Four chocolate-topped Kind Bars, two wrapped in brown paper, are placed on a white surface with scattered granola pieces and chocolate chips in the background.
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These no-bake energy bars are inspired by the popular Kind Bars, but with a protein twist. They’re crunchy, slightly sweet, and packed with nutrients. The perfect healthy snack! Whether you’re powering up before a workout or need a protein-rich snack to tide you over, these bars deliver clean energy with no fuss. Best of all, they’re customizable and easy to make in just 30 minutes.

Homemade protein bars, inspired by Kind Bars, wrapped in parchment with recipe instructions and individual bowl ingredients displayed on a white background.

Protein-Packed Homemade Kind Bars Recipe

Two chocolate-topped Kind Bars wrapped in brown paper and tied with string are placed on a light-colored surface.

Protein-Packed Homemade Kind Bars

These bars combine crunchy texture with chewy sweetness and a little indulgence from a chocolate drizzle.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Chill Time 17 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 10
Calories 225 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup raw almonds pulsed or roughly chopped
  • ½ cup raw walnuts or cashews or a mix, pulsed or chopped
  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • ⅓ cup raisins
  • ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp natural almond butter or peanut butter
  • 1 scoop 25g vanilla or chocolate whey protein powder
  • Pinch sea salt

For the chocolate topping:

  • ¼ cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1 tsp coconut oil

Instructions
 

  • Toasting the almonds and walnuts or cashews brings out their natural oils and deepens the flavor. Toss the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat for 4–5 minutes until they’re golden and fragrant. Let them cool slightly before mixing.
  • Pulse the toasted nuts and raisins in a food processor until roughly chopped but not powdery.
  • In a large bowl, combine this mixture with shredded coconut, chia seeds, and your scoop of protein powder. Add a pinch of sea salt to balance the sweetness.
  • In a small saucepan, heat the honey and almond butter over low heat until warm and fully combined. This only takes 1–2 minutes. Stir continuously to prevent burning and to keep the mixture smooth.
  • Pour the warm wet mixture over the dry ingredients and stir until everything is evenly coated. Line a loaf pan or small baking dish with parchment paper. Transfer the mixture to the pan and press it down very firmly using the back of a spatula or another sheet of parchment. Compacting it well is key to making bars that hold together.
  • Refrigerate the bars for 20–30 minutes until firm. Once set, lift the slab from the pan and slice into 8–10 evenly sized bars using a sharp knife.
  • Optional: Add a Chocolate Drizzle or Coating
  • If you’d like an extra treat, melt ¼ cup of mini chocolate chips with 1 tsp of coconut oil. Drizzle over the chilled bars or spread a thin layer on top before slicing. The coconut oil helps the chocolate stay smooth and sets nicely in the fridge.
Keyword healthy snack, kind bars, protein bars


Why Make Your Own Protein Bars?

Store-bought bars are convenient, but many are full of added sugars, preservatives, or low-quality protein sources. By making your own at home, you get complete control over the ingredients. These homemade Kind bars are loaded with healthy fats from nuts, natural sweetness from raisins and honey or maple syrup, and a boost of protein from whey powder. They’re also gluten-free and can easily be made vegan or nut-free.

Five Kind Bars, chocolate-covered granola bars, are arranged in a row on brown parchment paper, with one bar partially eaten.

How to Store Your Homemade Kind Bars


Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days. They also freeze beautifully, just wrap them individually and pop them in a freezer bag for up to 3 months. They’re perfect for meal prep or busy weeks when you need fuel fast.

Several glass bowls containing ingredients like chocolate chips, nut butter, honey, chopped nuts and dried fruit, chia seeds, shredded coconut, protein powder, and salt are arranged on a white surface—perfect for making homemade snacks inspired by Kind Bars.

Customize

Nut-Free Option
Use a mix of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and hemp seeds instead of nuts. Swap almond butter for sunflower seed butter for a school-safe, allergy-friendly version.

Vegan Option
Use maple syrup instead of honey and choose a plant-based protein powder. Most vegan protein powders work just as well as whey in this recipe.

Add Your Favorite Flavors
You can add cinnamon, orange zest, vanilla extract, or even a dash of cayenne for a spicy-sweet kick. Dried cranberries, chopped dates, or cacao nibs also work well.

No Protein Powder? No Problem
Just leave it out. Reduce the sweetener slightly to prevent the bars from becoming too sticky. You’ll still get a nutritious, whole-food snack packed with fiber and healthy fats.

A bowl of mixed nuts and dried fruit, like those found in Kind Bars, is being poured into another clear glass bowl, with some ingredients captured falling mid-air.
A glass bowl containing a thick mixture of dried fruits and nuts, similar to the wholesome blends found in Kind Bars, is partially combined with dough and sits on a white surface.
A loaf pan lined with parchment paper filled with unbaked fruit and nut cake batter, reminiscent of the wholesome ingredients found in Kind Bars, viewed from above.

Nutrition Info (Per Bar – Based on 10 Bars)


Each bar is a smart choice for fitness-minded snackers. The macros are balanced to support active lifestyles and recovery:

● Calories: 225
● Protein: 10g
● Fat: 14g
● Carbs: 16g
● Fiber: 3g
● Sugar: 9g

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