Sweet Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars Recipe Made with Applesauce

Here's a nostalgic tasting cinnamon roll protein bars recipe that make the perfect dessert & snack when you start craving the real thing. This protein bar recipe is easy to make and also no-bake. The added cream cheese (which can also be subbed for vegan cheese) is the secret to making these cinnamon roll bars chewy and soft.

Here's why I love this recipe

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

Ingredients used to make Cinnamon Roll 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 - you can use any kind or any flavored applesauce. I used unsweetened.

• 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.

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

• Cream Cheese – you can use either dairy or vegan cream cheese (such as cream cheese made from almond milk).

• Cinnamon powder

• White chocolate chips - you can use any white chocolate chips (or chopped white chocolate), but to make these low-carb, use a lower sugar, stevia sweetened brand instead. For a dairy-free, vegan alternative, try this brand.

More Applesauce Recipes (HERE)

How to Make

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 peppermint extract, 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 Cinnamon Roll Protein Bars

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

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.

SEE MORE OF MY PROTEIN BAR RECIPES HERE