3-Ingredient Keto Protein Bars {vegan, easy}

3-ingredient keto protein bars that require no cooking or baking. They are also vegan, paleo, grain-free and have 7.6 g protein per bar.

Summer is off to a rip-roaring start, which means I need all of the portable energy I can get my hands onto! And with my son starting a series of athletic camps this week, it also means I need plenty of packable options for him, as well.

Given that is Monday, how about a 3-ingredient, no-bake, no-cook option to get things started?

These simple energy bars are ketogenic because I use a keto-friendly brown sugar substitute. However, I also make these with coconut sugar (for my son). Do whichever version suits your needs.

Here’s a quick summary of the bars. They are:

*Made with 3-ingredients

*Ketogenic
*Paleo
*Vegan
*Grain-free
*Amazing

Here’s what you need to make the basic bars: (1) Smooth, unsweetened nut or seed butter (e.g., almond butter, sunflower seed butter, cashew butter, peanut butter), (2) Coconut flour, and (3) Brown sugar substitute (e.g., Swerve brown sugar replacement, Sukrin gold…or coconut sugar if you are not making a keto version). You’ll also need a splash of water.

These are so easy, you barely need a description. However, I do have a few pointers to assure you that you are doing everything correctly.

In a small to medium bowl, stir the nut/seed butter and sweetener with 2 tablespoons of water until smooth.

Note: Nut and seed butter can vary a lot in terms of their stiffness/creaminess/dryness/moisture content. I’ve made these bars with several different varieties of butter, all of which were markedly different in terms of texture. However, 2 tablespoons of water worked as a good starting point for all.

Use your best judgment; if your butter looks especially loose, you may want to start with 1 tablespoon water. But avoid the temptation of adding more than 2 tablespoons at the start. You can always add more later!

Next, stir in the coconut flour.

Once combined, the mixture should be very thick, but not dry. Add more water, in droplets, if the mix is dry.

At room temperature (especially hot Texas room temperature), the mix will still have some softness, despite being thick. Add more coconut flour, a little bit at a time, as needed, but not so much that it becomes dry. The bars will be very firm once chilled.

Press the dough into a 9-inch (22.5 cm) loaf pan that has been lined with parchment paper or wax paper, smoothing the top.

Refrigerate the bars for at least 2 hours until firm. They will be sold straight from the refrigerator. Use the paper liner to lift the bars from the pan and cut into 7 bars.

These taste like the filling of a candy bar.

Amplify the candy bar vibe with a drizzle of melted sugar-free chocolate/chocolate chips (regular chocolate if not following a keto plan).

You can also vary the bars by mixing/kneading ingredients into the dough prior to pressing into the pan. Here are some ideas to get you started. For example, unsweetened flake coconut, raw or toasted seeds (e.g., chia, sesame, sunflower, pepitas), finely chopped raw or toasted nuts, or cacao nibs.

You can also roll the dough into balls, for pop-able energy in an instant.

Happy Monday, everyone!

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