These small-batch, high-protein bars are built with a chewy brownie base, coated with a thick ribbon of salted caramel, and finished with a layer of dark chocolate with flakey sea salt. The best part is that they are high in protein, vegan, and gluten-free!
That’s right – enjoy a salted chocolate square post-workout.
These bars are a mash-up of my favorite things – chewy brownies, gooey caramel, rich dark chocolate, and flakey sea salt.
My favorite part about these bars is that they are high in protein. It’s because the secret ingredient is black beans. Don’t be afraid – you barely taste the beans.
This was inspired by my high-protein double chocolate chip muffins. I added the caramel layer and dark chocolate layer on top and these bars were born! Long story short, if you haven’t caught on, I’m a sucker for anything with fudgey chocolate and flakey sea salt.
If you love chocolate, caramel, and sea salt, then keep reading!
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High protein bar ingredients
The ingredients are very clean, so that means you won’t feel guilty when eating 2 or 3 squares for a mid-day snack.
Plus, they are high in protein because the brownie base is made from black beans. Don’t worry…you won’t even taste the black beans. They only act as a binding agent.
- Almond Butter
- Sugar-Free Maple Syrup
- Black Beans
- Cocoa powder
- Banana
- Flax Egg
- Vanilla Extract
- Salt
- Dark Chocolate Chips
- Coconut Oil
See recipe card for quantities.
How to make high protein bars
These salted caramel layered brownie bars are super easy to make and serve as the perfect twist to traditional brownies. Keep in mind, that the brownie layer will need some time to set before applying the caramel layer, but it will be worth it. Trust me!
First thing first, add all of the ingredients for the high-protein brownies into a food processor. Blend the ingredients and scoop the batter into an 8×8 pan. Bake the brownies and allow them to cool.
While the beautiful brownies are cooling, prepare the caramel layer. To do this, mix all the caramel ingredients into a small glass bowl. Smear the caramel layer onto the cooled brownies. Then, throw the bars into the fridge to set.
While the bars are setting melt the chocolate with coconut oil. Carefully spread the melted chocolate on top of the brownies.
Sprinkle flakey sea salt on top of the bars and throw them into the fridge. Now all you have to do is allow the bars to harden before enjoying them.
I made these brownies in an 8×8 pan, but if you want to make a smaller batch, feel free to half the recipe and use a small loaf pan lined in wax paper.
Substitutions
If you don’t have one of the ingredients or prefer to use an alternative, I got you covered.
- Almond Butter – If you aren’t an almond butter fan (I would be shocked if that’s the case), then feel free to swap the almond butter with peanut butter or Tahini. If you take the peanut butter route, keep in mind that the flavor profile will be widely different. Peanut butter has a distinct flavor and will harmoniously pair with chocolate, but the bars might taste like a Receses instead of a milk way (if that makes sense).
- Black beans – If the black beans scare you, then feel free to swap with equal parts almond butter. the bars will be super chewy!
- Flax Egg – A normal egg works too. Swap 1 flax egg for 1 real egg. Keep in mind, that the bars will no longer be vegan when you add the real egg.
High protein bar variations
Here are a few ideas of how you can change these bars up to your taste preference.
- Fruity – Add thinly sliced strawberries to the caramel layer.
- Crunchy – Add crushed-up rice crackers to the caramel layer to make the bars crunchy!
Equipment
To make these mouth-watering & chewy bars, a food processor will be handy. I highly recommend the Hamilton Beach food processor. It’s powerful and makes for an easy clean.
Check out this study where I tested the best food processor by comparing the top 3 blenders on the market.
Other than that, if you have an 8×8 pan, then you should be golden!
High protein bar storage
These bars should be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge. Try to consume the bars in ~3-4 days for maximum freshness. Otherwise, you can store the bars in the freezer and they will last longer.
Honestly, these bars are so yummy, that you will probably eat them all in 2 days!
Top tip
if you use sugar-free dark chocolate and sugar-free maple syrup, then this recipe is sugar-free! That’s right, enjoy a delicious & chewy bar that is high in protein and low in sugar.
📖 Recipe
Layered Salted Caramel Brownies (Gluten Free & Vegan)
Equipment
- 1 Food Professor Hamilton Beach works great
- 1 9×9 Glass Pan
Ingredients
Brownie Layer
- ½ Cup Almond Butter
- ½ Can Black beans (drained)
- ¼ Cup Coconut Oil
- ½ Cup Sugar Free Maply Syrup
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1 Banana
- ½ Cup Cocoa Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
Caramel Layer
- 1 Cup Almond Butter
- ½ Cup Maple Syrup Add more if the spread needs to be more thin.
- 1 Teaspoon Vanille Extract
- 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
Chocolate Layer
- 1 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
- 2 Tablespoons Coconut Oil
- Pinch Flakey Sea Salt
Instructions
Brownie Layer
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees farenheit.
- Place all of the ingredients into the food processor. Start by blending the liquid ingredients and then add in the dry ingreients.
- Bake the brownies for ~17 minutes. Keep an eye on them!
- Allow the bars to cool.
Caramel layer
- Mix the caramel ingredients in a glass bowl.
- Spread the caramel mixture on top of the cool brownies.
- Allow the brownies to set in the fridge.
Chocolate Layer
- Place the chocoalte chips & coconut oil in a glass bowl.
- Microwave the bowl for 30 seconds. Mix the mixture, then throw it back in the microwave for 30 seconds. Repeat this process until the chocoalte is completley melted.
- Spread the chocoalte mixture on the bars. Immediatley sprinkle the flakey salt on top of the bars.
- Cool and allow the bars to harden.
- Enjoy!
FAQ
Completely understand. My recommendation is to throw the bars in the freezer instead of the fridge. Also, feel free to add the chocolate later immediately after the caramel layer is added to the brownie.
Great question. Simply use sugar-free dark chocolate chips and sugar-free maple syrup. Then these healthy ars will be sugar-free.