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Is it a snack or is it a treat? It doesn’t matter with these low carb protein bars! My delicious keto protein bars recipe is both.
Not only is it incredibly healthy (wait until you see the ingredients it’s made of!), but it takes just 15 minutes of prep time to make to make these high protein low carb bars.
Store a stash of these keto friendly protein bars for post-workout bite or that 3pm snack session. If you were used to grab-and-go snacks pre-keto, you need these in your life. (Check out my other keto tips for beginners for more ways to make it easier to stick to this lifestyle.)
Are you wondering what the best keto protein bars taste like? They taste a lot like a Nutella-infused truffle or brownie. My husband thought they were brownie bars! So yummy.
How To Make Keto Protein Bars
I’m going to show you how to make the best keto protein bar recipe! They take just 15 minutes to make and are better than anything you’ll find in the store.
- Mix together the dough for keto approved bars. In a food processor, pulse blanched hazelnuts until they reach a fine meal-like consistency. Add in almond flour, cocoa powder, protein powder, Besti powdered sweetener, and sea salt. Pulse a few times to combine.
TIP: Blanched hazelnuts ensure a smooth texture in your bars. If yours have skins, roast them in the oven for a few minutes at 350 degrees until toasty, then rub between 2 sides of a kitchen towel to remove the skins before using in this protein bar recipe.
- Add wet ingredients. Add almond butter and melted cocoa butter to food processor and process continuously until a dough forms and starts to pull away from the center. When you are processing the bar dough, scrape down the sides frequently so that all of the ingredients are getting incorporated.
TIP: The dough should be firm and shiny, and feel firm to the touch.
- Form bars. Press the protein bar dough tightly into the lined pan.
TIP: Secure the edges of the parchment paper to the pan with clips. This helps the parchment paper from sliding around.
- Chill bars. Place the high protein low carb protein bars into the fridge until very firm.
- Cut and store bars. Lift the bars out of the pan and slice.
TIP: Don’t use a see-saw motion when cutting the bars, or they will crumble. Use a straight down or rocking motion instead.
Ingredients In Keto Friendly Protein Bars
This low carb protein bar recipe is packed with nutritious ingredients like:
- Hazelnuts – The base of these keto diet protein bars.
- Almond Flour – Adds vitamins, protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
- Cocoa Powder – The best low carb protein bars always contain chocolate, don’t you think?
- Collagen Protein Powder – Adds a protein boost without any gritty taste like some of the high protein low carb bars out there.
- Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – My sweetener of choice. No after-taste, no bitter flavor, and silky smooth.
- Sea Salt – Brings out the sweetness.
- Almond Butter – Adds plenty of nutrition, but also helps hold the bars together.
- Cocoa Butter – An important ingredient for holding the bars together and also keeping them firm.
- Sugar-free Chocolate Chips – Optional, but the drizzle is well worth it!
Are Protein Bars Allowed On A Keto Diet?
Many traditional protein bars have sugar added and are simply a candy bar with protein added, OR they taste like sawdust. There are some that are keto, but they are often expensive.
This is why I created my own chocolate keto protein bar recipe, so it can still taste like chocolate without the added sugar. This one is 100% keto approved, with just 2g net carbs in each bar.
Are Low Carb Protein Bars Healthy?
Keto friendly protein bars are not all created equal! I happen to think this is the best keto diet approved protein bar, because not only does it fit as a balanced snack, but it’s also made with real, wholesome ingredients. (See above for the list!)
And it doesn’t hurt that it tastes like Nutella, either. 😉
How To Store Keto Protein Bars
Store this keto friendly protein bars recipe in the fridge. They soften too much at room temperature.
If you want to take them on the go, here are some tips:
- Wrap the bars in parchment paper so that you can hold that while you eat them to avoid getting chocolate all over your hands.
- A small box for on-the-go storage is better than a bag, as they may get crushed easily.
- Another option to bring them on the go is to pack them with a small ice pack to keep them cool and firm.
Can You Freeze High Protein Low Carb Bars?
Yes, you can freeze these high protein low carb bars. Let them thaw slightly before eating, so that they aren’t too hard.
If your low carb low sugar protein bars end up too runny to stay together after chilling, you can freeze them as a backup plan. This shouldn’t happen, but can be a side effect of almond butter being too runny.
More Low Carb Protein Recipes
I’ve got plenty of recipes for protein bars for keto and low carb diets. Some of them are in slightly different form, but I doubt that will be a problem! 😉
- Low Carb Peanut Butter Protein Balls – Just 4 ingredients to make these perfectly snack-able protein balls.
- Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Protein Cookies – Yes, cookies can be a healthy treat – and pack a protein boost! Treat or healthy snack? I say both!
- Keto Protein Cookie Dough Balls – Oh yes, the cookie dough obsession continues with these keto dough balls.
- Double Chocolate Protein Muffins – Double chocolate is always a good idea. I love having a stash of these in the freezer.
- Vanilla Protein Waffles – Start your day off with a boost of protein in these delicious waffles.
- Chocolate Protein Pancakes – Chocolate for breakfast? When it’s this nutritious, yes!
Tools To Make The Best Keto Protein Bars:
Click the links below to see the items used to make this recipe.
- Food Processor – You definitely need a food processor to make these keto friendly protein bars. This is the one I use and love.
- 8×8 Inch Pan – Glass is best for keto protein bars in case you miss any spots with the parchment, and it cleans up easily.
Reader Fave Keto Recipes
The recipe card is below! Readers also made these similar recipes after making this one.
RECIPE CARD
Keto Low Carb Protein Bars Recipe
Smash your chocolate cravings with this low carb keto protein bars recipe in a dreamy chocolate hazelnut flavor! These high protein low carb bars have just 2g net carbs + 8g protein.
Recipe Video
Click or tap on the image below to play the video. It's the easiest way to learn how to make this recipe!
PrintIngredients
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Instructions
RECIPE TIPS + VIDEO in the post above, nutrition info + recipe notes below!
Click on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
- Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, allowing it to hang over at least 2 sides.
- Place 1 cup (120 g) hazelnuts into a food processor. Pulse until you get a fine meal-like consistency.
- Add the almond flour, cocoa powder, protein powder, Besti, and sea salt. Pulse a few times, just until mixed. Scrape the sides of the food processor and pulse again.
- Add the almond butter and melted cocoa butter. Process continuously until a dough forms, pulls away from the center, feels firm to the touch, and leaves a fingerprint when pressed. It should be firm and shiny, not runny or crumbly. If it’s not uniform, you may need to manually stir and scrape the sides, then process more.
- Press the protein bar dough tightly and evenly into the lined pan. Chop the remaining 1/4 cup (30 g) hazelnuts and press into the top. If desired, drizzle with melted chocolate (optional).
- Place the pan in the fridge and chill for at least 1-2 hours, or until very firm. Run a knife along the edges of the pan if any part of the bars are touching the pan directly and not the parchment paper. Lift the bars out of the pan using the edges of the parchment paper, slide onto a cutting board, and cut into 12 bars, using a large chef’s knife with a straight down motion or rocking motion (do not see-saw, or bars may crumble).
- Store bars in the fridge, between layers of parchment paper.
Readers Also Made These Keto Low Carb Recipes
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 bar, or 1/12 of the recipe
Video Showing How To Make Low Carb Protein Bars:
Don't miss the VIDEO above - it's the easiest way to learn how to make Low Carb Protein Bars!
Nutrition Information Per Serving
Where does nutrition info come from? Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy, sourced from the USDA Food Database. You can find individual ingredient carb counts we use in the Low Carb & Keto Food List. Carb count excludes sugar alcohols. Net carb count excludes both fiber and sugar alcohols, because these do not affect blood sugar in most people. We try to be accurate, but feel free to make your own calculations.
More Low Carb & Keto Support
If you want to know more about how to start a low carb diet, want to substitute sweeteners, need a food list, or need support, check these guides:
Low Carb & Keto Diet Plan
Starter Guide 
Sweetener Conversion Calculator 
Keto Low Carb Macro Calculator 
Low Carb Keto Food List + Printable PDF
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. We'd LOVE for you to share a link to this recipe, but please DO NOT COPY/PASTE the recipe instructions to social media or websites. You may share a photo with a link back instead.
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22 Comments
Dee
It was great but the view was not large enough to view printed ingredients… But with printed ingredients list viewing multiple times… could grasp… have yet to make…grocery shopping is only a bi-monthly happenstance with the current issues will let you know…
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Dee, You can find the full list of ingredients and amounts in the recipe card. If you cannot see the recipe card, you may need to turn off your browser’s ‘Reader Mode.’ I hope this helps you build your shopping list. Best wishes!
Myron
I had to add to sticks of butter and went over board with almond butter just to get enough moisture to make dough. My recipe was awesome.
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Myron, Did you use a food processor? The hazelnuts and almonds have enough fat in them to turn into nut butter on their own if processed enough, it should not have needed butter to form a dough. I am glad you were able to make this work for you, but I think you could have gotten there without the extra ingredients.
Liezel Boonzaier-Lacquaye
Looks amazing. Please help, can I use peanut butter instead of almond butter? and what can I use instead of cocoa butter? Thank you
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Liezel, Yes you can use peanut butter in place of almond butter. Cocoa butter can be substituted with coconut oil, but your bars will need to be refrigerated then.
Ashtyn
These sound so yum! I am a vegan, any suggestions on substitute I can use for collagen protein that won’t alter the nutritional value?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Ashtyn, I think you can sub any flavorless vegan protein powder into the recipe, as long as it dissolves well and doesn’t remain powdery.
Deanna
I don’t have any protein powder, and I don’t do shopping online…any ideas?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Deanna, You can add an additional 1/4 cup of almond flour to replace the bulk from the protein powder. This will change the nutrition for the recipe, but it should still taste the same. Enjoy!
Noel
I don’t have a food processor so I tried to to use a wisk and spatula to make these. Any tips on an alternative method? Thanks!
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Noel, A high powdered blender is probably the second best option. If you already have hazelnut butter then you can make them with a stand or hand mixer.
Danielle
I can’t seem to find hazelnuts in the store and I don’t like doing shopping online. May I use a different nut? Obviously it would change taste and carb count. But I thought perhaps any nut could work here???
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Danielle, Yes, you can swap out a different nut. Although I have not tested this recipe with other types of nuts, I think it would be good with pecans or walnuts too!
Dottie
Can these be made with walnuts?
Wholesome Yum M
Hi Dottie, I think that should work fine.
jenna
Love the hazelnuts in here! These are perfect for traveling. The added protein boost is great too
Amy Chung
oh yum! When a snack is also a treat……it’s a no brainer in my cook! Great recipe. My daughter would love these in her school lunch box!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry
These protein bars look absolutely delicious! I love that they’re keto and low carb too!
Kelly Anthony
What a great sweet treat bar that will save me some serious money. With this recipe, I can make my own and save some money.
Jessica Formicola
These bars look so incredible! And I love that they have minimal ingredients. Can’t wait to try!
Heidy M
These low carb keto protein bars were awesome and I wish I had made a double batch.