Chocolate Cashew Protein Bars

4.42 from 17 votes

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars recipe made with simple ingredients. An easy protein bar recipe that tastes like dessert! Naturally gluten free, dairy free, and vegan.

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep
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These chocolate cashew protein bars are an easy no bake snack.

These are my latest recipe creation and perfect to keep on hand for when the afternoon munchies hit!

I often find myself reaching for a protein bar mid afternoon when I get hungry, which is not always the healthiest option.

Store bought protein bars are often full of tons of sugar and less than wholesome ingredients.

After I made my homemade Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Protein Bars, I couldn’t wait to try out more flavors!

It’s really so easy to make your own protein bars at home.

Next up: these chocolate cashew protein bars.

I’ve really enjoyed making my own protein bars, plus it’s saving us money every week!

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep

All you need are a few staples and you can make your own protein bars at home easily.

Necessary ingredients to make homemade protein bars:

  • your favorite protein powder
  • cacao powder
  • nut butter of choice
  • rolled oats
  • honey or maple syrup
  • salt
  • add ins like nuts and chocolate chips.

With those ingredients as a base, there are tons of recipes you can create!

Mix and match to create new flavors and combinations.

I have only made a few no bake protein bars so far, but I am excited to keep trying even more recipes!

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep

How to make no bake chocolate cashew protein bars:

First, mix together the peanut butter and honey until combined.

Next, pulse together the cashews and chocolate chips in a food processor until they are in small pieces, but not totally processed into dust. (See the picture below)

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep

By not totally processing the chocolate chips and cashews, it leaves some little chunks that are great for texture in the bars.

After you stir in the chocolate chips and cashews, add the rolled oats, cacao powder, protein powder, and salt.

Use your hands to mix the batter until it is well combined (it should be dry, not sticky).

Using your hands is easiest at this point because the batter will be thick and the easiest way to ensure it all mixes together is to sort of knead it with your hands.

Line an 8 X 8 pan with wax paper, and leave enough overhang on the edges for easy lifting out after the protein bars set.

This will make your cleanup a lot easier!

I always use wax paper when making no bake recipes like this one, or my healthy no bake cookies or healthy peanut butter freezer fudge.

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep

Press batter into the wax paper covered pan, and make sure to press evenly into all of the corners, until it is a smooth layer on top.

Use your fingers to press the bars into the edges of the pan, then use a rubber spatula to flatten the top of the bars until flat.

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep

Place in the freezer for 20 minutes, or until set.

Lift up wax paper to remove the bars from the pan.

Slice into 8 bars using a knife, and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to eat!

We loved these and they were a nice change from the often too sweet protein bars that we usually buy.

I really recommend making your own protein bars!

You can control the sweetness and ingredients and it really isn’t hard to do.

These were so delicious! I love the salty sweet flavor from the chocolate and cashews.

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep

More recipes using protein powder

Looking for more ways to make protein treats at home? Here are a few of my favorite recipes!

No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep

Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

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Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!
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No bake chocolate cashew protein bars (vegan, gluten free.) An easy protein bar recipe perfect for meal prep. #nobake #proteinbars #vegan #glutenfree #mealprep
4.42 from 17 votes

Chocolate Cashew Protein Bars

These no bake chocolate cashew protein bars are a delicious homemade snack!
Prep: 10 minutes
Additional Time: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • 1 1/2 cups gluten free rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup roasted salted cashews
  • 1/4 cup raw cacao powder
  • 1 1/4 cups creamy all natural peanut butter, the only ingredients should be peanuts + salt
  • 1/2 cup honey, or maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup vegan vanilla protein powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter and honey until well combined. (I used a rubber spatula)
  • In a high speed blender or food processor, pulse the cashews and chocolate chips into small pieces
  • Add the cashew/chocolate chip mixture to the bowl along with the peanut butter/honey.
  • Add the rolled oats, cacao powder, protein powder, and salt
  • Stir or use your hands to combine until it forms a dry batter
  • Line an 8 by 8 pan with wax paper, leaving some hanging over the edges
  • Press the batter evenly into pan, pressing into the edges and patting down until it's a flat layer
  • Freeze for 20 minutes, or until set
  • Slice into 8 bars
  • Store in the fridge or freezer until ready to eat

Nutrition

Calories: 505kcal, Carbohydrates: 49g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 30g, Saturated Fat: 9g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 14mg, Sodium: 332mg, Potassium: 482mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 1IU, Vitamin C: 0.2mg, Calcium: 105mg, Iron: 2mg
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9 Comments

  1. I do not remember the amount of water . It depends on your peanut butter. Just mix everything as written except add the extra scoop of protein powder. I would just add a tsp of water at a time. They just need to be able to stick together. I recently made them with the single scoop and no water was needed. I freeze the balls on a cookie sheet and then put them in a freezer bag. It is quicker using the tbsp instead of weighing each ball. I live in Eastern Ontario and we love our maple syrup so I prefer it over honey.This has to be one of the best recipes

  2. 4 stars
    These are absolutely delicious. I make them into balls instead using a level measuring tablespoon for each ball. It makes about 40 balls so you can have a treat that is smaller but just as tasty.

  3. I also used Chipits 50% cocoa chocolate chips so the cocoa and the 50% chocolate chips balanced out the honey or maple syrup. I also used Quaker Quick Oats that have smaller flakes than the old fashioned. I have made them twice now with two different types of natural peanut butter and the dough was not dry or crumbly. I use kitchen scales for dry ingredients to have consistent results so I used 120 grams of the uncooked quick oatmeal as 40 grams is supposed to equal to 1/2 cup. The second time, I added a bit of water only because I had doubled the protein content. As the balls are 30 grams, the calorie, fat, sugar and protein levels are reasonable for a quick protein snack.

  4. I made these bars into thirty 30 gram balls instead. I left out the salt and used unsalted cashews. The second time, I doubled my Biox Natural Whey unflavoured protein powder and added just a bit of water. I have a Vita Mix blender that mixed the cashews and chocolate chips well. That added more protein and less sodium. My teenaged grandson loved them.

  5. These were very tasty, but I found them extremely crumbly, to the point where there were no “bars,” just crumble!!! I pressed them into the pan with wax paper and put them in the fridge (maybe I should have done the freezer right off?). They looked great, but as soon as I went to cut them into bars, the whole thing just crumbled together. I think next time I will add a few dates to help them stick together better!