Grain-free No Bake Cookie Dough Protein Bars

September 4, 2013

I have a confession to make: ever since ya’ll told me about heating up Quest bars in the microwave and eating them, that’s been my nighttime snack a couple nights a week.

I went from never eating bars in the house, to enjoying them regularly before bed! A quick source of protein that tastes like a treat. Kind to my blood sugar and my taste buds Smile

Well…I’m running low of cookie dough Quest Bars, and if you’ve ever bought one before, you know they’re a little pricey! So yesterday afternoon after completing a baking project for a freelance article, I figured since I had the Kitchenade mixer out, I’d try my hand at making a super-quick cookie dough protein bar. And when I say super-quick, I mean super..duper quick!

Now, I’m still a proponent of getting in my protein through complete amino acids via whole foods, but when meat or dairy or eggs do not sound good, protein powder comes to the rescue!

Since I had an earlier dinner because of weird training times, come 8:30, while catching up with Breaking Bad, (!!!) I was feeling a little hungry. I had one of these bars with a little coconut milk last night for my nighttime snack, and it hit the spot.

Ingredients:

1/2 c. vanilla protein powder (I used Tera’s Whey)

1/2 c. almond meal

1/2 c. almond butter (I used TJ’s – it’s pretty drippy!)

1/4 c. + 1 tbsp. coconut oil

1/4 tsp. sea salt

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/4 c. chocolate, chopped

Stir together until well combined. Press a piece of tinfoil in a pan, and spray with a bit of nonstick spray. Press the dough into the pan to desired thickness, and freeze for 1-3 hours. Cut into bars, and store in the freezer or the refrigerator.

Enjoy!

Do you eat a nighttime snack?

25 Comments

Erica { EricaDHouse.com } on 09/04/2013 at 6:21 am

Looks delicious! I haven’t tried the cookie dough protein bars from Quest yet mostly because I don’t want to get hooked on them. Will definitely try this recipe instead!
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } recently posted…Emergency Root Canal
Danielle on 09/04/2013 at 7:17 am

You are a genius! Totally going to make these. I love Quest bars but they definitely get pricey and I can go through them way too quick!
Danielle recently posted…Paleo Spicy Chicken Bake
Ashley @ Life and Fitness on 09/04/2013 at 7:37 am

I love the cookie dough flavor by Quest, but they are too expensive for me to buy every week. I love this idea, will be trying!
Ashley @ Life and Fitness recently posted…WIAW-Sugar Problems
Natalie @ Lift,Sleep, Eat on 09/04/2013 at 8:04 am

Oh yum these look so good!! Definitely getting added to my list of things to try.
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl on 09/04/2013 at 8:15 am

I do cereal a lot for nighttime snacks. Pinning these asap because I love Quest bars, but I don’t really like buying them! 😉
Kim @ Hungry Healthy Girl recently posted…Leftovers (it’s what’s for breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- Paige on 09/04/2013 at 9:45 am
  
  Woot! They don’t taste exactly like the Quest Bars..just a tasty protein-filled bar alternative 🙂
  - Emma Lowe on 05/05/2014 at 9:19 am
    
    Just curious, how many bars does this recipe make. Looks delicious!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries on 09/04/2013 at 9:34 am

Oh goodness, you are brilliant! I LOVE the Quest cookie dough bars, but like you said, they are pretty pricey so I rarely buy them. Can’t wait to try this!
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries recently posted…WIAW #96: Being Tired Makes Me Crave Chocolate
julie on 09/04/2013 at 10:15 am

goooood oneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! bookmarking this recipe FOR SURE. i bought a box of quest bars and they’re so good – the chocolate chip cookie dough – kind of mad i splurged but i had to hahah they were calling my name!
julie recently posted…we’re on a break…
Allison on 09/04/2013 at 2:43 pm

These look awesome!!! I have had troubles baking with protein in the past because they spoil quickly BUT since these are no bake I am guessing they will keep longer! must try THANKS!!
Giselle@myhealthyhappyhome on 09/04/2013 at 3:55 pm

these look great! I love making my own protein bars but am also a huge fan of the Quest bars! Or my newest obsession, AMRAP bars. So good!
Giselle@myhealthyhappyhome recently posted…If they ate it, why can’t I?
GiGi Eats Celebrities on 09/04/2013 at 9:54 pm

OMG OMG OMG! SOOOOOOO DELICIOUS! I cannot even contain myself. I want to make this recipe ASAP – but can I make it without nut butter??
GiGi Eats Celebrities recently posted…Kelly Ripa Bubbles Like Carbonated Water
Julie on 09/04/2013 at 10:41 pm

Just made these. Can’t wait to try them!
Amie on 09/05/2013 at 12:29 am

You are a genius! I was just saying how much I missed my daily (yikes!) choc chip quest bars. They are soooo expensive out here. I can’t wait to make these!

Hey! Check out my new blog post here 🙂 mahalo!
Amie recently posted…WIAW #1
Linz @ Itz Linz on 09/05/2013 at 7:08 am

did you say cookie dough?! i’m all over this!!!
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted…I’ve got sunshine!
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables on 09/05/2013 at 8:45 am

OH my… Those look amazing! I have to have a “midnight” snack before bed every night! 🙂
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted…Deal or No Deal
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves on 09/05/2013 at 11:42 am

Ooo these look delicious! I love anything that is quick and tastes like cookie dough 🙂
Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves recently posted…Baked Salmon with Lime-Dill Yogurt Sauce
Erica on 09/05/2013 at 12:32 pm

I cannot wait to make these! I’m a quest cookie dough addict…but they are SO expensive! THank you thank you!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen on 09/05/2013 at 12:36 pm

These look really easy and yummy! I haven’t tried the cookie dough quest bars but I can only imagine how addicting they may be!
Tara | Treble in the Kitchen recently posted…Long Love Fruit: Pineapple Bran Muffins
Lisa on 09/05/2013 at 2:47 pm

I’ve been ALL over no bake recipes these days! Absolutely need to try these ones out. Cookie dough flavor? Yes, please!
Lisa recently posted…Currently
Jean B. on 09/06/2013 at 7:40 pm

These look great! Like others, I do like the chocolate chip cookie Quest Bars, but I can’;t afford to have them very often.

How many bars should we be aiming to make?

Thanks!
janetha on 09/09/2013 at 1:39 pm

making these soon! yummy.
janetha recently posted…kit kat cookie bars.
Michelle on 01/24/2014 at 6:43 pm

I’m looking to avoid extra sugar so I wonder how these would turn out without chocolate chips and maybe added chopped nuts or something??
Matt on 03/19/2014 at 11:45 pm

These bars are REALLY high in fat though 🙁 regardless of it being “good” fats.
Roxanna on 05/22/2014 at 4:01 pm

Whoa, things just got a whole lot easrei.