These Almond-Coconut Vegan Protein Bars are nutty, satisfying, lightly sweetened, and also include mini chocolate chips. Inspired by my favorite GoMacro bar, this homemade version can also be formed into bite-sized balls. They're gluten-free, vegan, sweetened with brown rice syrup, and made from just 7 wholesome ingredients!
I've been enjoying GoMacro bars for years. I love the natural vibe of their flavors and appreciate that they keep their ingredients simple, being inspired by the foundations of a Macrobiotic diet. I've mentioned on my About page that my mom followed a Macrobiotic diet for several years when I was a kid. If you don't know what a Macrobiotic diet entails and are interested, I definitely recommend looking it up. It incorporates healthy principles that can be adopted by anyone. In short, it's a mostly plant-based diet (though some describe it as pescatarian, the version my mom did was entirely plant-based). It's often used as a way to help the body heal from serious health conditions.
Let's keep it real, though. The healing aspects of the diet are primarily due to the consumption of whole grains, beans, vegetables, seaweed, and fermented foods, not nuts and chocolate! But I digress...
Now, about these vegan protein bars. The recipe I'm sharing today is based on GoMacro's Everlasting Joy bar (coconut + almond butter + chocolate chips), and I have to say, I think I pretty much nailed the flavor! Here are the ingredients...
Ingredients in Vegan Almond-Coconut Protein Bars
- raw almonds
- raw almond butter
- brown rice syrup
- puffed brown rice cereal
- dried unsweetened coconut
- unsweetened/plain plant-based protein powder - I used pea protein; you can also use coconut flour
- mini chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life brand)
See the NOTE below, just before the recipe, about the best places to find these ingredients.
Luckily, I photographed this box of Everlasting Joy bars last year when we found them on sale at our local discount grocery (these were the mini bars). The fact that I took this photo last summer is a clue to exactly how long this recipe has been in the works. I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to finalizing it, but here we are. Woohoo!
Typically the full-size GoMacro bars sell for around $2.50 to $3 each, which adds up quickly. But this DIY version is much more affordable. Sure, these are high quality ingredients and definitely aren't cheap. But once you buy them, you'll be able to make multiple batches of these delicious snack bars. And the bars keep really well in the freezer as long as they're well wrapped.
How to Make Your Own Vegan Protein Bars
Equipment: you'll need a food processor for this recipe.
- Pulse the almonds in a food processor until roughly chopped.
- Add the coconut, almond butter, brown rice syrup, protein powder, and puffed rice. Process until everything is uniformly crumbled (see photos below).
- Add the mini chocolate chips and pulse a few times to incorporate.
- Then, either press the mixture into a parchment-lined 8x8 pan (to be cut into bars), or use your hands to roll the mixture into balls (about 2 Tbsp of mixture per ball).
- For bars, refrigerate the pan for about 20 minutes to help them set before cutting.
That's it!
I hope you enjoy these Almond-Coconut Protein Bars! I would love to hear from you if you try the recipe. Leave a comment below to let us all know how they turned out. And if you're on instagram, I would love to see a photo of your vegan snack bars! Just tag @myquietkitchen.
Happy snacking!
You might also enjoy:
Vegan Protein Cookies
Popped Sorghum Balls
4-Ingredient Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
Coconut Rice Krispie Treats
Oil-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
NOTE: Most of these ingredients can be found in well-stocked grocery stores, health food stores and specialty markets. For some reason, a few of these items seem to be MORE expensive online, which usually isn't the case. So be sure to check your local stores and compare prices! I included some Amazon links in the recipe card anyway, for clarification and to help you know which brands to look for.
Almond-Coconut Protein Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw almonds
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 cup puffed rice cereal
- ½ cup almond butter, unsalted, raw or toasted
- ½ cup brown rice syrup
- ½ cup vegan protein powder (or sub coconut flour) Plain, unsweetened protein makes a bar that tastes the most like GoMacro, but you can also use a flavored protein powder for sweeter bars.
- ¼ cup vegan mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Place almonds in a food processor, and pulse until roughly chopped. Add the coconut, puffed rice, almond butter, brown rice syrup, and protein powder. Process until the mixture is finely crumbled and uniform.
- Squeeze a bit of mixture between your fingers to make sure it will stick together. If it seems too crumbly add another spoonful or two of brown rice syrup and pulse again. Add the chocolate chips, and pulse several times to incorporate.
- To make bars: line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment for easier removal. Press the mixture evenly into the pan. Use the back of a spatula to firmly pack it down. To make balls: using a tablespoon, scoop 2 Tbsp of the mixture into your hand. Squeeze a few times to squish it into a ball. Roll the ball between your palms to smooth the surface. This makes 18 to 20 balls.
- If making bars, refrigerate the pan for about 20 minutes. Use parchment edges to lift the mixture out of the pan, and cut into 12 equal-sized pieces. Enjoy right away, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve. See notes below for extended storage.
Notes
Nutrition
Hi, I'm Lori. I share approachable vegan recipes, everything from gluten-free and oil-free recipes to decadent, veganized classics!
I am so happy I found this recipe. So easy! I use maple syrup instead of rice syrup. I also found that after the almonds are processed down to size, a quick pulse to incorporate the rest of the ingredients is all you need. I then mix everything together by hand in a bowl. It keeps the integrity of the ingredients better and adds a little bit of texture. I keep these frozen for months and have made many batches for family. Wrap them in wax or parchment paper for a low waste packaging solution!
Those are great tips! Thanks so much for sharing, Amy. I'm really happy you and your family like them.
Could you use an alternative to brown rice syrup?
I haven't tried, but yes I'm sure you can make something work. 😀 The issue is that brown rice syrup is very thick and sticky, whereas something like maple syrup is less so. And if you make these into balls instead of bars, that will also help them hold together better.
To replace the 1/2 cup brown rice syrup I might start with a combination of 1/4 cup maple syrup and 2 or 3 tablespoons of molasses. Date paste is another good option since it's nice and sticky.
What a great idea. I always pass up the macro bar because of their cost. Thanks!
Thanks, Susan! For convenience I still end up buying them occasionally, but it definitely helps to have a homemade option. 🙂