An easy formula how to make a protein bar from scratch by choosing a binder, nutrient and crunch, plus a recipe for a cherry vanilla protein bar.
My process how to make a protein bar is simple, and even kid-friendly. Using it, I created this easy cherry vanilla protein bar that is high in fiber and protein, and I share it in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Protein is an important addition to the daily diet. My general formula to make homemade protein bars makes it easy to create your own flavor bar using ingredients already in your kitchen. Love homemade bars? After this one, try my no bake chocolate protein bars, my homemade fudge bars, and even my soft chocolate chip granola bars.
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Why You'll Love This Bar
- It's easy to make protein bars at home.
- The ingredients are customizable.
- The healthy protein bars are friendly to all diets, vegan, dairy free, gluten free, nut-free or paleo.
General Ingredients for Protein Bars
Generally most homemade protein bars are made of three elements (one or more of within each group):
- Binder (dates, nut butters, maple syrup or other liquid sweeteners), typically ½ to 1 cup each
- Nutrient (oats, quinoa, buckwheat groats, protein powder) , typically ¼ cup to ½ cup each
- Crunch (seeds, nuts, cacao nibs, chocolate chips), typically ½ cup to 1 cup each
Ingredients for Cherry Vanilla Protein Bar
- Binder:
Dried cherries
Maple syrup, or use dates or nut butter
Vanilla - Nutrient:
Quinoa, uncooked and popped. Use my puffed quinoa how-to to pop it for extra crunch. - Crunch:
Pumpkin seeds
Sesame seeds
Almonds - Topping:
Chocolate chips, melted with a pinch of salt.
Tools Needed
- measuring cups, spoons
- mixing bowl
- loaf pan, parchment paper to hang over sides
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Steps to Make
Step 1: Prep to make the bars. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper so it hangs off the sides and will allow you to grab each side and pull up when the bars are solid. Prepare any ingredients you will use. For instance, chop nuts or dried fruits or make date paste.
For my cherry vanilla protein bar: Rinse uncooked quinoa, and heat it in a dry frying pan or pop it according to my puffed quinoa how-to.
Step 2: Mix up all your ingredients in a bowl.
For my cherry vanilla protein bar: To a bowl, add the quinoa, dried cherries, maple syrup, almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, and salt and mixed until combined.
Step 3: Press the mixture into the loaf pan. Press flat level with a flat-bottomed glass.
Step 4: Melt the chocolate in the microwave for 60 seconds. Pour over the bar mixture.
Step 5: Chill the bars for at least 30 minutes or longer. Cut in slices.
Recipe Tips
- Don't use a blender or food processor. Use a bowl to mix up your bars. If you process the mixture too long you'll release the oils in your nuts or seeds and create a 'butter' of your protein bar.
- Be sure your dried fruits are fresh. Check dates or dry them yourself. You want to be able to store your bars so don't start off with stale ingredients.
- Why quinoa? Uncooked quinoa is an awesome choice for the nutrient of a protein bar. is one of the few plant foods that offers a complete protein profile, all nine of the essential amino acids your body cannot produce.
Storage and Transporting
- Refrigerate. I recommend you wrap each bar individually and keep them refrigerated until ready for use.
- Transport. They can be at room temperature for at least a day if you want to pack them for an afternoon snack, although the chocolate top might melt at warm temperatures.
- Freeze. These bars should be individually wrapped and put in a sealed container to freeze for long term storage. They can remain frozen for three months before protein begins to break down.
FAQS
It is far cheaper to make your own protein bars. The ingredients in my cherry quinoa protein bar work out to be 0.75 cents a bar. That's a far lower cost than any similar commercially sold bar. For instance the cherry chocolate RX bar or Kind bar costs close to $3 at this writing.
Quality protein bars should have a good balance of protein and fiber, lower sugar and a healthy fat source. My cherry quinoa bars have 10 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber, 21 grams of healthy fats from pumpkin and sesame seeds, and only 13 grams of sugar and that is from an unrefined sugar source, dates.
More Chocolates
If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
📖 Recipe
How to Make a Protein Bar (recipe)
Equipment
- Measuring cups & spoons
- mixing bowl, spoon
- loaf pan, parchment paper to hang over sides
Ingredients
binder
- 1 cup dried cherries
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup (or 4-5 dates, date paste, or nut butter)
nutrient
- ½ cup quinoa, uncooked, and rinsed
crunch
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup sesame seeds
- 1 cup almonds, raw
- pinch salt
Chocolate top
- 1 cup chocolate chips optional
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Instructions
Prep to Make Bars
- Line a loaf pan with a parchment liner.
- Pop the uncooked quinoa. Pour uncooked quinoa into a strainer and rinse through. Pour the quinoa into a dry pan (no oil), and turn on the heat to medium high. Stir the quinoa around the hot dry pan until the quinoa begins to dry and pop slightly. After a minute or so, when the popping sound stops, turn off the stove and pour the popped quinoa into a container. When done popping, the quinoa will be a bit brownish and smell nutty. Don't burn it. A popped quinoa kernel is tiny; it does not pop fat like corn.½ cup quinoa, uncooked, and rinsed
Make the Bars
- You can mix up the bar mixture by hand in a bowl, or you can put it into the food processor. You want a texture that is crumbly, lumpy and damp.1 cup almonds, raw, ¼ cup pumpkin seeds, ¼ cup sesame seeds, ½ cup quinoa, uncooked, and rinsed, 1 cup dried cherries, ¼ cup pure maple syrup, pinch salt
- Press the mixture into the bottom of the pan and use a flat-bottomed glass to flatten it evenly.
Chocolate Topping
- Melt chocolate chips (60% cacao or higher) in the microwave at 60 seconds. Pour it over the uncut bars.1 cup chocolate chips
- Refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes or longer. Remove, and cut into bars.
Notes
- Binder (dates, nut butters, maple syrup or other liquid sweeteners), typically ½ to 1 cup each
- Nutrient (oats, quinoa, buckwheat groats, protein powder) , typically ¼ cup to ½ cup each
- Crunch (seeds, nuts, cacao nibs, chocolate chips), typically ½ cup to 1 cup each
Ela says
These protein bars are so beautiful and they are one of my favorite recipes of yours!
Dee Dine says
So glad you love this recipe Ela! It's so easy!
Daraina says
I love the tip to puff quinoa!
Dee says
You are welcome!
Natalie says
Tart + sweet + chocolate--sounds perfect! I am so used to using dates for the sticky fruit in granola bars, but the cherries would add so much more flavor.
Dee says
I agree, I love dates, but it is good to branch out.
Maja B. says
I love simple recipes like this. Beautifully written too!
And who wouldn't love these?! A perfect desert/snack..
Dee says
Yes, a fun way to deal with 3 pm slump!
Ashley Collins says
Oh I need to track down some cacao paste Dee! These are the perfect on the go bar for me!
Dee says
Ashley, I know, right! Love this bar, so easy to make.
Edgar C. says
These are amazing!
Dee says
Thanks!
Tara says
Your blog is absolutely gorgeous! Love this recipe too! 🙂 I will have to try it soon!
Dee says
So glad you like my blog, and thank you!
anna hall says
What do you mean popped quinoa?
Dee says
Hi Anna, add dry quinoa to a dry sauce pan or skillet, and just pan fry it. It will pop, although the kernals will not be large. Let it cool and add it as a topping or an ingredient to these bars.
Marie N says
These look amazing Dee! I'm so happy you are using cacao paste to make decadent yummy treats? Thank you for the mention I'm so happy I could inspire you xxxxx❤️
Debbie says
Thank you so much for popping by Marie!