Homemade Protein Bar Recipe (GF & DF)

Caitlin’s Hedgehog Recipe

These homemade protein snack bars have become my favourite mid-afternoon snack. I’ve been playing around with recipes that are both tasty and nourishing, something I can grab mid-afternoon when I need a little energy but don’t want to undo the good habits I’ve been building around food and balance. These bars hit that sweet spot: hearty, wholesome, and yes, still chocolatey enough to feel like a treat.

Ingredients

Dry:

• ¾ cup quinoa flakes
• ½ cup walnut flour (or almond flour)
• ⅓ cup Earth Protein Vanilla (or ~30–35g whey protein)
• 2 tbsp LSA
• 2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
• 1½ tbsp psyllium husk
• 2 tbsp coconut flakes
• 1½ tbsp linseeds
• 3 tbsp cocoa nibs (or finely chopped dark chocolate)
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp nutmeg
• ½ tsp allspice
• 1 tsp Celtic Salt (or ¾ tsp salt)

Wet:

• 2 eggs
• 3 tbsp maple syrup
• ½ tbsp honey (adds depth to flavour)
• 1½ tbsp peanut butter
• 1½ tbsp oil
• 4 tbsp almond milk (or any plant milk)
• Chia gel (1 tbsp chia + 3 tbsp water, soaked 10 min)
• ¼ tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Preheat oven to 170°C.
2. Mix dry and wet ingredients together until you have a thick but spoonable batter, not a dough.
3. Spread evenly in a 22cm x 16cm pan.
4. Bake 18–22 min.
5. Optional topping: drizzle with 60g melted 70–85% dark chocolate and sprinkle lightly toasted coconut flakes.
6. Let cool before cutting into bars (recipe makes around 12).

Full disclosure: this recipe looks like it has a lot of ingredients, and yes, that can feel a bit intimidating at first. But trust me, once you have everything on hand, it’s a total breeze. Just chuck it all in a bowl, give it a mix, pop it in the oven, and voilà! You’ve got snack bars that are actually satisfying.

How to eat them

These homemade protein snack bars are perfect with a coffee mid-afternoon, or pair one with fruit if you’re genuinely hungry.

Homemade Protein Snack Bars vs Store-Bought Protein Bars

I used to grab commercial protein bars thinking they’d be a quick, healthy snack. Most are around 200–250 kcal, have 10–15g protein, but often come with sugar alcohols or syrups, and somehow still don’t leave you feeling full.

These bars, with their little chocolate drizzle, feel completely different. They’re around 170 kcal, packed with fibre, real fats, and just enough protein (7-8g) to actually satisfy you.

These are snack bars, not meal replacement bars. They’re designed to keep you satisfied between meals using wholesome ingredients, healthy fats and fibre.

Notes & Tips

Storage: Keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, or these homemade protein snack bars freeze really well, making them a great option if you like preparing snacks in advance.

Dietary Note: This recipe is naturally gluten-free (GF) and dairy-free (DF), but always check ingredient labels to ensure they meet your dietary needs and haven’t been processed in a facility that handles gluten or dairy.

Got a Sweet Tooth? This recipe is perfect as-is if you enjoy it the way we do. However, if you prefer it a bit sweeter, you can add a small amount of extra honey or maple syrup (about 1–2 tablespoons per batch), or substitute raw sugar. Just keep in mind that adding extra sweetness can slightly increase cooking time, since the sugar takes longer to “burn off.”

Disclaimer: I’m not a nutritionist or health professional. This recipe is based on my own experience and preferences. Adjust as needed for your dietary requirements.

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