White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars

This White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #AquafinaSparkling #CollectiveBias

I love protein bars because they’re so convenient.

Just stuff them in your gym bag and you’re good to go.

But I don’t always love what’s in commercial protein bars. That’s why I started making my own.

Making your own, such as these White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars, is an excellent way to control your ingredients and know exactly what’s in your food.

You can customize your protein bars as you see fit. Make them vegan, paleo, or create a new flavor combination you’ve been craving. Plus, making your own protein bars is much, much more cost-effective than buying them.

This no-bake version is a snap to make.

The dry ingredients of this bar include oats (which are ground into a flour), protein powder, puffed brown rice, and chia seeds. Wild honey, raw agave, raw almond butter, and coconut oil are heated and melted together. This makes combining and forming the protein bars a pinch.

You can use your favorite protein powder here, but I recommend an unsweetened/unflavored version. Honey, agave, and vanilla add enough sweetness to this bar (and help the bar to stick together).

The White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars are studded with tart dried cranberries and get a chocolate drizzle. The puffed brown rice adds a lovely, crispy crunch.

I need to constantly switch up my workout routine because I get bored easily. A typical week for me will vary between yoga, cycling, a dance abs workout, barre/ballet, and kickboxing. I like to switch up my protein bar flavors just as much.

You could use any nut butter here. Try cashew, peanut, pecan, walnut, or sunflower for a non-nut version. You could add in another dried fruit instead of cranberries, or add chopped nuts for texture. When the weather warms up, I like experimenting with citrus zest, coconut, or goji berry variations. During the winter, a pumpkin-spiced protein bar with pumpkin seeds is my jam.

I’m a texture person, so I love the addition of the puffed brown rice in these. They add a really nice crunch. Plus, if you get really hungry after working out (like me!), eating whole grains (like brown rice) definitely helps keep you full until your next meal.

We all know that protein is essential post-workout for tissue and muscle growth and repair, but healthy fats and carbs also aid in recovery. These White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars have a healthy dose of protein, healthy fats, and carbs. A tiny bit of white chocolate and the incorporation of natural sugars, such as honey and agave, have their place as well. Sugar (combined with protein) helps expedite post-workout recovery, feeding your muscles when they need it most.

After a workout, I need to have some quiet me time. This is the time I take to recharge, refuel, and reflect.

Over the past few years, I’ve made several healthy changes to my lifestyle. Now, I take pride in living a happy, healthy, and full life. I’m not perfect, but it’s the little day-to-day changes that have helped me the most. Incorporating mindfulness or meditation into my daily routine, exercising more, practicing yoga, eating whole foods, and drinking water instead of any sugary drinks.

I love sparkling water. It makes me feel like I’m drinking something a bit more ‘special’ and it’s truly refreshing. After a kick-butt workout class or an intense yoga session, I refuel with plenty of water, my homemade White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars, and an Aquafina Sparkling.

Post-yoga recharge for me, and a hiking water break for Cocoa!

Aquafina’s sparkling water is totally my post-workout treat, but it’s a healthy one, too. My fridge is currently stocked with their new flavors, Black Cherry Dragonfruit and Mango Pineapple. I’m completely in love with them.

Aquafina Sparkling has 0 calories, 0 sugar, and 0 artificial flavors. It’s the perfect healthy way to add a fun and refreshing hint of flavor in your everyday. I love all of the flavors (Black Cherry Dragonfruit, Mango Pineapple, Lemon Lime, and Orange Grapefruit) and the affordable 8-pack price.

Do something healthy and great for yourself today. Go on a hike, a walk with your dog, or take a friend to a new workout class. After, enjoy some recovery time with one of our homemade White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars and a cold, refreshing sparkling water!

The new Aquafina Sparkling is available at Target. Target will be hosting tastings of Aquafina Sparkling at locations across the US, so keep an eye out for it at your next Target run! And be sure to download the Cartwheel offer before you go. What are your post-workout rituals? Tell us in the comments below!

White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 9 reviews

• Author: Tiffany La Forge
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x
• Category: bar, breakfast

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

---

Description

White Chocolate Cranberry No-Bake Protein Bars are made with protein, fiber, nut butter, coconut oil, natural sweeteners, and crispy puffed rice.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 1/3 cups old-fashion oats
• 1 cup puffed brown rice
• 1 tablespoon Chia seeds
• Pinch of salt
• 1/3 cup dried unsweetened cranberries
• 1/2 cup protein powder, unsweetened/unflavored
• 1/2 cup raw almond butter
• 1/4 cup raw agave
• 1/4 cup wild honey
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• White chocolate, for drizzling
• Chopped cranberries, for topping

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Line an 8×8 square dish with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a food processor, grind 1 cup of oats into a flour. Combine the oat flour with the additional 1/3 cup oats, puffed brown rice, Chia seeds, protein powder, cranberries, and salt. Mix well.
3. In a small pot, combine the almond butter, agave, honey, coconut oil, and vanilla. Heat until hot and melted.
4. Pour the almond butter mixture over the dry mixture. Stir thoroughly until everything is combined together.
5. Press the mixture into the parchment-lined dish and evenly flatten. Place the dish in the freezer for about 10-15 minutes until firm.
6. Remove from the freezer and cut into slices, squares, or rectangles of your desired size. It should make 12 bars.
7. Melt white chocolate and drizzle over the top of the bars, sprinkling with chopped dried cranberry bits. Store the protein bars in the refrigerator.

---

---

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1
• Calories: 140
• Sugar: 10g
• Sodium: 21mg
• Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 16g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 5g
• Cholesterol: 11mg

This post contains affiliate links but are always only products I highly recommend.

Last Updated on May 25, 2017 by Tiffany