Inspired by Larabars, these healthy no bake cookie dough protein bars use just three ingredients and taste just like the real deal! Made with no flour, grains, butter or oil, these copycat bars they take minutes to whip up and are naturally gluten free, vegan, dairy free, paleo and naturally sweetened!
FRIDAY.
Sorry for the yelling.
MY OTHER RECIPES
I’m pretty excited for today’s recipe because-
a) It’s showcasing another one of Natalie’s epic creations
b) It stars an ingredient I’ve received multiple requests to feature- DATES!
c) I get 20 minutes for lunch and you get 15.
d) Cellulite is one of the main ingredients of corn chowder.
Sorry, Niki has been watching The Devil Wears Prada on repeat and I cannot get certain lines out of my head.
Get me Demarchelier.
OKAY, enough.
Take it away, Nat!
Larabars claim they are all about simplicity, but I’m pretty sure I just out simplicity-ed them with these 3 Ingredient Cookie Dough Protein bars which are JUST like the infamous store bought snack bar…but better.
Short ingredient list? How about no ingredient list because these don’t even have a wrapper. But if they did, it would be shorter.
Familiar ingredients? How about measuring, mixing, shaping, and cutting those ingredients with your own two hands. It doesn’t get any more familiar than that.
There is no highway, sliding door, checkout line, and polka-dotted packaging standing between you and these bars. You can whip up a batch at any moment without leaving your home. Because you have dates and chocolate chips on hand at all times too, right? I thought so!
Anyways, you get my slightly sassy point—homemade bars have a lot of benefits over the ones in wrappers.
Speaking of benefits, these cookie dough bars boast extra protein, lots of plant fiber, and the natural sweetness of dates. And all that in only 3 ingredients.
The protein powder adds that vanilla flavor that I think all things cookie dough need. Plus most protein powders have a pinch of sea salt which balances out the flavor profile nicely too.
These 3 Ingredient No Bake Cookie Dough Protein Bars (Larabar copycat!) aren’t just winning on simplicity, but options too!
You don’t just get to pick the flavor, you get to pick each and every ingredient. Semi-sweet or dark, mini chips or morsels, vanilla protein powder of choice—it’s your call.
And the size. You could make 3 monster bars or 27 tiny pez-sized bars or any size in between—it’s up to you.
And the shape. You could shape them into cookie dough rectangles or squares or balls or hearts or ducks—whatever you want.
Editor’s note- I think one shaped like a broomstick is totally plausible too.
And the ingredients. All dates for a grain-free option, dates + gluten free oats for a lower sugar option, dates + nuts to add a little healthy plant fat to the mix—the choice is yours.
So much flexibility, it’s thrilling, isn’t it!?
Editor’s notes- If possible, please use Medjool dates as opposed to generic dates- I found the latter to be really difficult to mesh well with the protein powder, and also had a slightly bitter taste. I also loved storing them in the freezer straight after blending them for 10 minutes before enjoying one. It was SO fudgy!
Alright, now…cookie dough GO!
- 2 cups pitted Medjool dates*
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder
- 2-3 T chocolate chips
- Combine the dates and protein powder in a food processor.
- Process until it just starts to clump together.
- Stop and add the chocolate chips.
- Continue processing until it forms one large ball of dough.
- Shape into a rectangle. Cut into bars. Refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours)
- Keep in the fridge.
- * Oat or nut option: 1 cup pitted Medjool dates and 1 cup rolled oats/nuts of choice
Healthy No Bake White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Protein Bars
Healthy No Bake Death By Chocolate Protein Bars
Healthy No Bake Funfetti Protein Bars
Friends, make sure you’ve connected with Natalie, not just on her blog, but via social media- She can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube and Pinterest.
Also, check out her full day of eats videos– DROOL.
Have you ever tried a Larabar before?
Have you ever used dates in a recipe?
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I love a good Larabar or Kind Bar…especially when traveling. I refuse to eat in airports because the food is so darned overpriced! But then I get sad when I look at my protein bar and then I look (and smell) the delicious fast food. But it’s the right choice, I tell ya! Maybe I wouldn’t be so sad if I had some of these delicious homemade bars instead. They sound delicious!
Thanks man! I need to tell you about the time I spent $12 on a SIDE SALAD at LAX.
I love making bars from dates, they’re so yummy!
🙂 Yummy!
These bars look superb! Dates are such a great way to sweeten baked goods and get some fibre in at the same time! You can also puree them with some water in a blender for a delicious caramel sauce! Mmmm…?
Absolutely! Thanks, Katrina!
LOVE Larabars, especially Cashew Cookie and Chocolate Peanut Butter! SO YUMMY. Anyways, these look absolutely splendid! I love how much they resemble cookie dough!
🙂 They really do!
3 ingredients is like a dream! Especially because lives nowadays seem so busy, it’s easy to just buy everything pre-made, but your recipes make baking or creating food so much more doable.
Right? Thanks so much, Emily!
I had a Lara bar for the first time ever last week while I was in Toronto (they were handing out samples in the street lol) and it was love at first bite. Def making these.
Oh wow- Lucky! Hope you try this out!
HIII I LOVED THIS ONES ARE DELICIOUS!!! DO YOU HAVE A NUTRITIONAL CHART ??
For sure! If you go to myfitnesspal and add in the ingredients, it will break it down for you
Love these! Do you think it would work with 1 cup pb2 and 1 cup dates? Do you have any powdered peanut butter/low cal
recipes?