Salted Mocha Protein Bars
These rich, fudgy protein bars have a delightful mocha flavor and a thick and chewy texture, making them a satisfying treat any time of day.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- You only need one bowl to make this delicious recipe.
- These mocha protein bars have a rich chocolatey coffee flavor.
- A thick and chewy texture is found throughout these easy and delicious bars.
- The coffee adds a nice dose of antioxidants as well as a natural energy boost.
- These bars work well as a breakfast, snack, or dessert.
- Naturally vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free.
Ingredients and Substitutes
Protein powder: To make these bars even heartier and more nutritious, vanilla protein powder does the trick. The vanilla flavor adds depth in addition to the cacao powder and makes these bars truly delicious. I love to use a plant-based protein powder but feel free to use any type of protein powder you prefer.
Quick oats: Quick-cooking rolled oats add nutrition and act as a kind of flour in these bars, holding them together and adding to their chewy texture.
Cacao powder: Cacao powder adds a rich chocolate flavor that when paired with the coffee creates a true mocha flavor. Cocoa powder works as well.
Salt: Salt is added to the bars both within and out as the touch of saltiness really brings out both the chocolate and coffee flavors beautifully.
Coconut sugar: The slightest touch of additional sweetness helps balance the bitter notes of chocolate and coffee, but depending on the sweetness of the protein powder you use, this can easily be omitted.
Brewed coffee: Coffee adds the absolute perfect coffee flavor to these tasty bars, as well as antioxidants and a nice energy boost. When paired with the cacao powder, this coffee creates a treat reminiscent of a mocha.
Chocolate chips: I like to use at least 70% dark chocolate chips for the chocolate drizzle on these bars, but feel free to use any chocolate you prefer or even omit them if you prefer.
Salt: Both fine salt and coarser salt are used in these bars to further enhance flavors.
How to Make Mocha Protein Bars
- Combine both the dry ingredients and the brewed coffee in a mixing bowl.
- Mix until a uniform batter forms.
- Press the batter into a parchment paper-lined loaf pan, then chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Remove the chilled batter from the refrigerator then slice it into 8 bars.
- Melt the chocolate chips, then drizzle the chocolate over the bars, followed by a sprinkle of coarse or flaked salt.
- Enjoy!
Top Tip
Chilling the bars isn’t absolutely necessary, but they will be firmer and easier to slice. To speed up the process, you can place them in the freezer instead of the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
If you enjoy this recipe, you will love these No-Bake Coffee Energy Bites.
More Delicious Recipes
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Chocolate Almond Flour Biscotti
Mocha Protein Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ cup quick oats quick-cooking rolled oats
- ½ cup cacao powder or cocoa powder
- 2 scoops vanilla protein powder approximately 60 grams
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or any sweetener of choice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup brewed coffee cooled, not hot
- 2 tablespoons chocolate chips of choice I like to use dark chocolate
- flaked or coarse salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, cacao powder, protein powder, sugar and salt. Mix well.
- Add the brewed coffee then mix until well combined and you have a uniform dough.
- Press the protein bar batter into a 9×5" loaf pan lined with parchment paper.
- Chill the batter in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
- Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or the microwave until completely melted.
- Remove the batter from the refrigerator, then slice into bars.
- Drizzle the bars with the melted chocolate, then sprinkle them with salt. The chocolate should set rather quickly since the bars are chilled.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.