A layer of chewy coconut fudge, an ice cream-like layer of creamy carob goodness, and a layer of crunchy cacao nibs, and a whole lotta deliciousness is how I would describe these little bars.
I made them while looking for a good mid-day snack in a stretch where I was doing a lot of running. These little fellas work brilliantly for an energy boosting treat.
Most importantly though, I have no idea why, but these bars somehow appear to be radiating happiness -- not sure if that makes any sense, but just looking at them made me happy, and that's the best pick-me-up in my opinion :)
I even snuck in a bit of protein powder into them to pack a bit more nutrition in -- something I don't do often, but which worked out really well in these bars.
Not sure how picky you are, but I generally don't like the taste of vegan protein powders and don't use them very often for that reason, preferring to focus on whole foods more. It's rare to come across a protein powder I really like, just because they tend to be gritty, or stevia-tasting, etc. and I end up spending heaps of time trying to "hide" them within my food as opposed to enjoying them. But in this case I made an exception and I'm really glad that I did.
A company called LivWell sent me some sample powders and as soon as I saw their product packaging I felt drawn to look them up -- somehow the look and feel of the product really resonated with me, as a product that's more simple, gentle, earthy, and harmonious than most of the vegan powders I've tried. I liked the sound of the tagline "be the change" too, because in my perception this company seemed to be striving to do just that.
When I read that it's a raw protein powder too I got excited. The ingredients list looked nice and clean. I said, oh why not, let's see if it lives up to my expectations.
I am pleased to report it more than did. I have genuinely been enjoying these protein powders -- I tried both the raw cacao and the wild vanilla bean flavors (featured above) and they have both been absolutely lovely. No grittiness, no noticeable stevia taste. It's organic and non-GMO. No added oils, and not even nuts or soy for those that care. Just lovely. I've been making smoothies with it, and also worked it into these bars and enjoyed it as an extra treat.
You can check out their vanilla and cacao powders here.
Note, I have not been paid in any way to write this post, but if you wanted to give LivWell's powders a try and purchase it through the link above I'll make a small commission on your purchase (at no extra cost to you) which helps to cover blog maintenance costs, etc.
That said, you can make these bars using ANY protein powder you like. I find with many of them the flavor can come out pronounced in a recipe, so if you enjoy the flavor it will be great, but if you use a protein powder you don't like, chances are you won't like the treats you make with it either. So go with what you enjoy and is accessible to you.
One other quick tip is to let these bars thaw out on the counter for a bit (10 mins or so) for best results, as otherwise they can be a bit "tough." My husband liked them softer than I did, so he got them out even earlier than that. I thought 10 mins was perfect -- a sort of chewy fudge + creamy ice cream experience :)
Carob Coconut Protein Fudge Bars
These raw vegan carob coconut protein bars have a lovely chewy fudge layer and a soft creamy carob layer. They are gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and refined sugar-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 9 squares
- Category: Bars
- Method: Raw
- Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients
Coconut Layer:
- 1 cup coconut manna (coconut butter; not coconut oil)
- 5-6 tablespoon raw vanilla protein powder (I used 2 packets of Livwell Vanilla powder)
- 4 tbsp maple syrup
- 4 tbsp almond milk (or another plant milk)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
Carob Layer:
- ⅓ of the mixture from the coconut layer
- 3 tbsp almond milk (or another plant milk)
- 2 tbsp carob powder
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ⅛ tsp sea salt
Optional Toppings:
- cacao nibs, chocolate (or carob) chips or chunks, chocolate shavings, etc. Or alternatively use shredded coconut or chopped nuts of choice (if not nut-free).
Instructions
- Blend all coconut layer ingredients in a power blender until smooth. Transfer ⅔ of this mixture (leaving the remaining ⅓ behind in the blender) to a 7" x 5" glass container (or any dish of a similar size) that's lined with parchment paper at the base and sides. Even out the layer with the back of a spoon.
- Add remaining carob layer ingredients to the blender and blend again until smooth. Transfer this mixture into the container over the coconut layer and smooth out the top. Sprinkle with desired toppings.
- Freeze for 5-6 hours or overnight. Thaw out slightly (until you can pull the frozen bar out of the container), pull out of the container onto a cutting board and cut into pieces, and enjoy! Keep leftovers frozen and thaw out a piece at a time as needed for a few minutes for a softer texture.
Disclaimer: this recipe contains an affiliate link to the Livwell protein powder I used in these bars.
Rebecca says
Thank you for the great recipe! Made it 5x now and it’s consistent, delicious and a great use for the protein power which tastes not so nice in smoothies but delicious here 😂
★★★★★
Audrey says
Haha. Glad to hear that protein powder is being put to good use here :D Thanks so much for the feedback! :)
Linda Brown says
Hi Audrey this recipe looks amazing!! I love carob! Any suggestions for
a high protein oatmeal muffin or bars. I can't have eggs or dairy. I have coconut protein powder, pea, and pumpkin powder mix. And I have alot if oats. Thanks in advance Lin
Lynda Arterbury says
Is there an alternative to the maple syrup? I’m not fond of maple or syrup.
natalie says
so good! thank u!
★★★★★
Audrey says
You're welcome :) I'm glad you like them.
Ayca Akboyraz says
Hello,
I would like to know if I could replace coconut butter with something else? I don't have it and I would be okey with any other alternative. If lower in calorie, better but not necessarily :)
Audrey says
Hi Ayca, you can use a combination of a nut butter like cashew with a few tbsp coconut oil instead (so for example do 3 tbsp coconut oil and the rest of the cup can be cashew butter). Can use other nut and seed butters too, but just be mindful of the flavor changes each nut butter introduces.
Sophie says
This recipe is on my list to make tomorrow! The bars look fantastic! ????????????
★★★★★
Audrey says
Hey Sophie. Thanks so much! Enjoy them :)
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
I always get excited by your carob recipes and these bars look amazing!! Thanks for the inspiration :)
Audrey says
Thanks so much, Kari :)
Cassie says
All of these bars look great! And how is the protein powder? I've seen it around and it looks wonderful, but I'm worried that it would taste gritty!
Audrey says
Hey Cassie, nah, I think it's worth trying -- I didn't find it gritty at all :) Would love to hear what you think though if you try.
Natalia says
Mmm, Audrey, i missed your posts!
★★★★★
Audrey says
Thanks Natalia :) It has been a while indeed...
april says
these are adorable! they look like chubby little chunks :-) so cute! i have 2 questions: can i use cacao powder in place of carob powder? also, if i used a non-flavored protein powder (ie: collagen), how much additional vanilla would you recommend adding to make up for the lack of vanilla flavoring in the protein powder? thanks for all your creativity!! my husband is training for a triathlon, and these sound perfect for him!
Audrey says
Hi April. Yes, you can definitely use cacao powder, but you might need to add more sweetener. Carob has a natural sweetness to it (and a caramel-like flavor), whereas cacao has a bit more of a bitter-sweet taste, so add more maple syrup to taste. With the vanilla, I'd just add another tsp to the whole recipe.
And yes, these can be great for triathalon-type stuff. I wasn't training for that, but was running 30-45k/per week and something like this definitely helps give a good energy boost.
Olivia says
I totally agree - I bought a whole lot of vegan protein powder but it all tastes like chalk and stevia and ruins everything I put it in! These bars look amazing (I swear carob is my spirit animal?), so I might try and use some of it up in these bars! ?
Audrey says
Haha. I know how you feel. Been there so many times ?. If you're looking for something to use it up in, I can recommend this cake -- it hides protein powders really well and is carob flavored -- a bonus for you :)
Cinnamon Carob Marble Fudge Protein-Packed Cake
These bars are a good option too: Chocolate Protein Power Bars
Olivia says
Wow, thanks Audrey! That cake looks amazing - will definitely have to try it! ?
Audrey says
You're welcome :)