Ditch the prepackaged protein bars at the store and make your own at home! These key lime protein bars have the same sweet and zesty flavor as your favorite pie, but they’re loaded with fiber, healthy fats and protein to energize your day. Keep a stash in the freezer to enjoy any time!
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Gluten Free Key Lime Bars
Many of us rely on energy bars to get us through the day because they’re just so convenient! Unfortunately, many storebought protein bars are highly processed, overpriced, and loaded with stabilizers and preservatives to help them stay fresh for months on end.
The good news is, these no bake key lime protein bars are a much fresher, tastier and healthier option made with a handful of simple ingredients your whole family will love. Plus, they’re perfect for on the go!
For more delicious protein bars, check out these 4-ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Bars!
Why These Bars Are Dietitian-Approved
- Naturally sweetened: Did you know that dates are lower on the glycemic index than regular white sugar? The extra fiber helps moderate how your blood sugar reacts to the dates, so you won’t have the same blood sugar roller coaster. The healthy fats from the nuts and added protein can help with this, too!
- Great for a variety of dietary needs: If you’re sensitive to gluten or are looking for a plant-based option, these key lime coconut bars are a great choice! The recipe uses a mixture of dates, cashews, and almonds and you can choose your own type of protein powder, so it’s great for those with specific dietary needs.
- Loaded with protein: Each of these key lime pie protein bars has 9 grams of protein, which can help re-energize you after a workout or any time you need a little pick-me-up!
Ingredient Notes
- Pitted dates: Soak these in boiling water to soften them up first.
- Unsalted cashews & almonds: I find the mixture of these two types of nuts adds a really nice texture and nutty flavor.
- Lime juice & zest: To get that bright key lime flavor, you’ll want to use both lime zest and juice. The zest has the strongest lime flavor, so make sure you add a bunch!
- Protein powder: I prefer to use a high-quality whey protein that’s either unflavored or vanilla flavor. You can also use vegan protein powder if you prefer.
- Water: Helps to bind the mixture together.
Optional topping:
- Unsweetened coconut: This adds extra texture and plays up the tropical flavors in the bars.
- Unsalted cashews: For a little extra crunch.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Soak dates for at least 5 minutes in boiling hot water to soften.
- Blend cashews and almonds in food processor until crumbly but not completely smooth.
- Add the soaked dates, lime juice, and zest. Process until combined and mixture sticks together.
- Next, add protein powder. Blend until mixture comes together and is mostly combined. You may need to add a bit of water 1 tablespoon at a time if the mixture seems too dry (I added 2 tablespoons). It should be slightly sticky but not too wet.
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Press the mixture evenly into the pan using your fingers or a wet spatula (to prevent sticking).
- Top with a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut and finely chopped cashews, if desired. Press into the mixture gently so that the coconut and cashews adhere to the surface.
- Place in the freezer for at least a half an hour and cut into 12 small bars or 8 larger bars.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Tips:
- If your dates are extra firm, you may need to soak them for longer to soften.
- For extra lime flavor, you can also replace the water with additional lime juice.
Recipe FAQs
There are so many different options out there, and it’s best to choose a powder that works for your dietary needs. For many people, that will be a high-quality whey protein concentrate as it tends to be an affordable, easy-to-find option. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, consider using a plant-based protein blend instead.
My favorite protein powder is Good Protein. It has a great nutritional profile, and tastes amazing with no strong after-taste like a lot of protein powders out there. You can either use the unflavored powders or one with vanilla for extra sweetness and flavor.
It really depends on how quickly you get through them! For the best flavor and texture, I recommend storing the bars in an airtight container in the freezer and enjoying them within 3-6 months. If you want to make several batches, you can vacuum seal one of the bags to keep it fresh for closer to a year.
Dates are quite sweet, so these bars have plenty of sweetness without adding any extra sugar, honey, maple syrup, etc. I often like to use unsweetened protein powder to keep them from being too sweet, but vanilla protein powder works just fine too!
Storage Guidelines
Store the bars in the freezer to keep them firm and easy to package. After the initial freeze, I like to wrap them with parchment, wax or freezer paper, then tuck them into a freezer-safe bag for several months at a time. This makes it easy to add one to your lunch bag and head on with your day!
Serving Suggestions
These key lime energy bars are intended to be served between meals as a snack, ideally to energize you before or after working out, or to boost your energy during the midday slump.
Since each bar has around 200 calories, they make a good balanced snack. I typically recommend sticking with a snack with about 150- 200 calories (depending on your goals and activity level).
If you want to have them with your breakfast, serve them with a protein shake (like this Pina Colada Protein Shake), smoothie or a little extra Greek yogurt with some fresh berries.
Recipe Variations
- Make key lime energy balls: Instead of pressing the creamy filling into the pan, roll it into little balls! This makes them really handy when you need just a nibble or two to satisfy your sweet tooth.
- Try different nuts: I recommend sticking with the cashews if possible because they blend into a really creamy texture, but you can use all cashews or substitute a different type of nut as well. Macadamias would be heavenly with the tangy citrus, but the fat content will increase!
- More lime flavor: Replace the water with lime juice and consider adding a splash of lime extract as well.
More Healthy Bars
- Healthy Oatmeal Bars
- Homemade Larabars
- Lemon Larabar Recipe
- Healthy Granola Bar Recipe
- 3-Ingredient Banana Oatmeal Bars
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No Bake Key Lime Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup pitted dates soaked
- 1 cup raw unsalted cashews
- 1 cup raw unsalted almonds
- Zest of two limes
- Juice of one lime
- 1/2 cup unflavored or vanilla protein powder (can use vegan, if desired)
- 1-2 tablespoons water, or more as needed
Optional Topping:
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut
- 2 tablespoons chopped unsalted cashews
Instructions
- Soak dates for at least 5 minutes in boiling hot water to soften.
- Blend cashews and almonds in food processor until crumbly but not completely smooth.
- Add the soaked dates, lime juice, and zest. Process until combined and mixture sticks together.
- Next, add protein powder. Blend until mixture comes together and is mostly combined. You may need to add a bit of water 1 tablespoon at a time if the mixture seems too dry (I added 2 tablespoons). It should be slightly sticky but not too wet.
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Press the mixture evenly into the pan using your fingers or a wet spatula (to prevent sticking).
- Top with a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut and finely chopped cashews, if desired. Press into the mixture gently so that the coconut and cashews adhere to the surface.
- Place in the freezer for at least a half an hour and cut into 12 small bars or 8 larger bars.
Notes
- If your dates are extra firm, you may need to soak them for longer to soften.
- For extra lime flavor, you can also replace the water with additional lime juice.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in June 2019 and was updated in April 2024 to include more helpful tips and photos.
Hi, how can i make this into diabetic friendly version?
The carbohydrates and sugar content are primarily coming from the dates, so it would be difficult to come up with a suitable substitute since the dates are what’s binding the ingredients all together. You could consume a smaller portion (i.e. half the bar) and serve it with an additional source of protein, like a hard-boiled egg or small handful of nuts, to help slow the rise in your blood sugar level. Hope that helps!