Crunchy Protein Bars

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These crunchy protein bars combine brown rice cereal and rolled oats with honey, coconut, peanut butter and protein powder for a delicious, healthy snack that tastes just like the Luna Bars! Gluten-free, dairy-free + perfect for meal prep!

One of my favorite store-bought bars is the Chocolate Dipped Coconut Luna Bar. I’ve been wanting to try my hand at making a homemade version but was intimated by the ingredient list because it’s rather long.

After some research I found that Katie from Chocolate Covered Katie had made a homemade version, so using her recipe as inspiration I went to work in the kitchen. The end result was these crunchy protein bars that I’m sharing today, which is my take on the Chocolate Dipped Coconut version.

Crunchy protein bars scattered around each other.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • The combo of chocolate, peanut butter + coconut = chef’s kiss!
  • Cheaper than store-bought snack bars!
  • Easy to make with only 10 simple ingredients.
  • Gluten-free, dairy-free, naturally sweetened and can easily be made nut-free.
  • They’re no-bake + perfect for meal prep.
  • Perfect for an on-the-go snack or post-workout treat.
A stack of crunchy protein bars.

Making Healthier Luna Bars

While the Luna bars are delicious and the convenience is nice, they’re made with a lot of not-so-good-for-you and unnecessary ingredients like soy flour, rice flour, soy lecithin, sunflower oil, palm oil, vegetable glycerin, soy protein isolate, palm kernel solids and artificial flavors.

To simplify things I made these bars with 10 simple real-food ingredients that you can actually pronounce like honey, rolled oats, peanut butter, shredded coconut and cocoa powder. No added sugars, artificial sweeteners or natural flavorings over here!

Ingredients measured out to make Crunchy Protein Bars: cocoa powder, crispy brown rice cereal, oats, peanut butter, coconut, vanilla, vanilla protein powder, honey, dark chocolate chips and coconut oil.

Ingredients Needed

  • crispy brown rice cereal – what adds the crunch to these bars! This is a gluten-free crispy cereal made from whole grain brown rice. You can find this in the cereal aisle at health food stores. Some brands to look for: 365 by Whole Foods, One Degree and Nature’s Path.
  • old fashioned oats – provides the base for these bars and adds a chewy texture. They’re also a good source of fiber! Make sure you grab gluten-free oats if needed. I use Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free rolled oats.
  • shredded coconut – make sure to grab unsweetened shredded coconut. My favorite brand is Bob’s Red Mill unsweetened shredded coconut.
  • vanilla protein powder – I used the Sun Warrior Vanilla Warrior Blend for this recipe, which worked great! It’s vegan, soy-free, sugar-free and doesn’t taste chalky at all! Another fave of mine is the Nuzest protein powder.
  • cocoa powder – Make sure you’re using unsweetened cocoa powder. Cacao powder works as well.
  • honey – the glue that holds these bars together!
  • creamy peanut butter – helps to bind everything together. Plus, it’s a good source of protein. You want to use natural, drippy peanut butter not a thick peanut butter spread. I usually go for the store brand and read the label to make sure it has just one or two ingredients, the nuts and salt. Some of my favorite brands are the Wild Friends peanut butter and 365 organic creamy peanut butter.
  • coconut oil – acts as a moisturizer, helping to keep the bars from becoming dry and crumbly.
  • vanilla extract – a wonderful flavor enhancer.
  • dark chocolate chips – I recommend Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips which are allergen-friendly or Lily’s chocolate chips because they are low in sugar and calories.
Crunchy protein bars.

Crunchy Protein Bars Substitutions

  • Brown rice cereal: If you can’t find brown rice cereal you can use regular crispy rice cereal.
  • Peanut butter: If you’re allergic to peanuts or simply don’t have any on hand, you can use another type of nut or seed butter instead. Almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter or tahini are all great options.
  • Coconut: Feel free to skip the coconut shreds if you don’t have any on hand. I would just add more rolled oats in place of the coconut.
  • Honey: I haven’t tried a substitute for the honey, but I bet maple syrup will work just fine!
  • Coconut oil: Feel free to use another neutral oil instead of coconut oil like avocado oil or olive oil.
Collage of 12 photos showing the steps to make Crunchy Protein Bars: from mixing the brown rice cereal, protein powder and oats, topping with honey and peanut butter, pressing into a pan, cutting into bars and adding melted chocolate.

How to Make

Pulse: Add cereal and oatmeal to a small food processor and pulse a few times until the cereal is chopped up. Don’t process it too much or else you’ll end up with flour.

Stir dry ingredients: Place cereal and oat mixture in a large mixing bowl and add in the coconut, protein powder and cocoa powder. Set aside.

Combine wet ingredients: Add the honey, peanut butter, coconut oil and vanilla to a small saucepan on medium-low heat. Stir mixture and heat until everything is melted and combined, about 2 minutes. Pour over the dry ingredients and stir very well, making sure to coat everything.

Press and chill: Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and spread the mixture evenly into the pan. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the mixture, then press down as firmly as you can with your hands. Really press it down! Place the bars in the freezer to set up for at least an hour before cutting.

Melt chocolate: Once bars are firm, add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals until melted. While chocolate is melting, cut set mixture into 12 even bars.

Dip and set: Once chocolate has fully melted, dip the bottom of each bar into the chocolate and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle the top of the bars with chocolate and chill in the fridge or freezer until chocolate has set.

A bite taken out of a crunchy protein bar, resting with other bars.

How to Store

After these crunchy protein bars have set, cut and store them in an airtight container (like a Stasher bag or glass container) in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months. I like to store them after being cut so they’re ready to grab and go! If you do freeze them, just thaw them in the fridge or at room temperature before enjoying them.

More Bar Recipes to Try

Be sure to check out these high-protein snacks as well as my full collection of snack recipes here on EBF!

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5 from 2 votes

Crunchy Protein Bars

These crunchy protein bars combine brown rice cereal and rolled oats with honey, coconut, peanut butter and protein powder for a delicious, healthy snack that tastes just like the Luna Bars! Gluten-free, dairy-free + perfect for meal prep!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Chill: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 10 bars

Ingredients  

Instructions 

  • Add cereal and oatmeal to a small food processor and pulse a few times until the cereal is chopped up. Don’t process it too much or else you’ll end up with flour!
    Cereal and oatmeal after being blended in a food processor.
  • Place cereal and oat mixture in a large mixing bowl and add in the coconut, protein and cocoa powder.
    Cereal and oat mixture in a large mixing bowl with coconut, protein and cocoa powder.
  • Add the honey, peanut butter, coconut oil and vanilla to a small saucepan on medium-low heat. Stir mixture and heat until everything is melted and combined, about 2 minutes.
    Honey, peanut butter, coconut oil and vanilla melted in a sauce pan.
  • Pour over the dry ingredients and stir very well, making sure to coat everything.
    Wet ingredients poured over dry ingredients and incorporated together.
  • Line a 8×8 pan with parchment paper and spread the mixture evenly into the pan. Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the mixture, then press down as firmly as you can. Really press it down! Place bars in the freezer to set up for at least an hour before cutting.
    Bar mixture pressed into a lined 8x8 baking dish.
  • Once bars are firm, add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a medium sized microwave safe bowl and heat in 30-second intervals until melted.
    Chocolate chips and coconut oil in a bowl.
  • While chocolate is melting, cut mixture into 12 even bars.
    After being set, the bar mixture is removed from the pan and cut into 12 equal squares.
  • Once chocolate has fully melted, dip the bottom of each bar into the chocolate and place on a baking sheet or plate lined with parchment or wax paper. Drizzle the top of the bars with chocolate and chill in the fridge or freezer until chocolate has set.
    Squares dipped in chocolate and then drizzled over with a spoon.

Notes

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bar | Calories: 200kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 33mg | Potassium: 150mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 18g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Bars and Balls
Cuisine: American
Keyword: crunchy protein bars
Did you make this recipe?Mention @eatingbirdfood and tag #eatingbirdfood!

About Brittany

Hey there, I’m Brittany, the creator of Eating Bird Food, cookbook author, health coach and mama of two littles. Here you’ll find quick and easy recipes that make healthy fun and enjoyable for you and your family!

More about Brittany
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46 Comments

  1. Holy yum! These look amazing. We don’t have those bars over here but I have tried making them before… they certainly didn’t turn out anywhere near as nice as yours. I ended up rolling the dough into a ball and just stuffing that in my mouth instead.

    I am going to bookmark this and try these out next time I’m pottering around in the kitchen. Thanks for the recipe!

  2. My favorite is the Lemon Zest you would make MY day if you would experiment with this bar!!!!!!

  3. I would LOVE a chocolate raspberry version!! I tried my own version but didn’t really like it. Would love some help with it.
    Thanks!

  4. yum! I’m in the middle of making these. I’m at the point of pressing it into a pan. 8×8″? 9×9″? I’ll try 9×9 and hope for the best. Smells GREAT!

    Can’t find mini-Lunas anywhere anymore. Thank you for creating this recipe!

      1. Brittany! Thank you so much for the recipe. I never, ever would have been able to figure this out without you.

        I did tweak the recip to make it less sweet—using more nut butter in place of the honey (for stickiness with less sweetness) and coconut nectar (as sweet and carb-y but allegedly lower-glycemic) in place of the brown rice syrup.

        I posted my version here: http://bigfootchildhavediabetes.com/2013/03/18/whither-mini-luna/

        Mine are not as chewy and truly Luna-y as yours. I think the brown rice syrup is what gives the Luna its signature weird sweetness that you don’t often taste elsewhere.

        I was trying to make something a little bit less carb-y for my diabetic child who loves chocolate-dipped coconut Lunas.

        Thanks again! You’re amazing! I am looking forward to trying more of your recipes.

  5. I’m with Jessica–Lemon Zest! Would that be white chocolate melted with lemon zest/lemon oil, and the same base but with no cocoa powder and some more lemon zest?

    Now that you’ve created the formula…it’s hard to stop experimenting.

    1. Thanks for noticing that Nisha. I just updated the description. You could use maple syrup instead and they would still be vegan. 🙂

  6. I didn’t have oats so I just added more brown rice cereal, and I didn’t know where to buy brown rice syrup so I used agave. They didn’t quite taste like the chocolate dipped coconut bar….more like a peanut butter chocolate bar with a hint of coconut. I also felt that they were lighter (a good thing!) than Luna bars and obviously way more healthier with better ingredients (I bought my stuff at a local farmers market!). They were ridiculously delicious and are my go to snack before and after class lectures. They taste even better out of the freezer and I will definitely be making more. Thank you!

    Also, I love the chocolate peppermint Luna bar as well!

  7. My son loves Luna bars, but they are pretty processed and expensive! He loved these and I have to agree….melted in your mouth…now how to stop eating them!

  8. I want to make these for my grandsons for an upcoming ski trip, but they do not like coconut. I like adding hemp seeds to bars, do you think they’d work in this recipe?

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