Chocolate Orange Brownie Protein Bars (Vegan)
These homemade and no-bake Chocolate Orange Brownie Protein Bars are made with real whole-food ingredients, favoured with chocolate, ad with added cranberries and hazelnuts for crunch. They are fully vegan and gluten-free, too.
I love making my own snack bars, they are so much more satisfying than shop-bought ones, not to mention that the ingredients are so much better. With just 10 basic ingredients including dark chocolate for the top, they are packed with protein, naturally sweetened with dates and have some hazelnuts for added crunch. They take just a few minutes to make and keep well over a week, perfect for meal prepping snacks. As they are so rich and indulgent, they also make a delicious dessert, too.
Why will I love these bars?
These bars are so good:
- Rich, chocolatey and fudgy
- Indulgent yet wholesome
- Made with real ingredients
- You only need 10 basic ingredients
- Flavoured with orange zest
- With cranberries and hazelnuts as crunchy add-ins
- Naturally high in protein using protein powder and nut butter
- Dairy-free, egg-free and vegan
- Gluten-free and grain-free
- With nut-free options
- Easy to make in a few steps
- Requires no baking
- Will keep all week long
- They freeze well
- Ideal for meal prep
- Delicious as snacks or desserts
- Great pre or post workout
- Everyone will love them
- Delicious all year round
If you already love the sound of these bars, then skip ahead to the recipe card below. Or, first let’s discuss the recipe in more detail.
What ingredients do I need?
You can see the ingredients with weights in the recipe card and see my favourite and recommended products in the “shop the recipe” section.
For the bars:
- Medjool dates: these are the bulk of the bars, making them naturally sweet and high in fibre.
- Smooth runny almond butter: the smoother the better and I like Pip&Nut or a supermarket own brand 100% almond butter. You can also use peanut or cashew butter or try sunflower seed butter or tahini if you are making these nut-free.
- Plant based milk: to allow the mix to blend easily. Any dairy-free milk is great like oat, almond, soya or coconut.
- Vanilla extract: for flavour.
- Cacao powder: to make them really chocolatey and keep the bars grain-free, too. You can use cocoa powder as long it’s 100% cocoa.
- Chocolate protein powder: I use the chocolate hazelnut protein from Form which is so delicious and adds a lovely flavour.
- Orange zest: to add tons of flavour and we all love chocolate orange.
- Cranberries: or other dried fruits to add some texture.
- Hazelnuts: to add some crunch or use other nuts/seeds.
- Salt: to add flavour.
As for the top:
- Dark chocolate: or your favourite dairy-free milk chocolate. I use the Raw Halo buttons or HU Kitchen chocolate as they are made with wholefood ingredients.
- Almond butter: as above to melt with the chocolate.
- Hazelnuts and orange zest: on top.
Are these gluten-free and nut-free?
These are naturally gluten-free and make them nut-free by swapping the almond butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini and the hazelnuts for seeds or chocolate chips. Use nut-free milk and chocolate, too.
How do I make them?
These are ready in a few steps:
- Blend the dates, almond butter, milk and vanilla together in a blender: until smooth.
- Stir in the cacao, protein powder and orange: to a thick mix.
- Fold in the cranberries and hazelnuts: and press into a dish.
- Melt the chocolate and almond butter: and pour over.
- Top with some more nuts and orange zest: and place in the fridge to set.
- Slice into bars: and enjoy or keep in the fridge.
How long will they last?
These will keep for at least 1 week in the fridge in a sealed container and 1 month in the freezer – allow to thaw slightly before eating.
What other recipes can I try?
For more snacks and meal prep sweets:
- Chocolate Pecan Crunch Protein Bars
- Cashew Matcha Caramel Date Bark
- Chocolate Banana Peanut Fudge
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars
- No Bake Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Chocolate Orange Brownie Protein Bars (Vegan)
These homemade and no-bake Chocolate Orange Brownie Protein Bars are made with real whole-food ingredients, favoured with chocolate, ad with added cranberries and hazelnuts for crunch. They are fully vegan and gluten-free, too.
Ingredients
For the Base:
- 200g medjool dates, pitted weight
- 120g smooth runny almond butter
- 3-4 tbsp plant-based milk
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 25g cacao powder
- 50g vegan chocolate protein powder
- 1 orange, zested
- 25g dried cranberries
- 25g chopped hazelnuts
- A pinch of salt
For the Top:
- 80g dark chocolate, chopped small
- 1 tbsp runny smooth almond butter
- 10g hazelnuts, chopped
- Orange zest
- Edible glitter
Instructions
- Line a 6-inch/15-cm square tin with parchment paper.
- Add the dates to a small blender with the almond butter, 3 tbsp milk and the vanilla. Blend until a smooth paste forms.
- Pour the date paste into a mixing bowl and add the cacao powder, protein powder, orange zest, cranberries, hazelnuts and salt.
- Stir together to reach a sticky, thick mixture that holds together.
- Pour into the tin and press down firmly to make a compact base. Pop in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Add the chocolate and almond butter to a heatproof bowl and warm over a pan of simmering water and allow to melt.
- Pour the chocolate over the base and smooth out. Sprinkle over the hazelnuts and orange zest. Place in the fridge for 30 minutes to set.
- Remove from the tin and use a sharp knife to slice into 10 bars. Decorate with glitter.
- Enjoy straight away or keep in the fridge for 1 week in a sealed container (or 1 month in the freezer and enjoy from the freezer or allow to thaw for 1 hour).
Notes
*I use Form Performance Chocolate Hazelnut Protein powder.
Shop the recipe
Stay in touch
I look forward to hearing what you think of these Chocolate Orange Brownie Protein Bars so please let me know in the comments below and leave a star review above. If you do make these snacks, I’d love to see them so please tag me, I’m @nourishing.amy on Instagram and use the hashtag #nourishingamy. I’m also on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest – please say hello!
With protein bar love x
p.s. this recipe was first made with Form Nutrition who I love and this blog post is not sponsored.
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