Almond Butter Fudge Protein Bars
By Sammi Brondo — July 29, 2024
It’s safe to say I’m obsessed with these bars. They’re basically the best parts of a holiday Reese’s cup: great nut butter to chocolate ratio and super creamy. Plus, they’re packed with protein. What more could you want?!
As always, it couldn’t be easier to make these bars too. They have just 5 main ingredients: almond butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, collagen powder and chocolate chips. The variations are endless – read more on substitutions below!
The collagen in these is needed for texture purposes. It creates a texture that holds together well while still fudge-y. I also love that it adds a nice boost of protein to the bars. Coupled with the healthy fats from the almond butter, it makes them a super filling snack or dessert.
Store these bars in the fridge or freezer. They’ll last about 3-4 days in the fridge, and up to 1 month in the freezer.
Notes
- Any nut or seed butter will work for these! Just make sure it’s salted and creamy. Good options include: peanut butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter.
- Unfortunately, the coconut oil can’t be subbed. The nice thing about coconut oil is that it hardens when cold, so it helps hold these bars together. If you don’t have coconut oil and are set on making them, you can try butter, but I can’t guarantee the texture will be the same.
- I used Vital Proteins original collagen in these. As far as collagen goes, Vital Proteins is my favorite, and I love this one because it’s totally flavorless and doesn’t alter the flavor of these bars at all. If you use another collagen, use another flavorless one, or you can try one that you like the taste of, like something vanilla or chocolate flavored.
- If you don’t have collagen, you do need to replace it with something else of similar texture to get the same end result. Other options include a 1:1 substitution of: another flavorless protein powder, ground flax or powdered peanut butter.
- The chocolate chips can be optional, but definitely are part of what makes these so good. Feel free to experiment with other mix-ins though! Chopped nuts or even sprinkles would also be fun and delicious.
Ingredients
- 1 cup smooth almond butter
- 1/4 cup softened coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 cup Vital Proteins original collagen
- 1/3 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Grease a loaf pan or line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, add almond butter coconut oil and maple syrup. Mix well until cohesive and thick.
- Add in collagen and mix until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
- Scoop mixture into loaf pan, using your hands to disperse it evenly and flatten. Place in the freezer for at least 20 minutes to harden.
- Remove from the loaf pan and cut into 8 squares.
Do you just add the collagen peptides in as powder or do you mix them with water first?
Just add them in! No need to mix with anything first