Crispy Chocolate Coconut Protein Bars
This is just ridiculous.
Before we talk protein bars, let’s talk about The Bachelor. DID YOU WATCH IT?! Are they really trying for ratings this season or what? The tupperware joke. I’m still cringing bahaha. I loved that they saved the normal people for the last round, for the most part. Good TV.
So, yesterday afternoon I decided to make these protein bars. I’ve been trying to get back in the swing of normal eating -I certainly enjoyed the holiday cheer- and ended up making something that tastes exactly like a candy bar. It wasn’t purely intentional… 😉 I just mixed some ingredients in a bowl, and before you knew it I was screaming, “YES! YES!” and drizzling chocolate with a creepy smile on my face.
Basically these taste like a healthy Nestle Crunch bar. There are no rice crispies, but the coconut and oats give them an awesome crunchy texture. It’s kind of hard to believe that you’re getting a dose of healthy fats, protein, and smart carbs in each glorious serving.
These are sweetened with a little bit of honey and sit in the fridge to set for an hour or so.
Just top with some chocolate drizzle, and store in the fridge.
Here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!
Crispy Chocolate Protein Bars
A protein bar that tastes like a candy bar.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 60
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup oats (for gluten-free, use certified gluten free oats)
- 1/2 cup chocolate protein powder
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup almond butter (creamy, unsalted, thin almond butter)
- 1 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- 1. In a large bowl, thoroughly combine all ingredients.
- 2. Line a small baking dish (around 8×8 works well) with parchment paper or plastic wrap.
- 3. Press the mixture into the bag and place in the fridge to harden, for about one hour.
- 4. Cut into bars and enjoy!
- Store covered in the fridge.
Notes
- For the chocolate drizzle: melt 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon coconut oil either in a double boiler, or in the microwave at 20 second intervals. Scoop the mixture into a plastic bag and cut off the end. Drizzle the chocolate over the bars before placing back in the fridge to harden.
See ya later today with a post about my first Barry’s Bootcamp experience!
xoxo
Gina
Something to talk about: favorite candy bar EVER. Mine is the Sea Salt Soiree. LOVE. 🙂
Workout of the day: Barre Blast + Barre Strength
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These look so good, saw them on Instagram yesterday and thought they’d be perfect for my kids – great ingredients. I can’t stand the Bachelor anymore, it’s just ridiculous!
I’ve heard of Barry’s bootcamp…it’s intense! Hope you make it back in one peice!
Loved The Bachelor last night! I’m still working out my favorites and feelings on some of the ladies. I couldn’t believe the creepy heart tissue in a cooler…I loved seeing all the Bachelor Nation people! My favorite candy bar is probably the old fashioned Hershey’s bar with almonds.
The Bachelor was on another level last night! I saw these on your IG last night and was hoping you’d share the recipe. These bars look picture perfect!
I watched The Bachelor last night. Not sure why I did but so many of my friends were pumped about it on Facebook I decided to at least watch one episode…
But now, inevitably, I need to watch here and there to see who wins. I hope it’s someone normal, lol.
me too, but the odds are low haha
Is there something I can substitute for coconut? I have your book and there are a lot of recipes I want to try but you use it a lot and I just can’t do it 🙂
usually oat flour is a good switcheroo depending on the recipe
Oat flour and coconut are terrible replacements for each other due to variations in hydration levels of each (ingredient), Where did you get this information?
I gave up anything sweetened for the month of January, but this is at the top of my list for Feb.! Looks like a delicious snack 🙂
The Bachelor was definitely interesting. It seems like every season since Sean gets more and more ridiculous and further away from the original rules. Oh, and these protein bars sound delish 🙂 Looks like a great recipe!
Yum! Can’t wait to make them! Would you suggest using them as a snack or meal replacement?!
it depends on how large your meals are and how hungry you are! i had one as a snack today
Do I use a bag or a baking dish? I thing you made a typo. But I’m so excited to make these!
dish. oops. haha
Oh.my.gah. The Bachelor had me laughing out loud from second-hand awkwardness many times. My personal fave was Britt because I think she is just the cutest & most genuine.
yeah i liked her, too!
These look delicious! I have been wanting to make my own protein bars too. The Bachelor is ridiculous! It gets crazier every season.
Amazing recipe – they look just like the packaged protein bars that I LOVE and eat when I’m on the road, but I prefer to mostly eat homemade. Problem solved! Making these next time I travel for work 😀
Jill
Latest Post: The World’s Most Accurate Fitness Tracker – My Week of Shocking Results!
Good Morning Gina!
This recipe sounds amazing, my husband and I are going to LOVE these! I wanted to ask, my son, he’s 20 and just starting to get into fitness, recently joined the gym with my hubby– I am looking for a decent protein bar that does NOT contain oats, coconut, dark chocolate or almonds for him. An Almond Joy bar is his nemesis, he just hates those ingredients so much. (I know, he’s like from another planet) Do you have any suggestions to substitute those ingredients into a nutritious protein packed bar?
i will brainstorm! everything i can think of at has at least one of those ingredients!
We only watched the first 15 women last night, but I agree – very interesting! My husband became friends with Chris in college and had a hard time not laughing at everything last night. I suppose when you see your friend ‘acting’ and having to watch his comments at some of the ridiculous things those girls did is probably quite comical. He also has his ‘favorites’ picked out based on how Chris previously dated women… it will be interesting to see if he’s right. Also I’ve never watched any of the dating shows before so I’m glad to read you thought it was a bit over the top as well!
no way! that is hilarious that you kind of know him 🙂 interesting to see if your hubby’s predictions are right!
Yum yum yum. These looks so good!!! Pinned for later 🙂
I haven’t watched the bachelor in years. It seemed so staged. I saw your bars on Instagram last night. You had me drooling lady!
I just got back from a healthy vacation in Tucson (I thought of you while I was there!) and want to keep up my newfound vigor for health and fitness so I’m definitely making these today!
ahhhh where did you stay? how was it? 🙂
These look awesome! I just received your book in the mail yesterday and I just started reading it! I’m really enjoying it! Just wanted to say that I really admire you as a military wife (my husband was CG for 4 hrs and we moved A LOT), mom and someone who makes their dreams a reality! I’ve learned a lot about fitness from you and hoping to implement your knowledge, so I can achieve my fitness goals. I’ve been “skinny fat” and just not seeing better results for years because I wasn’t changing up my workout routine and was still eating not so healthy all the time. Thanks again!
thank you so much, jessie! lots of love to you <3
I just made these! To die for. Is there anything protein powder and almond butter can’t do together?
so true 🙂 xoxo
Have fun at Barry’s! I’ve never been because I’m too scared but a co-worker of mine says I would love it. Excited to hear your thoughts!
it is terrible and awesome at the same time
These look great! I have a hard time finding protein bars that don’t have crazy amounts of sugar in them, so I love that these only have about 3 grams (when I put it in my nutrition calculator)
Just looked at your nutrition and see that it’s a little more. looks like these can be made a few different ways depending on your nutritional needs! Love them even more now! 🙂
I NEED THESE 🙂 totally making them tonight. As far as candy bars go, I’ve always been a big caramel fan so Twix and Rolos really float my boat!
let me know how they turn out!
SO GOOD. these will definitely be put in the meal prep rotation 🙂 thanks for sharing!
let me know what you think!
Chocolate and coconut will ALWAYS win 😉
amen
Bachelor is probably one of the only shows my hubby and I share an obsession with. Normally he watches his shows while I’m passed out in bed next to him. So last night we curl up in bed, pull up the DVR and hit play. 3 HOURS?!?!?!?!?! Hell no…. we didn’t even manage to stay awake for the actual EPISODE to start. What is that red carpet business?!?! Pretty sure we’re stretching it over the course of the week… haha!
smart move. i love the red carpet hahah! best part 😉 xoxo
These sound delicious! We often have protein bars around so we can grab them if we know we’re going to be out for a while and may not have access to food (I have hanger issues). Even though we get them as “clean” as possible, it’s always best to make them yourself. These sound great for freezing in bags! Thanks for sharing!
Those look divine!
I love anything chocolate. Reese’s would probably top the list 🙂
These look diviiiine. I’m kind of freaking out over your little measuring spoon, too – so adorable!
I actually did NOT watch Bachelor last night. Haven’t decided if I’ll risk the distraction right now (working my bum off to get into grad school for fall!), but if/when I do, there will definitely be some kind of drinking game involved.
That game will be me with a big glass…or two…of red. Crazypants, I know. 😉
hahah sounds like my kind of party 🙂
Oh my gosh, these look absolutely delicious! I wonder if there is a way to make them grain-free… maybe with all coconut or almond flour instead of the oats? I haven’t had a chance to watch the bach yet, I DVR’d it, but can’t wait to see it!!
let me know if you try switching it out!
These look amazing!! How do they hold up for traveling? I always need something on the go.
the only traveling they have done so far is from the fridge to my face hahaha. if i take one out and about i will let you know! 🙂
Thank you!
Omg yes, its my vice 🙂 But seriosuly, was this years requirement that you must be a super model BECAUSE HOT DAMN! I’ve seen some pretty ladies throughout the seasons but it’s like they upped the anti this year and made them all gorgeous! Chris had his works cut out for him. There are worse problems though 🙂 So glad you enjoy this reality/trash/drama too!
I’ve been making a version of these for a few years, but decided to give yours a try since they use chocolate protein powder. I made them tonight and they are DELICIOUS!!! I could eat the whole bowl without even making them into bars! 😉 Thanks for the great recipe!
so awesome! happy you’re enjoying them 🙂
I had all the ingredients so I just made these! They are sitting in the fridge right now. Thanks for the recipe 🙂
ohhh hope you love them!
I apologize if you’ve posted this on your blog before but what are your thoughts on the shakeology protein? I’ve heard amazing things about the taste and texture but have yet to give it a go.
it’s the best i’ve ever tried, hands down. it’s just very expensive
OMG, I must make these tonight. I only have sweetened coconut, though. I have a hard time finding unsweetened these days. Are there any changes you think I should make since my coconut is sweetened?
Thanks so much!!
maybe nix the honey?
I thought of that, but wondered if they would hold together as well. I didn’t end up making them tonight, but tomorrow for sure!
Do you think you could mix vanilla protein powder with a couple spoons of cocoa powder or carob? I don’t have any chocolate protein powder on hand and really want to make these ASAP!
definitely! i would do maybe 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder and a heaping T of cocoa powder and see what happens 🙂
I tried these with your suggested substitution of cocoa/vanilla protein powder and they were awesome! So good, in fact, that I’m making them again tonight. Great protein bar recipe! I think the chocolate on top really makes them stand out.
My Husband & I have Bachelor date nights, after we put our 3 little beauties to bed!!! We each picked our top 5, based solely on looks (before seeing the live show), and then saw them & heard them speak later on the show….we were like, noooo, can we change our minds?!?! ha ha! We both like Brit. I am pulled in by Kelsey’s back-story though – bless her.
Ohhh I am dying over your recipe! We are doing the Daniels 21 day fast right now, so I am drooling of course! We have the same favorite candy pic too! Anything dark chocolate & sea salt w/ a glass of Apothic Red 🙂
You look happy & healthy!!!
What protein powder do you recommend, taste wise? I’ve never used it… Also, could you substitute the protein powder for something else, or is it just best to break down and get the powder? thx!
right now, i like shaeology and also love the new daily burn vegan protein powder. i wouldn’t sub it out because it gives it the chocolate flavor and high protein content
These looks amazing!! Must make soon 🙂 And I love the simple ingredient list.
I just made these with a vegan protein powder (Amazing Meal) and peanut butter. AMAZING!!!
THESE LOOK PHENOM! I shall be pinning the ish out of them 🙂
let me know how they turn out!!
Should the coconut oil should be melted or just softened? I’m planning on making these tonight. Thanks for a delicious looking bar recipe!
These look really great Gina 🙂
These look great Gina! I have everything except protein powder…think I could sub anything for it?
I made these tonight and they were great! Definitely going to be a part of my weekly meal prep! Thank you for the awesome recipe!
ridiculous how good these are!!
right!!! they’re too good to be true
These look amazing!! Can you sub the coconut oil for olive oil? (My apologies if this a stupid question) haha
not a stupid question! you can use better instead but not olive oil
I just shared this recipe over at Hungry Runner Girl since Janae asked for healthy treat/snack ideas. I gave you credit, but just wanted to let you know ( and I hope that it was okay to share!). Haha now that I’ve looked at this recipe again, I need to make them again NOW 😉
Made these today, taste is awesome; but they are a bit sticky. I wonder if high altitude is why? Next time I will increase the oats.
Still a great recipe overall