Chocolate Mint Energy Bars

Raise your hand if you feel like store-bought energy bars are a big, expensive disappointment. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve found a few bars that are tolerable. If I’m out running errands or traveling and find myself hungry with no other options, I’ll settle for a mediocre protein bar from the store. But settling for a tolerable bar with the texture of dried up salt water taffy is especially torturous when I know I could easily make myself a cheaper, tastier, more satisfying snack at home. Homemade snacks are well within my skill set…hello!

Seriously, people. Have you considered the fact that there’s a multi-million dollar industry churning out tacky, gummy, gross energy bars that people buy and obsess over because they’re supposedly healthy? Is this insane or am I the only one throwing shade at store-bought bars? 

When I’m hungry or lazy or just forgot to pack a snack in my gym bag and can’t hold my arms up after my weight lifting session, I find myself staring down the protein bar aisle desperately searching for something – anything – that might taste good. The one flavor that never disappoints disappoints less that the rest: CHOCOLATE MINT. I will withstand the tough, gummy, weirdness of a store bought bar only if there is mint involved. Well, okay- peanut butter isn’t a bad choice either, but then again, I’d gladly just buy a jar of peanut butter and stick a spoon in it if I’m desperate and looking for a peanut buttery snack on the go. 

Last week, after eating my fifth store bought chocolate mint energy bar in two weeks, I decided it was time to stop the madness and stage a personal intervention. And yet, even as I swore off the store bought disappointments, I started to crave the minty freshness of those stupid, less-than-satisfying bars. The only reasonable solution was make myself some homemade chocolate mint energy bars. The next time I was at the grocery store grabbing a chocolate mint protein bar (there goes another $2.50 I’ll never get back…), I also bought fresh mint, dates, and some walnuts. Armed with a pantry full of nuts, seeds, and chocolate, I knew I could crank out a bar worthy of my snack obsession. 

To make these bars, you’re going to first need to soak some dates in warm water. While the dates soak, you’ll grind up walnuts, oats, and chia and hemp seeds in a food processor. After you dump out the dry mixture, you’ll use the food processor yet again to turn dates, coconut oil, nut butter, fresh mint, and peppermint oil into a caramel-like paste. Everything gets stirred together in a bowl with cocoa powder and a pinch of salt, pressed into a pan, and stuck in the freezer to harden. Once the bars are solidified, you’ll melt a little chocolate, drizzle it over the bars, then slice them up. 

The end result is a bar that’s sticky, soft, and full of bright, fresh mint flavor. The chia seeds add a little crunch to every bite, and the chocolate drizzle on top is the perfect touch of sweetness. The only caveat to this recipe, if there has to be one, is that these bars really do need to stay cold to maintain their shape and texture. At room temperature they’re the consistency of cookie dough, which isn’t exactly conducive to picking up and eating as a bar. I also think their flavor is much better when chilled, for whatever reason. I also didn’t add any protein powder to these, as I think they’re delicious on their own and not everyone has a tub of the stuff lying around. The nuts and seeds add plenty of protein and healthy fats, but if you think you need a little extra boost of protein in your life, go ahead and add some. I added a note to the recipe with ideas for protein powder additions. 

I hope you love this recipe as much as I do. The bars are easy to make, coming together with just a few steps and a food processor, and yield a soft, slightly crunchy, extra minty energy bar. The best part is that, knowing I have a stash of these in the freezer, I just drive home after the gym. No more muscle-tiredness-induced comas while staring down the protein bar aisle of the grocery store, or dried up taffy texture to make my teeth and heart cry out with disappointment.

If you give this recipe a try, let me know how it turns out! Leave a comment below or share a picture with me on Facebook or Instagram. Happy snacking, friends! 

Chocolate Mint Energy Bars

Chelsea Colbath

A soft, chewy homemade energy bar full of nuts, seeds, dates, and plenty of fresh mint.

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Ingredients

  

• 1 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup hemp seeds also called hemp hearts
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup of pitted Medjool dates packed (about 10-12 large dates)
• 1/4 cup nut butter of choice I've used almond or cashew butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 15 fresh mint leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon peppermint essential oil or 1/2 teaspoon mint extract
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips for topping

Instructions

 

• 1. Put dates into a bowl and cover with hot tap water to soften. Let sit while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
• 2. Add walnuts, chia seeds, hemp seeds, and oats into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until a fine meal is formed (some small chunks are fine, but it should overall be like the texture of coarsely ground cornmeal). Pour the ground nuts/seeds into a large mixing bowl, and add cocoa and salt.
• 2. Drain the dates and put them, plus all remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips) into the empty food processor. Blend until smooth.
• 3. Scrape the date mixture into the bowl with the ground nuts and cocoa powder. Use a wooden spoon to fully combine into a dough.
• 4. Line an 8x8" square pan with parchment paper, and press the energy bar dough into a flat layer with a spatula or your hands. It may help to wet your fingers so they don't stick while pressing down. Transfer the pan to the freezer, and let harden for 20 minutes. While bars harden, melt chocolate chips in the microwave. Microwave them in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, for up to 2 minutes.
• 5. When bars are firm, remove from the freezer and slice into 8-12 pieces, and drizzle with melted chocolate chips. Put back in the freezer for chocolate to harden, then separate the bars and transfer to a freezer-safe container. Store bars in the freezer for best consistency.

Notes

For even more protein, add up to 1/4 cup protein powder of choice (chocolate, vanilla, or unflavored would be recommended) and reduce oats to 1/4 cup. Add the protein powder when you add the cocoa and salt in the bowl with the ground nuts.