Need more protein bar recipes? Try my Snickers protein bars, and coconut protein bars next. It’s no secret that I LOVE cookies and cream. Until recently, I was having a full-fledged love-affair with Quest cookies and cream protein bars, but in an effort to make more high-protein treats at home, I decided to try making them from scratch.
Why I love this recipe
The shortlist of ingredients. No corn syrup, hidden sugars, or “natural flavor.” What you see is what you get. Perfect texture. Thick, soft, chewy, and loaded with chocolate cookies in every bite. 14 grams of protein per bar. Making them the perfect snack in between meals or as a post-workout treat! Diet-friendly. Without even trying, these bars are made without wheat, gluten, egg, or dairy. You can even make them without tree nuts or sugar.
Ingredients needed
Oat flour. If I have rolled oats at home I’ll usually make my own oat flour, but you can buy them from the store instead. Use gluten-free oat flour if needed. Coconut flour. Works with the oat flour to keep the bars extra chewy. If you prefer, you can use extra oat flour. Protein powder. I used a vanilla-flavored protein blend, but unflavored can also work. If you have cookies and cream protein powder, that’s even better! Sweetener. Optional, but recommended if your protein powder is unflavored or unsweetened. Almond butter. Smooth and drippy with no added sugar or salt. Any nut or seed butter will work as long as it has a smooth texture. Maple syrup. Gives the protein bars sweetness and holds them together. Any liquid sweetener will work. Chocolate cookies. For the cookie in cookies and cream, of course! I used my flourless chocolate cookies, but you can make any chocolate cookie or buy some from the store. They will need to be broken into small chunks. Milk. To shape the bar batter. I used unsweetened almond milk.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
How to make cookies and cream protein bars
Step 1- Prep. Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Step 2- Combine dry ingredients. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, protein powder, and sweetener. Step 3- Add the wet ingredients. Stir in the almond butter and syrup until a crumbly batter remains. Step 4- Finish the batter. Using a spoon, add milk one tablespoon at a time until a thick batter forms. Fold in the crumbled cookies. Step 5- Refrigerate. Transfer the batter to the pan and press into place. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm.
Arman’s recipe tips
Pick the right protein powder. Make sure it has a flavor you love since it’ll play the starring role in this recipe. Add more chocolate flavor. Fold in 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder or a few handfuls of unsweetened chocolate chunks. Or dip the bars in chocolate. Melt dark or white chocolate in a bowl and dunk the bars or drizzle the chocolate on top, then refrigerate until firm. My #1 tip when slicing no-bake bars is to use a warm, sharp knife. I like to run hot water over the knife, carefully dry it, then slice. You might have to repeat this in between each slice, but it’ll help guarantee smooth, even cuts.
Storage instructions
To store: Protein bars are best stored in an airtight container in the fridge. They will keep well for up to 2 weeks. To freeze: Place the bars in a freezer-safe bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More high-protein recipes
Peanut butter protein balls Banana protein bars Cinnamon protein bars Protein cookies Or any of these protein powder recipes
