Lately, I've had a hankering for protein bars. And nothing is more satisfying that making my own! They're cheaper, healthier, lower in sugar and so easy to make. These Paleo Protein Bars are the perfect go-to snack, whether you're on a Paleo diet or not.
These healthy Paleo Protein Bars are 100% Paleo, no sugar alcohols, and no soy or dairy. Each bar contains approximately 9 grams of protein and just over 100 calories. In addition, they are sweetened with monk fruit, made with almonds and 3 different types of protein; all of which are easy to digest, dairy free and egg free. These are the best Paleo protein bars! Perfectly soft, creamy, chewy and best of all delicious!
Benefits of Making Homemade Protein Bars
I used to eat store-bought bars frequently but gosh they're expensive! Not to mention, many popular brands have questionable ingredients.
Another downside, many store-bought protein bars contain whey, especially those that are Paleo friendly. Now, I have nothing against whey protein from grass fed cows, but my body doesn't like it. Whey protein gives me bloating, cramps, gas and just throws off my digestion. This doesn't mean I never eat it. But, if I do, I'm very aware of the quantity I consume and the fact that I'll be experiencing discomfort afterwards.
My top reasons for making your own protein bars are:
- They have healthier ingredients
- Lower sugar content
- Less expensive
- No after-taste
I'm a big stickler when it comes to sugar in my protein bars. Typically, if I'm looking for a healthy protein bar recipe, I want it to be low in sugar and high in protein. This recipe fits the bill!
These low carb protein bars contain just 1 gram of sugar per bar and 9 grams of protein. They are smaller than your "average" store bought bar. So, two of these is more comparable to one store bought.
Best Paleo Store Bought Protein Bars
Since I'm talking about protein bars, I might as well share my top 5 favorite store bought bars. Now, keep in mind that I haven't tried every bar on the market. Also, not all of these are super high in protein. But, out of all the bars I've tried these listed are my top 5 based on ingredients, taste and sugar content.
- Ancient Nutrition Multi Collagen Protein Bars - These bars are my favorite! They contain 15 grams of protein per bar. They support gut function, healthy skin, joints and nails and contain five different types of collagen. The Ancient Nutrition bars contain ingredients from non-GMO, grass fed, hormone-free, cage-free and cruelty-free sources and are completely dairy free.
- Raw Rev Glo
- I sampled these bars years ago and have purchased my favorite flavor since (the Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Sea Salt). All of their flavors are delicious and I really like the ingredients (Vegan, high protein, low sugar). - Truth Bar - These bars are designed for gut health. They contain both probiotics and prebiotics and come in 5 different flavors. I prefer their Vegan flavors (the Chocolate Coconut and Chocolate Raspberry) since they don't contain whey and they simply taste better IMO. These bars have a good fat content (mostly from coconut) and relatively low sugar content.
- No Cow Bars - These No Cow Bars are a top favorite because they are very high in protein and quite low in sugar (they use mostly sugar alcohols to sweeten their bars), plus they are dairy-free (hence the name). I haven't had all of their flavors and they've slightly changed their ingredients since I last tried them, but my past favorite flavor was the Blueberry Cobbler.
- RXBAR - RXBAR has really taken off within the last few years and I can see why! They are found in most grocery and convenience stores (even Costco), have simple ingredients, a large variety of flavors and a great taste and texture. My biggest complaint is the amount of sugar. RXBARs contain dates and dates are like ALL sugar. So, although I don't think these are "unhealthy" I wouldn't consume an RXBAR every day unless I was eating it as dessert.
- I sampled these bars years ago and have purchased my favorite flavor since (the Peanut Butter & Dark Chocolate Sea Salt). All of their flavors are delicious and I really like the ingredients (Vegan, high protein, low sugar).
Paleo Protein Bar Recipe
My recipe for Paleo Protein Bars reminds me a bit of RXBARs, only because of their chewy texture. However, their ingredients are quite different.
These whey-free, Paleo Protein Bars are extremely easy to make and contain three different sources of protein: bone broth protein, hemp protein and collagen peptides. They have just 1 gram of sugar (from the almonds) per bar and pack in 9 grams of protein, plus a healthy serving of fat.
These bars can be stored in the fridge or freezer. They do not get rock hard in the freezer, just slightly firmer. They will last at room temperature for a few hours, but taste best chilled.
More Paleo Protein Recipes
Enjoy!
Paleo Protein Bars
- Prep Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 protein bars 1x
Description
Healthy Paleo protein bars made with three different types of protein, low in sugar and high in protein. Dairy free, egg free and gluten free.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dry roasted almonds
- 1 rounded scoop bone broth protein*
- 2 Tbsp hemp protein
- 2 Tbsp collagen peptides
- 1 Tbsp monk fruit (optional)
- ⅛ tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2-3 Tbsp water**
Instructions
- In food processor, blend almonds to a course flour.
- Add in remaining ingredients except water. Blend well.
- Add in water, 1 Tbsp at a time, until dough starts to clump together.
- Firmly press dough into an 8" x 4" lined baking pan.
- Place bars in freezer for at least 2 hours to set (or overnight in the fridge).
- Remove from freezer and cut into 8 even pieces.
- Store bars in fridge or freezer.
Notes
*Any protein powder should work, but the brand linked is what I recommend.
**Add 1 Tbsp water at a time because (depending on the brand of ingredients you use) the quantity of water needed may vary.
When making these protein bars, I lined my pan with stretch-tite plastic food wrap
(also known as saran wrap). I simply cut a long piece of plastic wrap, folded it in half (to make it thicker) and then placed it in the pan. Next, I added the dough and evenly spread it out with a spatula. Then I folded the plastic wrap over the dough and used that as a barrier between my hands and the dough to press down the bars. After freezing, removal of the bars was easy and the plastic wrap peeled off perfectly.
Keywords: protein bars, collagen, bone broth, snack, low sugar, egg free
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