Easy Nut-Free Dark Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bars

If you need something luxurious and chocolatey but trying to keep it low on sugar and calories, this dark chocolate raspberry protein bars recipe is for you. The chocolate protein powder and fresh raspberry combination is an indulgent pairing that works together to form a soft, almost cakey brownie-like texture! It's also easy to make--just mix together the ingredients and cut into bars. The melted chocolate coating is optional, but is a gorgeous touch on these chocolate bars.

Here's why I love this recipe

• no-bake
• easy to prepare
• high-protein
• high-fiber
• low calories

Ingredients used to make Chocolate Raspberry 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 🙂}

• Protein Powder – You can use any protein powder for this, but for this recipe I used a plant-based chocolate protein powder, like this one below. You can also use vanilla protein powder, too. Just add an extra teaspoon of cocoa powder.

• Coconut Flour - you can use any brand of coconut flour for this recipe.  Here is a brand of coconut flour I like to use.

• Raspberries - fresh, or thawed from frozen. We'll be finely mashing the berries with a fork.

• Sugar of Choice – I used monk fruit sweetener in this recipe to keep this recipe low-sugar and low carb, but raw cane sugar, coconut, date, and maple sugars are perfectly acceptable substitutes. 

• Dark Cocoa Powder – any kind works, but I like using the dark chocolate kind (like this one) for this recipe to give it that dark color.

• Chocolate Chips - you can use any chocolate chips in this recipe. I like this lower sugar, stevia-sweetened brand

More Berry Recipes (HERE)

Step by Step

Recipe Variations and Optional Add Ins:

• Feel free to experiment with natural flavoring / extracts. Add a teaspoon of vanilla extract (I didn't feel like it was essential so I left it out in this recipe), or other flavorings or extracts, such as lemon extract or cream cheese extract.

Just keep in mind that some extracts contain alcohol, and since this is a no-bake recipe, the alcohol won't have a chance to fully evaporate. If serving this to kids, or if you're sensitive to alcohol, be sure to use non-alcoholic extracts or flavorings. Here are some non-alcoholic brands, here: non-alcoholic vanilla extract

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.

What Can You Do with Leftover Melted Chocolate?

It's always a good idea to melt a little more chocolate than you need so that you can ensure proper coating, but what do you do with the leftover melted chocolate? Melted chocolate hardens in cold water, so it makes it a pain to clean if there's a lot left over. Here's what I do when that happens. Stir in chopped nuts or seeds to make nut/seed clusters! All you have to do afterward is drop spoonfuls of this chocolate-nut-seed mixture and let it harden. It's one of my favorite snacks to eat when I'm craving something unhealthy but feeling deserving of something indulgent 🙂

How to Store Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bars

• Because of the fresh raspberries, it's best to store these protein bars in the fridge. Keep covered in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
• You can also freeze these protein bars, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap or in an airtight container, up to 3 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge before enjoying.

SEE MORE OF MY PROTEIN RECIPES HERE

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, honey or liquid sweetener of choice.