No Bake Maple Vanilla Protein Bars (Keto, Low Carb)
These keto no bake protein bars are packed full with protein and are low carb, egg free & gluten free!
Homemade Keto Protein Bars
One of the joys of being a food blogger and being able to do this for a living is the excitement of developing a new recipe, using an ingredient in a unique way that you hope no one else had already thought of. One of the rewards of being a sugar-free and gluten free food blogger is that often creating one of a kind recipes with little to no sugar is a constant, making the recipe stand alone against the crowd.
Yes you might have made protein bars using protein powder before. But often, even if the main ingredient has been used a dozen times in recipes, variety is the spice of life. A food blogger who truly values their own work, trusts their gut and expertise will work their tail off to put a new twist on a recipe you may not have thought of before. My twist? These taste like maple fudge!
Of course there are a million protein bar options you can purchase at any market today, but often they are full of sugar, and some have a whopping amount of calories.
My desire and what I thrive on when creating recipes has always been to make healthy recipes that don’t ever taste “healthy”. Basically tricking your taste buds to believe you’re being indulgent when it’s anything but.
These protein bars for example; your first bite will make you feel naughty with this creamy, silky fudge texture. If you didn’t read the ingredients before eating these and someone offered you a maple vanilla bar, you would have no clue you’re enjoying a low carb, protein filled healthy snack. AND you would ask for another!
The Best Protein Powder
If a protein powder has just a few ingredients and no added sugars I often look for that first, but also I want the following:
- It’s gluten free
- It’s lactose free
- It contains NO artificial colors, flavors or preservatives or Sweeteners
- my rule of thumb with any product I purchase has always been that any type of sugar needs to be listed 5th or higher
The brand I’ve been using in most recipes is the unflavored whey protein from Jay Rob brand as well as the vanilla whey protein.
I loved the chocolate flavor in my High Protein Chocolate smoothie.
Here are some other recipes you might like including vanilla protein powder for an added boost.
- Vanilla Egg Protein Custards
- Iced Coffee Protein Frappe
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Fudge, which is the recipe I adapted to make these bars.
Making your own protein bars at home is quick and easy as these have no baking required. They are much less expensive than purchasing bars at any health store and a whole lot better for you as well! I hope you enjoy my “Sinfully Delicious, Secretly Healthy” protein bars!
No Bake Keto Maple Vanilla Protein Bars
No Bake Maple Vanilla Fudge Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut butter softened
- 1/2 cup coconut oil softened
- 1 teaspoon sugar free maple syrup I used Lakanto
- 1 teaspoon maple extract optional
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla liquid stevia or 1/3 cup of choice sweetener
- 4 scoops vanilla protein powder
- 2/3 cup ground flaxseeds
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk or water, coconut milk or heavy cream
- optional: 1/4 cup chopped walnuts NuNaturals Cocoa Syrup
Instructions
- In a bowl, mix together first 5 ingredients until combined. Taste and adjust sweetener as needed. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl whisk protein powder and flaxseeds, then stir in milk.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the protein powder mixture and stir until combined.
- Line an 8 by 8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Press batter onto parchment paper and level evenly as much as possible.
- If using walnuts press them into the top of the batter.
- Refrigerate 1 hour then holding the edges of the parchment paper, lift onto a cutting board.
- Slice into 12 bars and keep refrigerated.
Notes
- You could substitute the almond milk for any milk of choice.
- Nutritional information is without the optional chopped walnuts.
- PLEASE NOTE: If you have celiacs disease or severe gluten sensitivities, please remove the maple extract as it contains barely which is NOT gluten free.
Nutrition
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
These sound awesome…and I love the chocolate drizzle 😉
I have recently started trying to make my own low carb high-protein bars, and really appreciate this recipe! Can’t wait to try it!
Coming up with fun, creative ways to use ingredients is one of my favorite things, too. I did a recipe for a different protein powder company last year and used it in waffles! I love the look of these bars though – who doesn’t love maple fudge?
I love protein pancakes or waffles!
Thus far I only use protein powder in smoothies, but I’m definitely giving this recipe a try! 🙂
its a great way to flavor up a smoothie or some oatmeal!
I buy the Weight Watchers smoothies/protein shakes (2 points plus per shake) and then I mix in some PB2 (1 points plus for 2 tbsp. powder) with that and use my hand blender to mix it all up. I have been looking for a different protein mix to try and I have always been hesitant to do so as I do not want something with a ton of added sugar or carbs. This new protein powder is something I really want to try – I am hoping that I can find it somewhere locally….thanks for the helpful recipes and products, this website is always very informative!
I make vanilla oatmeal for my kids in the morning by throwing in a scoop of a good quality vanilla protein powder and 1/2 a mashed banana and some milk into the oats. They love it and it keeps them full until lunch.
I have never used protein powder except for smoothies. This sounds great, and more portable!
hey Brenda!
just saw that you will be at BHP in PA next month! looking forward to seeing you again! and love these no-bake-maple-vanilla-fudge-protein-bars!!
HI Alice!!! Excited to see you again as well!! It should be a fantastic weekend, I really looking forward to it!
Healthy recipes that you can’t tell are healthy are the best in my book!! Love it!
These bars sound so healthy. I bet these taste delicious too. A great way to use this protein powder.
Definitely making these, a.s.a.p!
I love chocolate protein powder mixed with several cups of juicy watermelon!
I can’t wait to try this recipe and this protein powder. I have heard great things about it. Thank you for another fantastic recipe.
This recipe looks amazing! Can’t wait to try it with Jamie Eason’s Lean Body for Her protein powder!
I am learning how to live a sugar free life, your blog has been so helpful! I love all of the recipes.
Thank you for all of your amazing recipes. I would love to try this protein powder because it is for women and I am always up to try better tasting protein powder. And I can’t wait to make these protein bars!
my favorite way to use protein powder is to add it to my oatmeal 🙂
Hi! This recipe sounds delicious. I used to eat really healthy and tried new recipes all the time. Now I am a mom and I hardly have any time or extra room in my budget for trying new things. I would love to try the chocolate protein powder. I’m a pretty terrible cook, but I think I can make this recipe!!! I love your ideas =)
I love to use protein powders in my fruit shakes. Also lately I started using them in baking. I may replace a 1/4 cup flour with a 1/4 cup protein powder for muffins, scones, breads. I eat gluten free and it is important that the protein powder I use is gluten free. I love your recipes!! All your ingredients are staples in my house!
Thank you for the giveaway.
These look delicious! Love the touch of maple syrup. I’m always excited to check out your recipes because they have such creative twists to them!
I add protein powder to smoothies. But recently, I have also started to add it to a low carb muffin recipe with great results! Love your recipe for the individual serving sizes of oatmeal with protein powder too..great to “grab and go”!
I enjoy the chocolate peanut butter protein fudge.
My favorite way to use protein powder is to make it into protein bars. I always enjoy seeing the creative ways people make them in various flavors. I also have a nut free child so always searching for variety. Thank you for sponsoring a giveaway. Have a great weekend.