Chocolate Mint Protein Bars Homemade and Gluten-Free

Make these chocolate mint protein bars in minutes! Packed with cashew butter, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and a refreshingly sweet flavor of mint, they’re a no-bake, high-protein snack with a chewy texture. Topped with a naturally colored white chocolate layer, they’re perfect for an active lifestyle!

Homemade chocolate mint protein bars with drizzled chocolate on parchment paper.

There’s something special about making your own Chocolate Mint Protein Bars—they’re fresh, packed with flavor, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen. This is the best homemade version because it has the perfect balance of creamy cashew butter, chocolate protein powder, and a refreshingly sweet flavor of mint without any artificial sweeteners or fillers. I make these all the time, and they’re my go-to for a quick high-protein bar that’s way better than store-bought options. Plus, with white chocolate chips and a naturally green mint layer, these bars look just as good as they taste! I also include a natural green food coloring option with green spirulina powder and yellow turmeric to avoid any artificial food dyes.

YouTube video

Why You’ll Love this Chocolate Mint Protein Bars Recipe

  • No-Bake & Easy to Make: Skip the oven! These bars come together quickly with minimal prep.
  • Perfectly Chewy Texture: Thanks to cashew butter, oat flour, and Greek yogurt, these bars hold together beautifully without being too firm.
  • Naturally Colored Mint Layer: Using spirulina powder and turmeric, you get a gorgeous minty green hue with no artificial dyes.
  • Great for an Active Lifestyle: Packed with grams of protein from a blend of whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate, and brown rice protein, these bars keep you going.
All the ingredients you need to make no bake chocolate mint protein bars that are gluten-free.

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here is everything you need to make the best homemade protein bars:

Cashew Butter: Adds a creamy texture and mild sweetness. Swap with almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter.

Oat Flour: Provides structure without gluten. You can use store bought oat flour or grind your own from old-fashioned or quick oats. Substitute with brown rice flour or 3/4 cup of almond flour. You can also use 3 tablespoons of coconut flour in place of the oat flour.

Chocolate Protein Powder: Boosts protein content and flavor. You can use any protein powder you like, including plant-based protein, or milk protein isolate. This is my favorite organic chocolate protein powder that tastes delicious in this recipe.

Maple Syrup: Natural sweetener that binds ingredients. Replace with honey, tapioca syrup, maltitol syrup, or cane sugar.

Ground Flaxseed: Adds fiber and texture. Swap with chia seeds or vegetable fiber.

Greek Yogurt: Keeps bars moist. Use plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt, coconut yogurt, or plant-based yogurt.

Coconut Oil: Adds richness and is solid when chilled. Substitute with palm oil, sunflower oil, or vegetable glycerin.

Cocoa Powder: Adds rich chocolate flavor. You can use any variety you like or omit it and rely on the chocolate flavor from your protein powder.

Mint Extract: Classic peppermint flavor. Peppermint oil works too but is stronger—use less.

White Chocolate Chips: Sweet contrast to mint and can be colored green. You can use any white chocolate chips or white chocolate melting wafers. You can also replace it with dark chocolate chips or mini chocolate bars.

Spirulina Powder: Natural green coloring. Use matcha powder or spinach powder. Or you can use an oil-based green food coloring. Here is my favorite spirulina powder.

Turmeric: Adding this yellow powder to the green spirulina powder results in a beautiful mint green color.

A close-up of gluten-free chocolate mint protein bars with cashews and minced leaves.

How to Make My Mint Chocolate Protein Bars Recipe

Here are easy, detailed, step-by-step instructions for making my easy homemade protein bars. The instructions are also repeated in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

Step 1: Blend the Dough

In a food processor or mixer, add the 1/3 cup cashew butter, 1/3 cup oat flour, 1/2 cup chocolate protein powder, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed, 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and mix until a thick dough forms.

Adding all the protein bar ingredients to a food processor.
Blended protein bar dough in the food processor.

Step 2: Shape and Chill

Press the mixture evenly into a parchment-lined pan. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips on top and gently press into the dough. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.

Pressing down the protein bar with a silicone spatula in the bread pan.
Sprinkling mini chocolate chips over the protein bars in the bread pan.

Step 3: Melt the White Chocolate

In a small bowl, stir in 1/4 teaspoon spirulina powder and 1/8 teaspoon turmeric for natural green coloring with melted coconut oil. Add 1/4 cup white chocolate chips and microwave in 25 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and melted.

Adding the spirulina powder and turmeric powder to the melted coconut oil and a microwave safe bowl
Stirring the melted white chocolate with the green and yellow powder.

Step 4: Drizzle the Chocolate

Remove the bars from the freezer and lift out of the pan. Cut into desired size. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the top. Return to the fridge or freezer until firm and enjoy!

Melted white chocolate with the powders mixed in.
Drizzling mint green chocolate over the sliced protein bars.
Gluten-free chocolate protein bars with chocolate drizzle.

Expert Recipe Tips

Adjust Sweetness: If you prefer less sugar, reduce the maple syrup slightly and use sugar alcohols like maltitol syrup.

Dough Texture: If the dough is too sticky, add a little more oat flour. If it’s too dry and crumbly, add more greek yogurt.

Customize the Mint Flavor: If you love extra mint, increase the mint extract by 1/4 teaspoon, but don’t overdo it or it will overpower the chocolate.

Natural Green Food Coloring: Be sure to use an oil-based or powder-based food coloring with the melted white chocolate. If you use a water-based food coloring, the white chocolate will seize and become dry and brittle. You can also omit the food coloring all together.

Delicious Serving Suggestions

  • With a Hot Drink: These pair perfectly with hot cocoa, herbal tea, or a matcha latte.
  • Post-Workout Fuel: Enjoy one as a high protein bar after a workout to replenish energy.
  • Crumbled Over Yogurt: Break into chunks and sprinkle over Greek yogurt or a plant-based yogurt for added texture.
  • Dipped in Dark Chocolate: For an extra treat, dip half the bar in melted dark chocolate and let it set.
  • With a Drizzle of Nut Butter: Top with almond butter or cashew butter for extra richness.
  • As a Frozen Snack: Store in the freezer and enjoy as a cold chocolate mint protein bar.
  • With a Protein Smoothie: Pair with a chocolate mint protein shake for a delicious combo.

Airtight Container: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Refrigeration: Keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks for a firmer, longer-lasting bar.

Freezer-Friendly: Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw at room temperature before eating.

Individually Wrapped: Wrap bars in parchment paper for easy grab-and-go snacks.

Can I use a different protein powder?
Yes! You can swap chocolate protein powder with whey protein isolate, pea protein, or brown rice protein.

Are these homemade protein bars gluten-free?
Yes, as long as you use certified gluten-free oat flour or substitute with almond flour.

Can I make this mint chocolate protein bar recipe vegan?
Absolutely! Use plant-based protein powder, dairy-free yogurt, and dark chocolate instead of white chocolate.

What can I use instead of cashew butter?
Try almond butter, peanut butter, or sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option.

How do I get a bright green mint layer without artificial food dyes?
The combo of spirulina powder and turmeric gives a natural green hue, but you can also use matcha powder.

Can I make these bars softer or firmer?
For softer bars, add more Greek yogurt or coconut oil. For firmer bars, increase the oat flour or protein powder.

Do these bars contain artificial sweeteners?
No, they’re sweetened naturally with maple syrup. You can adjust sweetness with sugar alcohols like maltitol syrup to your preference.

These homemade Chocolate Mint Protein Bars are packed with flavor, simple to make, and perfect for anytime snacking. Try them and let me know your favorite way to enjoy them!

Do you love homemade chocolate treats? Check out more of my easy and delicious date bark recipes:

Homemade chocolate mint protein bars with drizzled chocolate on parchment paper.

Chocolate Mint Protein Bars Homemade and Gluten-Free

Gluten-Free diet-friendly recipe
Make these chocolate mint protein bars in minutes! Packed with cashew butter, chocolate protein powder, cocoa powder, maple syrup, and a refreshingly sweet flavor of mint, they’re a no-bake, high-protein snack with a chewy texture. Topped with a naturally colored white chocolate layer, they’re perfect for an active lifestyle!
5 from 4 votes
Servings 6
Prep Time 8 minutes
Total Time 8 minutes

Ingredients
  

Topping

  • 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
  • 2 teaspoons coconut oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon spirulina powder (natural green food coloring)
  • 1/8 teaspoon turmeric (natural yellow food coloring)

Instructions
 

  • In a food processor or mixer, add the 1/3 cup cashew butter, 1/3 cup oat flour, 1/2 cup chocolate protein powder, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed, 3 tablespoons Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon coconut oil, 1 tablespoon cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon mint extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and mix until a thick dough forms.
  • Press the mixture evenly into a parchment-lined pan. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of mini chocolate chips on top and gently press into the dough. Place in the freezer for 15 minutes to firm up.
  • In a small bowl, stir in 1/4 teaspoon spirulina powder and 1/8 teaspoon turmeric for natural green coloring with melted coconut oil. Add 1/4 cup white chocolate chips and microwave in 25 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth and melted.
  • Remove the bars from the freezer and lift out of the pan. Cut into desired size. Drizzle melted white chocolate over the top. Return to the fridge or freezer until firm and enjoy!

Video

YouTube video

Notes

Adjust Sweetness: If you prefer less sugar, reduce the maple syrup slightly and use sugar alcohols like maltitol syrup.
Dough Texture: If the dough is too sticky, add a little more oat flour. If it’s too dry and crumbly, add more greek yogurt.
Customize the Mint Flavor: If you love extra mint, increase the mint extract by 1/4 teaspoon, but don’t overdo it or it will overpower the chocolate.
Natural Green Food Coloring: Be sure to use an oil-based or powder-based food coloring with the melted white chocolate. If you use a water-based food coloring, the white chocolate will seize and become dry and brittle. You can also omit the food coloring all together.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 236kcalCarbohydrates: 19gProtein: 11gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 13mgSodium: 147mgPotassium: 161mgFiber: 4gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 3IUVitamin C: 0.05mgCalcium: 139mgIron: 1mg
Keyword chocolate protein powder, mint chocolate chip, protein bars, protein snack
Did you make this recipe and love it?Please let me know in the comments below how it turned out 🙂

4 Comments

  1. This is such a good snack, and my teenagers keep eating it too fast, they know its healthy, but it tastes great.

  2. Dang, these are good!! The mint flavor is just right. I doubled the batch so I can have one after my workout. Solid recipe!

  3. I LOVE these bars! I keep them in my freezer for a quick healthy snack. I hope you you enjoy making them, too 🙂

5 from 4 votes

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