Chocolate chunk protein bars. These easy and nutritious no-bake granola bars are packed with protein from sunflower seeds, sunflower seed butter and hemp hearts. They’re also gluten-free, vegan and sweetened with dates! No protein powder needed.

Are you looking for a quick and nutritious snack that’s packed with plant protein?

These bars are full of seeds, which give them a protein boost without using any protein powder. One small serving packs over 7g of protein and a good dose of healthy unsaturated fats. They’re also sweetened with dates and packed with fiber from the seeds, oats and of course, the dates.

The best part? They’re made in a food processor in under 15 minutes. Just dump all the ingredients in a food processor, mix and you’re done! You now have an easy, nutritious and delicious snack. Keep a batch in the freezer for quick snacks during the week. They also travel well, making them perfect for packed lunches or travel snacks.

How to Make Vegan Protein Bars

Add your favorite seeds in a food processor, along with dates, nut or seed butter and oats. In this recipe, we’re using sunflower seeds, hemp hearts and sunflower seed butter. Process the ingredients together until the mixture sticks together when pressed. You might need to add water to help it stick together. Stir in some chocolate chunks for a little extra sweetness.

Press the mixture at the bottom of a small dish. Cut it into bars and enjoy!

Can I Add Protein Powder?

Yes! You can try adding protein powder for more protein, but this is not necessary. Most people don’t need more protein than these bars already offer for a small snack. That being said, I haven’t tried it myself, so I can’t guarantee that the bars will taste as good.

My recommendations: Choose an unflavored protein powder that you enjoy and don’t add too much of it. A few tablespoons would be plenty. Start with 1-2 tablespoons, mix it all together and taste the mixture. If it tastes good, feel free to add more. You might need to reduce the oats by a few tablespoons or add more water to help the bars stick.

Notes on the Recipe

• You can substitute the water with melted coconut oil or more sunflower seed butter. The goal is to make the bars stick.
• Feel free to substitute the sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds or nuts (if you don’t have a nut allergy of course!).
• You can substitute the hemp hearts with ground flax seeds or chia seeds.
• Don’t have sunflower seed butter? You can use any other nut or seed butter that you like. Just keep in mind that it will change the flavor of the bars, so make sure to use a nut or seed butter that you enjoy.
• Want more crunch? Add chopped nuts or more sunflower seeds with the chocolate and stir it in the bars at the end.

More No-Bake Snacks to Try:

• Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Energy Bites
• No-Bake Walnut Granola Bars
• Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites
• Salted Caramel Energy Bites
• No-Bake Seedy Granola Bars
• 5-Ingredient Cookie Dough Bites

If you make these chocolate chunk protein bars, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I love to hear from you guys. And of course, if you try this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram!