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You are here: Home / Desserts / Brownies & Bars / Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based)

March 6, 2022

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based)

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Gluten Free
Vegan
Low Carb

Here’s an easy, no-bake recipe that satisfies your birthday cake craving in the healthiest way possible. The secret to making these birthday cake protein bars is the applesauce and a pinch of baking soda. The slight salty bitterness from baking soda gives these deliciously cakey bars an authentic taste of the cake with the satisfying protein bar texture. It’s a great nostalgic snack option for you and your family.

Homemade Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe

This no-bake recipe needs 10 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of resting time. Then just cut the bars, dip them in white chocolate, and enjoy the cakey texture in the form of a protein bar. A healthy dessert disguised in your favorite flavors, ideal for snacking, travelling and even lunches.

Here’s why I love this recipe

  • no-bake
  • easy to prepare
  • high-protein
  • high-fiber
  • incredibly nostalgic
What You'll Find in this Post:
1. Here’s why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients used to make Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars
3. More Applesauce Recipes (HERE)
4. How to Make
5. Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins:
6. How to Make this Healthier
7. How to Store Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars
8. More Protein Bar Recipes (HERE)
9. Final Tips
10. Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars Made with Applesauce
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based)

Ingredients used to make Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars

**I’ve linked some of these ingredients to amazon.com to give you an idea of what they are, but you should also be able to find them in your local grocery store (usually, the natural & organic food section). They are also affiliate links, which means that I earn a commission as an Amazon Associate if you decide to purchase the items. The price will be the same for you, link or no link 🙂

  • Applesauce – I used regular applesauce this time, but you can use unsweetened, like this one.
  • Protein Powder – You can use any protein powder for this, but I found that whey protein tends to produce gummier results. My go-to protein powder is a vanilla plant-based protein powder, like this one below. Also, if you’re using unflavored protein powder, you may need to add more sugar or sweetener.
Nutella S'mores Protein Balls Recipe (Easy No Bake Energy Bites)
Organic Plant Based Protein Powder (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
  • Coconut Flour – you can use any brand of coconut flour for this recipe.  Here is a brand of coconut flour I like to use.
  • Butter flavored Coconut Oil – Like this one. You can use regular coconut oil, but I think the butter flavor helps these protein bars actually taste like birthday cake!
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Organic Butter Flavored Coconut Oil
  • Baking Soda – This recipe is no-bake, but just like the butter flavored coconut oil, the addition of this ingredient helps the protein bars tastes like the real thing. Omit if desired. If you’re curious though, baking soda has a slightly salty, bitter flavor.
  • Melted white chocolate chips – I used regular white chocolate chips, but you can also use white candy melts or almond bark. I also like using this stevia sweetened brand since it’s lower-carb/lower sugar diet-friendly
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Low Sugar White Chocolate Chips

More Applesauce Recipes (HERE)

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
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Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
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Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
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Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
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Even Better 3-Ingredient Applesauce Mochi Made in the Microwave
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Healthy Hawaiian Rolls Recipe (Using Applesauce and Mashed Bananas)

How to Make

Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars

STEP 1

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars

Mix together the dry ingredients first – the protein powder, coconut flour, baking soda and sprinkles. Once they’re evenly mixed is when you should add the applesauce, almond milk and melted coconut oil (you’ll see my mistake in the photos~)

STEP 2

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars

I find that it’s best to use my hands to mix the dough because it takes some kneading and pressing to get the dough to come together. Give it a quick taste test, and add sugar to taste. Since we’ll be coating the protein bars with chocolate, I decided to keep it on the less-sweet side.

STEP 3

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars

Mold the dough into a rectangular shape, wrap in plastic wrap or an airtight container, and let the dough set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Slice into bars

STEP 4

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars

Coat in melted white chocolate

STEP 5

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars

Enjoy!

Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins:

  • Feel free to experiment with natural flavoring / extracts. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract (since I used vanilla protein powder I left it out in this recipe), or other flavorings or extracts.
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars

How to Make this Healthier

  • Make this even healthier by adding a handful of nuts, seeds and old-fashioned oats to add texture and nutrition. Even better, add a tablespoon of ground flaxseed, hemp seeds, or chia seeds.
  • Instead of coating these bars in chocolate, you can also frost them with my 2-ingredient almond-yogurt frosting.
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars

How to Store Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars

  • Store these protein bars covered in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.

More Protein Bar Recipes (HERE)

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Homemade Applesauce & Matcha Protein Bar Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based)
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Sweet Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars Recipe Made with Applesauce
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Healthy Blueberry Greek Yogurt Protein Bars (Easy, No Bake Recipe)
Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
Healthy White Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bars Recipe (Tastes Like Quest Bars!)

Final Tips

  • Coconut flour and protein powders are all very different depending on brands, so if you find that the dough is too soft, add more coconut flour; if the dough is too thick, add a teaspoon or more of water or almond milk.
  • Add a teaspoon of coconut oil to the melted chocolate to thin the chocolate. This is how I got the really thin white chocolate coating on the bars.

What do I do with melted chocolate that’s left over?

what to do with leftover melted chocolate

Here I’ve stirred in sunflower seeds and ground flaxseeds into the leftover melted chocolate. Drop into parchment paper, and once they set, they can be enjoyed as crunchy sweet treats!

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein bars
**pic** What to do with leftover melted chocolate
Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based)
save this recipe for later! Pin now at Pinterest
Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe

Homemade Birthday Cake Protein Bars Made with Applesauce

Applesauce Birthday Cake Protein Bars Recipe (Nut-Free, Plant-Based) - birthday cake protein barsAll Purpose Veggies
makes 5 protein bars
5 from 4 votes
Pin it Print it Leave a Comment
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 0 mins
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 5 servings
Calories 196 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

Dry Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder* packed
  • 1/4 cup coconut flour
  • 1 pinch baking soda (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp confetti sprinkles

Wet Ingredients

  • 3 Tbsp applesauce
  • 1 Tbsp almond milk or water
  • 1 Tbsp butter flavored coconut oil

For Deco

  • 3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Instructions
 

  • Mix together the dry ingredients first – the protein powder, coconut flour, baking soda (optional) and sprinkles.
  • Add the applesauce, almond milk and melted coconut oil
  • Add more coconut flour if the dough is too soft, add a teaspoon or more of water, or almond mlik if the dough is too thick
  • Shape dough into a rectangular mound, then wrap in plastic wrap or an airtight container, and let the dough set in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  • Slice into bars.
  • Melt 3/4 cup of white chocolate chips in the microwave in 20 second bursts until melted, stirring in between.**
  • Dip the protein bars into the melted chocolate and then set it aside on a clean parchment paper. Drizzle with more chocolate if desired.
  • Let the chocolate set before enjoying

Notes

*Add 2 Tbsp of sugar if using unsweetened protein powder
**TIP: add a teaspoon of coconut oil to the melted chocolate to thin the chocolate. This is how I got the really thin white chocolate coating on the bars.

Nutrition

Calories: 196kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 8gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 95mgPotassium: 51mgFiber: 3gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 1mgZinc: 1mg***Net Carbs: 18g
Keyword birthday cake, high protein, no-bake
Did you make this recipe?I’d love to hear about it! Please leave a comment below or share a photo on Pinterest and tag @allpurposeveggies ♥
Rate this Recipe here

Filed Under: Brownies & Bars, Gluten-Free, Low Carb, Nut-Free, Protein Bars, Snacks, Summer, Top Posts, Trending Now, Vegan Tagged With: applesauce, coconutflour, confetti, energy bars, HighProtein, LowCarb, no-bake, NutFree, proteinpowder, Vegan

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    April 17, 2022 at 2:53 pm

    5 stars
    These are SO good!! I make these every week. I use a cookie scoop and the dip in the sugar free white chocolate mixture

    Reply
    • All Purpose Veggies says

      April 19, 2022 at 8:55 pm

      Glad you enjoyed it! I love your idea of using a cookie scoop 🙂

      Reply

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