This recipe was adapted from one by Pam Vagnieres’ in an article called Make Your Own Protein Bars that ran last year in my local newspaper The Daily Camera. These high protein, gluten free power bars are easy to make and remind me of a Lärabar, though these are super fresh since they’re homemade, and they’re also not quite as sweet.
My boys and their friends loved these bars and gobbled them up during spring break, when our house was boys central.
Chocolate Cranberry Power Bars
Ingredients
- 2¼ cups pecans, lightly toasted
- ¼ cup cacao powder
- 15 large dates (remove pits)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 10 drops stevia
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar or honey
- ½ cup dried cranberries, you can add more if you like
Instructions
- Blend pecans and cacao powder in food processor until combined and coarsely ground
- Add in dates and process until blended into dry ingredients
- Process in vanilla, stevia and agave until well combined
- Stir (or work in) dried cranberries with a spoon or by hand
- Press mixture into an 8 x 8 inch baking dish
- Freeze for 1 hour, or until firm, then cut into 16 squares
If cranberries aren’t your thing check out my other gluten free power bar recipes, Chocolate Espresso Power Bars, Spicy Power Bars and the crowd favorite Almond Power Bars.
For more yummy power bar recipes from other gluten free food bloggers check out:
–Sesame Snack Bars (Gluten-Free & Casein Free) from Lexie of Lexie’s Kitchen
–Popeye Protein and Fruit Bars from Shirley of Gluten free Easily
–The Best Ever Gluten-Free Power Bars from Debbie of The Gluten-Free ‘Dish’
Robyn Baldwin says
Has anyone tried this with chocolate protein powder instead of cocoa powder? If so, what was the results? I’m giving it a go this weekend, but wanted to know if anyone had any experience with it first.
Catharine says
This is just delicious! I’m recently on a very strict diet and was searching for a snack, something nice and sweet. I tried your recipe and I loved it very much. This is my number one snack, thank you very much for sharing it.
I must say that my squares don’t look so neat as yours above on the picture. Mines are crumbly and fall apart easily. I’m not sure why.
Beth says
I made the chocolate-cranberry power bars and they taste great but crumble badly. I followed the recipe exactly except I left out the stevia. What can you suggest?
Edels says
Try a little coconut oil?
Catharine says
Hi Beth,
I had the same problem. I uses this recipe again last week en added a bit of water en that worked really wel! It’s not as crumbly anymore and I can easily cut squares. I also don’t use stevia.
Stacy says
Great Recipe! I made mine with calimyrna figs instead of dates. They were divine! I also rolled them in parchment paper as you would for icebox sugar cookies. I cut them in disks to serve with my morning (and afternoon) coffee!!
craig says
Hi,
My wonderful wife has made these power bars this weekend. They are fantastic & SO easy to make. Thanks for this fail-safe recipe.