Carrot cake protein bars are a high protein snack that has all the flavors of a delicious carrot cake! Made with easy and healthy ingredients, these no bake carrot cake protein bars are vegan and gluten free!
It’s no secret we love all things carrot cake here. Carrot cake breakfast bars, keto carrot cake, and these no bake carrot cake protein bars.
I ALWAYS have a batch of homemade protein bars on hand, especially with all the snacking I tend to do. Whether it is between meetings, before a workout, or when I can’t last until dinner, homemade protein bars have been a savior!
These carrot cake protein bars taste like dessert, but they are secretly healthy. Packed full of protein, fiber, and even a dose of veggies too, they are ridiculously quick and easy to make! I’ve been snacking on them between meals, or whenever I need a boost before a workout. They are super compact too, so I have no issues packing a couple in my bag to snack on during the day!
How to make carrot cake protein bars
The Ingredients
- Oat flour– Simply ground up oats! You can easily make your own or buy store bought. Be sure the oats are certified gluten free (if you follow a gluten free diet!).
- Coconut flour– Helps keep the carrot protein bars having a cakey and doughy texture, without crumbling. You can omit this and increase the oat flour.
- Protein Powder– Vanilla protein powder of choice. Be sure it is a brand that you enjoy the taste of. I recommend vanilla brown rice protein powder or vanilla casein protein powder.
- Granulated Sweetener of choice– Optional, but recommended if your protein powder is unsweetened. I used erythritol, but you can use any zero calorie sweetener of choice.
- Cinnamon- Adds a light cinnamon flavor.
- Almond butter– Smooth and drippy almond butter, with no added sugar. You can also use peanut butter or a nut free alternative, like tahini or sunflower seed butter.
- Maple syrup– Adds sweetness, but also holds the bars together. You can also use agave nectar or brown rice syrup.
- Carrot Puree– Works much better than shredded carrots. Simply steam the carrots and blend or process them until smooth.
- Milk– To thin out the thick batter. I used unsweetened almond milk.
The Instructions
Start by mixing together your dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. In a microwave safe bowl or in a small saucepan, heat up your almond butter with maple syrup until warm. Whisk together, until combined. Add it to the dry mixture, along with the carrot puree and mix well, until a thick, crumbly batter remains. Slowly add the milk until the batter is thick but smooth. Transfer the batter into an 8 x 8-inch pan lined with parchment paper and press into the pan. Refrigerate for at least an hour, to firm up. Once firm, add the optional frosting and cut into bars.
Healthy Frosting Ideas
- Protein frosting– Mix together 1 cup vanilla protein powder and cinnamon and 2 tablespoons of sweetener. Slowly add either milk of choice or non-fat yogurt until a thick batter remains. Spread over the tops of the protein bars.
- Cashew cream cheese frosting– Make a simple cashew cream cheese frosting in the blender!
- Coconut butter– Easy and simple! Drizzle coconut butter over the tops of the protein bars, and let it harden in the refrigerator.
Storing and Freezing Tips
- To store: Carrot cake protein bars, when frosted, should be stored in the refrigerator at all times. Be sure that they are covered, or in a sealable container. They will keep well for up to 4 weeks.
- To freeze: Place leftover carrot bars in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
More easy protein bar recipes
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Chocolate Protein Bars
- No Bake Protein Bars
- Keto Protein Bars
- Cookie Dough Protein Bars
Carrot Cake Protein Bars
Ingredients
For the bars
- 2 cups oat flour
- ½ cup coconut flour
- ½ cup protein powder
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice optional * See notes
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup almond butter can sub for any nut butter
- ½ cup maple syrup can use brown rice syrup or agave nectar
- 1/2 cup carrot puree cooked carrots blended until smooth
- 1/4 cup milk of choice ** See notes
For the Protein Frosting
- 1/2 cup protein powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon granulated sweetener of choice
- 1/4 cup milk of choice
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flours, protein powder, granulated sweetener and cinnamon and mix well.
- In a microwave-safe bowl or small saucepan, combine the almond butter and syrup and heat until melted. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix well. Add the pureed carrots and mix until combined- The batter should be crumbly. Using a tablespoon, add the dairy free milk of choice one spoonful at a time until a thick, firm batter is formed.
- Transfer to lined baking dish and press firmly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Once firm, frost with frosting, if desired.
For the frosting
- In a small mixing bowl, add the vanilla protein powder, cinnamon and sweetener and mix well. Using a tablespoon, add dairy free milk of choice until a thick batter is formed. Spread on protein bars and refrigerate until firm.
Notes
** Depending on the flour/protein powder combination, you may need more or less. I used up to 3/4 cup with my protein powder.
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
Agreed, carrots definitely deserve the limelight and what a delicious way to make them shine!
Right? Thanks so much Cara!
That frosting is calling me!
It’s so good!
These look absolutely amazing! I’m a sucker for anything carrot cake!
You and me both, Alida! Thank you!
Carrot cake is one of my all time favorite desserts! Making these this weekend! The frosting looks amazing. 🙂
YES! Let me know how it goes, Katelyn!
Haha…I love the high school commentary! I was totally the pumpkin. For real. Ok, maybe not. I was the princess who turned into a pumpkin at midnight. Wait, maybe not that either. Oh forget it! I’m just going to make a batch of these carrot cake bars and call it a day! 🙂
Hahaha you were the princess, weren’t you!
Yum! Carrot cake is Riley’s favorite, so I may need to create these for him. Carrots are definitely overrated, I love them.
Have a great weekend, friend!
🙂 Omg. I can’t comment on your Friday Favorites but the Sims…omg. I linked it to everyone I could think of last week and they were all like ‘we never played it’
I’ve been samplinga ALOT of the “popular” protein bars lately…and i just don’t like them. But, these, I am all over anything cake flavored!
🙂 Thanks so much, T-Dawg!
True story: If I had to choose a favorite dessert, carrot cake it would be. With cream cheese frosting of course. You can just tell how moist these are from the pictures. Well done, Arman. Well done.
Thanks so much, Ashley! 🙂
OMG so remember that time you said “Wait till Friday..” and yesterday I was all oooh cake batter this must have been what he was talking about. =l AND THEN THIS HAPPENED. Also.. remember that time i made your carrot cake bread like once a week. And then remember that time you posted a bigger and better recipe every. single. day? There must not be much to do in Ohio, because this is too good to be anything less than full-time magic. (You should audition for America’s Got Talent) or whichever country of your choice.
In the mean time i will be quitting my job and enrolling in full time no bake carrot cake protein bars. The fact that I have carrot cake almond butter is another reason life just can’t get any better than this. Did i peak too soon?
hahahaha what am I doing to youuuuuuuuu
Carrot cake is my favorite dessert of all and I love that you have created a healthy, guilt-free version. By the way, the Bai Coconut flavor is my favorite too, although I’ve recently tried the Blueberry and love that one as well. Can’t wait to give these bars a try!
Thanks so much, Joanie! The coconut one with some malibu is pretty epic 😉
Carrot cake (and red velvet) are my FAVORITE cake flavors. Naturally, I’ll have five of these bars, please. Extra frosting.
You may have TWO bars 🙂
Um this frosting = to die for. I think I’m the only one on the planet who still hasn’t tried Bai…
The frosting is SO good!
okay, that intro/HS comparrison was on point! so good, and true 😀 LD but, coconut flour. you use it so much i’m intrigued. does it taste like coconut…?
🙂 Try it out buddy!
See this why you really wanted to go down the baby aisle in Whole Foods yesterday.
Did you known the US, they are trying to make the “tomato sauce” on pizza count as a vegetable serving in the school system? Crazy right!
Okay, fine. You caught me.
I saw that on a documentary! Crazy stuff!
I love this and I am definitely putting this on the to make list for next week. As a loyal member of team carrot cake I just can’t miss out! We have a really good apricot baby food here. Carrots I never tired. I think I might make just make it the usual way 😛
Today is the day of stupid questions as it seems: Is this Bai Molokai Coconut more on the milky or juicy side. Just to give me an idea how it should be.
Hello pickle. The Bai is more like…hmm I’m thinking back to my German supermarket days. Gatorade? I’d sub it with milk 🙂