Chewy and crunchy Caramel Cashew Protein Bars with a high protein base and protein caramel too! A low fat, sugar free and gluten free recipe with caramel flavored cashew butter and peanut butter powder for an extra flavor boost.

After getting a bag of salted caramel flavored peanut butter powder from Flavored PB Co, I just couldn’t wait to try out a recipe to bring out that flavor. These caramel and cashew snack bars really were perfect for the job with that gooey caramel layer going on.

Ingredients for Caramel Cashew Protein Bars:

A very clean and healthy recipe here with simple ingredients you probably have in your pantry. With oat flour and coconut flour, these bars are actually gluten free too!

Oat Flour – You can make your own by blending rolled oats in a high speed blender
Coconut Flour
Vanilla Protein Powder for high protein base layer, and also replace the sweetener.
I recommend the Quest Vanilla since it’s whey-casein and bakes well.
Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe for a slightly lower carb high protein snack recipe. I recommend the Multi-purpose mix protein powder from Quest Nutrition.
Unsweetened Almond Milk

The Protein Caramel Layer

These caramel protein bars use a high protein and sugar free caramel layer made with protein powder and salted caramel flavored peanut butter powder!

Salted Caramel flavored Peanut Butter Powder (peanut powder), or regular
I used Flavored PB Co peanut powder.
For a regular version I’d recommend Lakanto (code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount) or PbFit or PB2 too.
Caramel flavored Cashew Butter from American Dream Nut Butter; It’s called Mason’s Caramel Hot Fudge Sundae Cashew Butter and is just a beautiful flavor!
Code HAYLSKITCHEN gets you a discount on this.
Vanilla Protein Powder for high protein caramel.
I recommend the same here too – Quest Nutrition Vanilla.
Unflavored Protein Powder: Quest multi-purpose protein powder here.
Sugar-free Maple Syrup from Lakanto (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here)
Water

Tips for homemade Caramel Cashew Snack Bars made with Protein Powder

Use whey-casein protein powder, as specified, since it works well with the ratio of ingredients here. It absorbs more moisture than whey, so adjust the liquid accordingly depending on what protein powder you use.

Add milk a little at a time. Too much can easily make the mixture too runny.

To store Cashew Protein Energy Bars

Store high protein cashew energy bars, place in an airtight container and keep on the countertop for 3-4 hours, fridge for upto 1 week and freezer for 2-3 months.
Be sure to let frozen cashew protein bars thaw on the counter before eating!

Alternatives for Healthy Caramel Cashew Bars!

You can easily make these healthy caramel cashew bars with some items in your pantry instead of buying too many items just for this single treat. Here’s some alternate ingredients you can try for this snack bar instead of the ones I used:

Oat Flour: Almond Flour
Coconut Flour: About 4-5 Tbsp Almond Flour
Unflavored protein powder: Unflavored Collagen, or even Almond flour or Oat flour
Sugar free Maple Syrup: Regular maple syrup, or even caramel syrup or honey
Flavored Peanut Butter Powder: Regular peanut butter powder, almond butter, or peanut/cashew butter/ Also use less water in this case.
Flavored Cashew Butter: Regular Cashew Butter, Tahini, Almond Butter or Peanut Butter

Vegan Caramel Cashew Protein Bars

These caramel cashew protein bars use a homemade caramel with nut butter, so you can easily turn it Vegan using a plant based protein powder.

More High Protein Recipes with Cashews:

More Caramel Protein Bars to try!