Healthy Mars Protein Bar recipe so you can have the candy and hit your goals! Homemade Mars bars use protein powder and are sugar free, gluten-free and high-fiber too.
Jump to RecipeHealthy Mars Protein Bar recipe so you can have the candy and hit your goals! Homemade Mars bars use protein powder and are sugar free, gluten-free and high-fiber too.
I just looked at the nutrition label on this Mars bar recipe here, and it really shook me! Under 200 calories with no sugar added, and so much protein and fiber.
It actually reminds me of store-bought protein bars, but with a much better flavor and texture. None of that dry chalky cardboard taste or gritty texture either. This is the perfect soft protein bar you were looking for.
Ingredients for Mars Protein Bar Recipe:
This Mars protein bar recipe is made with a few pantry staples and actually clean ingredients. No sugar, butter or added fat needed. Also a gluten free and easily Vegan and dairy-ree recipe. Here’s what it takes:
The Chocolateyy Nougat-y Base
- Chocolate Protein Powder for healthy homemade protein bars that’s also sugar free
I used Quest Nutrition Chocolate Whey-Casein here. - Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Oat Flour: You can make your own by blending oats in a high-speed blender
- Coconut Flour
- Unsweetened Applesauce
- Unsweetened Almond Milk
- A bit of Stevia Sweetener
The Caramel Layer
- Vanilla Protein Powder: Quest Nutrition Vanilla here again.
- Unflavored Protein Powder: I use the Multi-purpose mix protein powder from Quest Nutrition.
- Almond Butter Powder, also known as Powdered Almond Butter. I use the one from PB2.
- Sugar free Maple Syrup for low calorie protein bar with no sugar!
I use the sugar free monk fruit maple syrup from Lakanto (code HAYLSKITCHEN gets you a discount) - A bit of Vanilla Extract
- Water
For the Chocolate Topping for a Mars Candy Bar effect:
- Sugar Free Chocolate: I used the one from Lakanto here.
Code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount here - A bit of Coconut Oil
Tips for Sugar Free Mars Bar Substitute with Protein Powder
This recipe for a sugar-free mars bar substitute with protein powder is super easy, and here’s some pointers to get it perfect.
- Use whey-caesin and whey protein powder when specified. It works well with the ratio of ingredients in these healthy Mars bars.
Whey-caesin absorbs more liquid, and whey absorbs less, so you need to adjust the liquid accordingly.
- Mix dry ingredients before adding wet so you have a smooth mix.
- Add milk and water only a little at a time or the mixture will be too runny.
- Microwave the chocolate in intervals of 15 seconds – stirring at each round – so it doesn’t burn.
- Let the melted chocolate cool a bit – for about 5 minutes – so that you don’t melt the bars!
To store High Protein Homemade Mars Bars
Store these homemade Mars bars in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days, or on the countertop for a few hours.
For longer, place Mars protein bars in airtight sealed container, or individually wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in zipper bag; Freeze homemade Mars candy bars for 2 or 3 months. Be sure to let them thaw on the counter before eating!
Alternatives for Healthy Mars Bar Recipe:
If you don’t have all the ingredients I used, you can try these healthy Mars bars with some of these other alternatives:
- Oat Flour: Use almond flour
- Coconut Flour: About ½ – ⅔ cup Almond Flour
- Almond Milk: Any other milk
- Unsweetened Applesauce: Pumpkin Puree
For the caramel layer:
- Almond Butter Powder: Peanut Butter Powder, or about 3 Tbsp Almond Butter or Peanut butter, but start with only ½ Tbsp of water at a time.
- Unflavored Protein Powder: Try coconut flour or unflavored collagen
- Maple Syrup: Honey might work here (or regular maple syrup instead of sugar-free)
For the topping:
- Sugar-free Chocolate: Use regular chocolate
Vegan Mars Candy Bars Recipe
These high-proten Mars candy bars can easily be made Vegan with a plant-based protein powder and dairy-free chocolate.
More Sugar free Homemade Candy Bars Recipes:
- Homemade Protein Snickers Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Twix Bars
- Butterfinger Protein Bars
- Peanut Butter Cup Protein Bars
- Ferrero Rocher Protein Bars
Mars Protein Bar Recipe – Homemade Sugar Free Candy
Ingredients
Base:
- ½ cup Chocolate Protein Powder, 45g
- ½ cup Oat Flour, 45g
- ¼ cup + 2 Tbsp Coconut Flour, 42g
- 2 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 10g
- Stevia Sweetener, 1 Tbsp Sugar worth
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 60ml
- 2 Tbsp Unsweetened Applesauce, 30g
Caramel Layer:
- 4 Tbsp Almond Butter Powder, 27g
- 2½ Tbsp Peanut Butter, 40g
- 3 Tbsp Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 17g
- 3 Tbsp Unflavored Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 17g, see post for subs
- 1½ Tbsp Maple Syrup, Sugar-free recommended below, 22ml
- 1½ Tbsp Water, 22ml
- ¼ tsp Vanilla Extract
Chocolate Topping:
- 2 Tbsp Chopped Chocolate, Sugar-free recommended below, 28g
- ⅛ tsp Coconut Oil
Instructions
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper; leave an overhang to lift out later.
Chocolate Base:
- In a bowl, combine chocolate protein powder, oat flour, cocoa powder, coconut flour and sweetener.
- Add applesauce and milk (little at a time) to form a dough.
- Transfer to prepared loaf pan, and use back of spoon/spatula to press down and spread.
Caramel Layer:
- In the same bowl, stir together almond butter powder, peanut butter, vanilla protein powder, unflavored protein powder, maple syrup, vanilla and water (1 tsp at a time).
- Spread on top of base layer (use back of spoon or spatula to smoothen).
- Place in freezer 10 minutes.Remove and cut into 6 bars.
Chocolate Topping:
- Place the chopped chocolate and coconut oil in a shallow bowl and microwave for about 40 seconds – at 15 second intervals – until it’s completely melted. Let cool about 5 mins.
- Dip bar in melted chocolate and place on cooling rack to cool.
Notes
- Nutrition value is calculated using products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- Quest Nutrition Chocolate Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Multi-purpose Mix (Unflavored) Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Vanilla Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- PB2 Almond Butter Powder
- Lakanto Maple Flavored Syrup
- Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount off your order
- Lakanto Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
- Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount off your order
- Servings: 6 bars | Serving size: 1
- Calories: 199kcal
- Fat: 8.2g | Saturated fat: 3g
- Carbohydrates: 18.1g | Fiber: 7.4g | Sugar: 2.8g
- Protein: 16.4g
Hey! I'm Haylee
Google Software Engineer
I use my passion for baking (and eating) to create healthy, high-protein, good-for-you and diet-friendly desserts and sweet treats that are actually delicious.
Come join me in Hayl's Kitchen and let's eat high protein, sweet and guilt free!