The Best Brownie Protein Bars
Plus, each bar has over 11 grams of protein!
How’s that for a win-win?! These are a great snack to pack with you on-the-go or as a quick, easy breakfast any day. For this recipe, we use dark chocolate chips, and here’s why…
3 Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate
- 75% or higher dark chocolate is loaded with compounds called flavonoids which prevent fat-like substances in the bloodstream from clogging arteries, thereby decreasing the risk of heart attack and stroke
- The flavonoids in dark chocolate also modulate nitric oxide, a compound that is critical for healthy blood flow and blood pressure. In a study in the America Journal of Clinical Nutrition, it was reported that dark chocolate decreased blood pressure AND improved insulin sensitivity.
- Dark chocolate contains magnesium, one of the most important minerals for heart health.
(Source: The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth, Jonny Bowden, PhD, CNS)
So it’s safe to say including a little dark chocolate in your life will allow you to reap great health benefits.
However, we recommend looking for high quality, high cocoa content dark chocolate ~ look for at least 75% or higher and check the ingredient list to make sure there aren’t any hydrogenated oils or artificial ingredients.
Get ready to have your protein bar routine totally up-leveled!
Best Brownie Protein Bars
- 3 fresh figs
- 1.5 scoops chocolate protein powder (we used Chocolate IsaPro)
- 2 egg whites
- ¼ cup baking stevia (like this one)
- ¼ cup cottage cheese
- ⅓ cup unsweetened almond milk
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder (we used Hershey’s Special Dark)
- ¾ tsp baking powder
- optional: 2 tbs dark chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray. Combine all ingredients in food processor, and process until smooth. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes. Let cool and cut into 5 bars. Store in refrigerator.
Servings: 5
Calories: 80
Fat: 1.5 g
Carbs: 10
Fiber: 3.3 g
Protein: 11.4g
Like this recipe?
You might also like these other Healthy Brownie Spinoff recipes… Click each image below to go pin them!
Come out so dry…..taste was ok but I could barely swallow without water…..
Might have to bake for less time or add something else wet (apple sauce?)
Nanci! That’s incredible. You sound like a food wizard!! Good job, I’m glad you liked them 🙂
I made these with a lot of substitutions. I used an overripe banana instead of figs. I used vegan protein, because that’s the only kind I have. I subbed Greek yogurt for the cottage cheese. I don’t have a food processor, so I mashed everything really good with a fork before adding the liquid ingredients. I decided the batter was too runny so I threw in 1/4 cup of almond flour and some more protein powder. Also, a handful of chocolate chips and a handful of slivered almonds. I had to bake it much longer, probably 40 minutes, and they are still kind of gooey. But really, really yummy!
Yes, I’d try baking for slightly less time. You could try greek yogurt, but the figs are pretty important. If you want you could also try using dates instead of figs. This should help!
Hi, mine turned out so dry! I subbed greek yogurt for the cottage cheese, could that be why? I only baked it for 20 minutes, should I reduce the baking time? Thanks so much! Also, I left the figs out.
Go for it
You two are GENIUS! Thank you for sharing. 🙂 Can I sub eggs for milled flaxseed?
You could try applesauce 🙂
no lactose for me – do you suggest anything besides cottage cheese or yogurt?
I just want to say I looove that you girls use trutein it’s the only kind of protein I use.
Hi Rachel,
You could try it, but it’s definitely not as powerful as a food processor so we can’t guarantee that would work. For this one it probably would – report back and let us know 🙂
Could the magic bullet be used to replace the food processor, not only in this recipe but all your recipes? LOVE what you guys are doing on this website. Im a soccer player at Berkeley and I can’t wait to start baking all these protein bars.
I’m not sure which stevia you’re using. I don’t think the Trader Joe’s one will measure exactly the same – I think it’s a lot stronger. I’d just add a little at a time and taste test a little bit to see if it’s at the desired sweetness 🙂
Is there a difference between baking stevia (Truvia, in this recipe’s case) and powdered stevia extract? I already have the powdered kind from Trader Joe’s and just wondered if the conversion rate is the same. Thanks!!
They are usually by the raisins/nuts in the grocery store. We found them at Trader Joes
You could sub greek yogurt 🙂
You could try dates or possibly raisins. Not sure how that would turn out, but let us know! 🙂
Is there a substitute for figs in case they aren’t available??
Fresh figs, where do you find this in KC?
I absolutely hate cottage cheese. Even if you can’t taste it, I won’t be able to eat the bars knowing it’s in them. Is there anything I could substitute for the cottage cheese?
Fresh 🙂
Yum! Dried or fresh figs??
These look great! I saw them on Instagram and just had to come check them out. Mmmmm, chocolate!