
6. Next add in the raw peanuts and fold together.
7. Once the nougat layer is solid, remove from the freezer and evenly spread the date caramel sauce over the nougat layer.
8. Place the pan back into the freezer to chill for 1 hour.
9. After 1 hour, melt the chocolate together with the coconut oil. (You can do this using a double boiler or the microwave).
10. Remove the pan from the freezer and slice the caramel nougat into 12 equal bars.
11. Next, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and use 2 forks to carefully take one bar and dip it into the chocolate, flipping it over until fully coated.
12. Remove the coated bar carefully and place onto the parchment paper.
13. Repeat the process for the remaining bars.
14. Place the baking sheet in the fridge or freezer to set for 12-15 minutes until the chocoalte coating is completely hardened.
15. Enjoy!
    

Notes

Store bars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. If storing out of the fridge keep in a cool, dark place as the chocolate will melt in a warmer room.

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More Protein Packed Recipes You’ll Love: 

• (Vegan) Pumpkin Pie Protein Bars
• 15 Tasty Paleo Protein Bars &  Bites
• 15 High Protein Overnight Oats Recipes

Have a great day,