These soft and chewy chocolate brownie protein bars are a PERFECT treat for chocolate lovers! Gluten-free, vegan, refined sugar-free, and super easy to make, they’re a great grab and go snack for when you need something healthy and satisfying.
It’s Monday! And I’m guessing you either love it or hate it.
Love it because Mondays come with that “fresh start” feeling, where motivations are high and you’re ready to tackle ALL the things like the rockstar you are. Work projects? Gonna blow their socks off. Workouts? Gonna rock ’em. Studies? Gonna soak it all in. Get.ing.things.DONE.
Orrrrr you hate it because Mondays also come with the knowledge that there are 5 more days standing between you and your next weekend. 5 more days of dragging through work, school, and various other obligations that come with being a responsible adult. Life is hard. I know.
Personally, though? I love Mondays. I’ve got both feet firmly planted in the “fresh start” camp and I look at each new week as a chance to rock the socks off of life.
Is that too much RAH, RAH, RAH for a Monday? Too much enthusiasm at a time where you just want to drown your sorrow in your coffee mug and hope the caffeine kicks in soon so that you can muster the energy to make it through the day? Sorry. But maybe this’ll make things a little brighter for you?
I know, I know… another chocolate recipe. I told you the addiction was real! But, honestly? Can you ever have too much chocolate? And if your answer is “yes, you can” then I kindly ask you to keep that to yourself. We’re chocolate-lovin’ folk around these parts, and there’s no room for that kind of negativity in this space.
I kid, I kid. I realize not everyone likes chocolate (even though that fact boggles my mind), and I promise that the next recipe coming your way will be sans chocolate. But today? Today this…
… with “this” being a recipe for soft and chewy chocolate brownie protein bars. Or granola bars. Or protein granola bars. It really depends on how you want to look at it. Either way, there’s cocoa, protein powder, and oats baked up with a few other ingredients and cut into bar form — hence “chocolate protein granola bars.” The “brownie” part is in there purely because these bars taste and feel like… well… brownies. Healthy brownies that just so happen to be vegan (depending on what protein powder you use), gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and protein-packed, but soft and chocolately brownies nonetheless.
Don’t take my word for it, though — whip up a batch for yourself! These bars are ridiculously easy to make, with a food processor doing all the work for you. And if you don’t have one of those? Then all you need is a bowl, a spoon, and a strong arm. These bars also make a great balanced snack, which you can make ahead and have on hand for the whole week. Does that make your Monday a little easier to bear?
I’d love to know if you make this recipe! Leave a comment and rating down below to let me know what you think, and subscribe to our mailing list to receive new recipes in your inbox!
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Soft and Chewy Chocolate Brownie Protein Bars
- Total Time: 25 mins
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup almond butter (or any nut/seed butter)
- 1/2 cup dates (about 100g or 6 large Medjool dates)*
- 3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chocolate or vanilla protein powder
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 3/4 cups quick oats
- 1/3 cup mini dairy-free chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and prepare an 8×8 baking dish by lining it with a sheet of aluminum foil or parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on the sides to allow for easy removal. Spray foil with cooking spray and set aside.
- Add almond butter, dates, almond milk, and vanilla to the bowl of a food processor or blender, and process until smooth and well-combined. Add protein powder, cocoa, and salt, and continue processing until all ingredients are fully incorporated. Finally, add oats and pulse until just combined. You don’t want them to break down too much. Stir in chocolate chips by hand.
- Transfer dough to the prepared baking pan, and use a spatula or your hands to spread the mixture evenly in the pan.
- Bake for 15, until edges and top have set. Remove from oven and let cool in pan before cutting into bars using a sharp knife. Store in an airtight container for up to a week, or in the fridge for
Notes
* If you don’t have any dates on hand, you can easily sub this with 1/4 cup of honey or brown rice syrup.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
Looking for more protein granola bar recipes? Try one of these!
Soft and Chewy Protein Granola Bars
Cookie Dough Protein Granola Bars
No Bake Almond Fudge Protein Bars
Soft and Chewy Pumpkin Granola Bars
No Bake Protein Brownie Cups
These were excellent–thanks so much for the recipe. We had a 3-day music festival here, so it was great to have something yummy to snack on which wasn’t too unhealthy.
FYI–I used unsalted organic peanut butter in case, like me, you’re out of almond butter.
The almond butter bars you posted a few years ago are still one of my all-time favorite recipes, so I’m anxious to try this one!
Naturally sweetened AND soft AND chewy AND packed with protein?! You and these chocolate heaven bars are a dream.
Well, I’m reading this on Wednesday so clearly I’m behind :-p As for Monday’s – my work schedule is so screwy that it’s hard to say if I like them or not. For example, I have next Monday off so on that particular Monday, I will be a Monday fan :-p
Ooh you’re a morning person too? I LOVE the morning. It’s when it comes to about 9 pm at night that I react, a bit in the manner, of a zombie. These bars? They look so good, and now I have another way to use all the protein powder I have. I think it’s pretty great how you incorporate protein powder into even the desserts that you make. Maybe I could just dump protein powder in all my desserts and become really buff? 😉 Probably not. One could wish though…
Hi, can you tell me how many grams of protein there are per bar? Thanks!
Sorry Meredith, I don’t calculate the nutritional value of my recipe. If you need to know the exact numbers, you can use a calculator like this one to figure them out — http://www.myfitnesspal.com/recipe/calculator
These are lovely. I’d want an entire tray.
I am on both ends of the Monday spectrum at the moment. I try to give it a fresh start every week with a positive attitude and usually some upbeat music, and I’ll continue to do these things and wait for the day where it gets easier and comes naturally. And when I say wait, I mean figure out how to make a change.
Your bars look beautiful.
Music always helps. So does chocolate. And coffee. And good friends <3
I love the def of soft and chewy, reminds me of of the quaker chewy granola bars, except these look a million times better!!! 🙂
Thanks so much for your reply Amanda. I’m actually in the UK, but I’ve found plant fusion online for reasonable price, so I’m going to have a go. I tend to eat a lot of sweet things so I definitely think having a bit of protein hidden in there would be good for me!!
That’s great, Sarah! I hope you like it 🙂 The cookies ‘n’ cream and vanilla flavours were my favourite. Actually, I think they have a chocolate raspberry one that was really goo as well!
Can I replace the protein powder with oat bran or oat flour?
Oat flour should be fine, Molly, although I might reduce it to 1/3 cup. And since oats are a bit more absorbent, if the mix feels too dry, just add a splash extra milk.
These protein bars look awesome. I’ve never made a recipe quite like this before but I definitely need to try my hand at it!
The addition is real! I was just thinking that I needed another way to get some chocolate into my diet. Thank you for providing this delicious option!
Some quack told me she had all comments sorted for today and was on a roll.
Must be a cabbage roll, this comment isn’t replied to. You should have preempted it.
Monday today was pretty epic 😉
I have a feeling that Wednesday is gonna be a pretty epic day too 😛
I don’t know how you keep coming up with these delicious concoctions, but you always have me DROOLING!! Mondays are hit or miss with me…depends on the class schedule that college semester or the chores I have on my to do list. Chocolate usually does happen on Mondays though…as every other day of the week! 😉
On the one hand, my weekly to-do list is always a little overwhelming. On the other, I just had a couple days to relax, right? So I feel like I can tackle anything. I guess I’m generally a “yay, Monday” person! 😀 Have a good one!
Thanks, Ellen! Hope you’re having a great one as well 🙂
I’m ready for Monday, in a way–like, I’m having a great Monday and so many things to look forward to, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed at the moment (again, all good things!). Right now, the only thing I want to balance are these bars. one in each hand, please!
So, am in that latter group when it comes to Mondays – but, I love Mondays when I am on vacay OR if it was filled with these AMAZING chocolate protein bars!!! These look amazing – love love love the texture! And – GAH – I can never ever ever have too much chocolate – who thinks like that??? 🙂
Happy Monday – wait – you’ve probably bouncing around giddy that it IS Monday – so, I’ll just say have a wonderful week! xx
Your protein granola bar recipes look amazing, but I’ve never used protein powder before & there seem so many different types, I’m not sure where to start! What do you (or any readers) use? Or is there any substitute for protein powder? BTW I love your blog & check every day for updates, thanks for sharing your life & recipes 🙂
There are definitely a tonne of them out there! I mostly use them to add flavour and a little protein boost to baked goods, but if you’re not comfortable with it, then you can leave it out and just add more oats instead. Plus maybe an extra spoonful of honey since protein powders tend to come sweetened. But if you’re looking to delve into some powders, then I really like Plant Fusion for a plant-based protein. Skoop also makes some really great ones. We have a company called Genuine Health here in Canada that makes one of my favourites, but I’m not sure if that’s available in the States.
Sometimes I love Mondays (usually after a long weekend) and sometimes I hate them. I’m a SAHM so the days can certainly blend together, but my husband leaves for the week for work each Monday so if I wake up to a crabby 1 year old that I have to corral and entertain along, it’s a bad Monday ahhaha
Eep. I can imagine. I guess it’s easier for me because I don’t have children to entertain! But I hope this week has been a good one so far for you!
I used to hate Mondays but now it’s one of my days to work on the blog so I actually look forward to getting stuff done! Imagine that. 🙂
And I also share your sentiments with the love for chocolate, hehe. There is never enough!! These sound like little bars of heaven and I love that they’re healthy too!
I feel like Mondays are a lot easier to deal with when you’re doing something you love. Blogging was a miracle worker for me in that way as well!
For some reason I am actually a Monday lover- something about starting the week fresh always feels good to me! I am in awe at these bars because like yourself- I do not comprehend the notion of people not liking chocolate. It makes absolutely no sense to me but alas we must be understanding I suppose ;).
Oh dear god, I’m making these right away! And there’s nothing Iove more than when I see a recipe like this that I want to make and already have all the ingredients at home! Yay!
Woohoo! Definitely a good feeling 😀 Hope you like them, Brie!
Mondays aren’t bad actually! I kinda like them! I HATE Thursdays though 😛
But I do think chocolate should be required for Mondays 😉
You have THE BEST chocolate recipes. Seriously. I guess I have to add this to my list of amazing recipes from your blog 🙂
Aww! Well there you go making my Monday even better. Thanks, Gretchen! 😀
All I have to say about these like most of your bars is NOM NOM NOM 🙂 Also, this Monday is great because I leave for England to visit my college friends and go hiking in the English Lakes tomorrow!
Totally not jealous or anything 😛 Have the best trip!!!
Totally with you about Mondays- I absolutely love them! Fresh start to getting one step closer towards your goals :)! That being said, I love Fridays even more…so I guess I’m not totally off my rocker ;)! I love the sound of these bars- I just can’t get over some of the crap that goes into store-bought protein bars ICK!
I hear that on the store-bought bars! Especially because they’re usually contaminated with peanuts 😛
I think I actually have all this stuff! Totally printing this one out. I’m definitely in the optimistic camp when it comes to Mondays. I’m all about a clean slate and tackling goals! Of course, once Monday is over then I’m just counting down to Friday haha. Tuesday-Thursday are basically worthless.
Ugh I hear that. I’m pretty sure Tuesdays are my least favourite of any day of the week. That’s when it really sets in that we have waaaaay too long ’till the weekend.
I’m all about Monday’s–usually. I usually like to think of them as a clean start. I’m also all about protein bars, especially when they involve chocolate!
Yup, it’s Monday. It’s time to get s$&# done! Buuuuut here I am reading your blog instead… 😉
#storyofmylife 😛
I am not a fan of Mondays. I like the weekends way better 🙂 But today isn’t so bad so far. Let’s keep it that way!
I switch between camps regarding Monday. It really just depends on how my weekend went/how much work I left myself to do on Sunday night… Today though? I’m excited for the fresh start after a wonderful family vacation!
I’m very okay with these brownie protein bars, because brownies are one of the ways I do love chocolate 😉
That’s a relief 😛 Totally thought of you when I wrote the thing about people who don’t like chocolate. But I love you anyways <3
P.S. definitely thought of YOU when my dad woke up my brother and me in the hotel with “GOOD MORNING!” ……. Whoa. Please. Take it down a notch.
😉 I admire you morning people.
Lol! You never know! You might become one later. I was totally a night owl when I was younger, and then things did a complete 180.
I made your soft & chewy protein granola bars last week and I loved them! (So did my husband!) So these might have to be next 🙂 I love anything with chocolate!
That’s legit a recipe that I make almost every week! And this one is exactly the same, only double the dose of chocolate 😀
Hello!
I made this recipe after I found it on Pinterest. They are really yummy! Do you happen to have the nutritional information for them? I would appreciate the info. Thanks so much!
Looks perfect for back to school 🙂 I am also a Monday lover! Even if it’s not a true fresh start it feels like one. I just like that nothing has gotten messed up yet. All the possibilities 🙂
Sorry but I am not in the mood for Monday! ha.
Lol! That’s because you haven’t been able to have your coffee 😛