Hemp Protein Bars (Vegan)
- April 1, 2021
- Last Updated: December 21, 2024
- 41 Comments
- Recipes
These hemp protein bars are the perfect on-the-go snack. With no refined sugars or animal products, this hemp bars recipe is gluten free and great for the whole family.
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All you snack lovers (like myself) can rejoice with today’s hemp seed bars, which happen to be vegan and gluten free.
You can prep these in advance to eat throughout the week – one of the best healthy snacks for meal prep!
These hemp protein bars use a secret pumpkin ingredient. Let’s normalize eating pumpkin year round, shall we?
For a well-tested homemade hemp protein bars recipe (with pumpkin), I’m convinced I don’t need to buy evo hemp protein bars anymore.
Why You’ll Love These Hemp Protein Bars
The whole family will love these hemp protein bars – they’re just so easy and tasty!
- Great for travel – Many people struggle with healthy, protein-rich snacks when traveling. This is one of those and one of our favorite road trip snacks for kids.
- Nutritious – These hemp seed bars have pumpkin puree, pumpkin seeds and peanut butter – healthy fats to keep you full and antioxidants, just like these sweet potato oat bars. Hemp seeds are safe for kids and provide several essential nutrients.
- High in Protein – Three tablespoons of hemp seeds provide about 10 grams of plant protein, which is they they are one of my favorite vegetarian protein sources.
- Fiber Rich – With oats, peanut butter, hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds, these hemp seed bars pack a punch of fiber for health and keeping you full! They also have 6 grams of protein, each.
- Not overly sweet – If you plan to serve this as a healthy homemade toddler snack, you can opt to reduce the maple syrup, and omit the chocolate chips as well.
![StackedHemp Protein Bars with oats in background](http://bucketlisttummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Chewy-Pumpkin-Hemp-Bars-683x1024.jpg)
How to Use Hemp Seeds in Cooking
Hemp seeds, or hemp hearts (which are shelled hemp seeds), are so versatile and easy to add to literally anything, from salads to oatmeal to bars, which is what we’re doing here.
They are a nutritious rockstar that adds in protein, fiber,
Hemp seeds can up the protein of so many recipes without relying on protein powder, like in my favorite hemp seed granola.
![wooden bowl of hemp seeds with spoon](https://www.bucketlisttummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/hemp-seeds-683x1024.jpg)
Ingredients For Hemp Seed Bars
To make these hemp seed granola bars, let’s turn to our favorite pantry staples.
- Hemp Seeds – While hemp seeds offer the highest amount of protein, you could also substitute with chia or flax seeds as well.
- Oats (*make sure to use certified gluten-free)
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Nut Butter
- Pumpkin Puree
- Maple Syrup (my favorite grade A syrup)
- Spices – I used cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice and sea salt
- Chocolate Chips (Enjoy Life are vegan)
![Ingredients to make Hemp Seed Bars](http://bucketlisttummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Chewy-Pumpkin-Hemp-Bars-Process.jpg)
These wholesome ingredients come together nicely to make these gluten free pumpkin granola bars.
While the pumpkin flavor shines, these hemp seed bars can and should be made year round. Kinda like my favorite Pumpkin Seed Granola.
It’s also important to me to introduce my girls to a variety of nutritious ingredients, flavors and textures.
Which is why these healthy pumpkin granola bars are a great option for snack time (because we don’t need to make any more toddler muffins, we’ve aced those time and time again).
![hemp seed bars in baking pan with pumpkin seeds](http://bucketlisttummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Chewy-Pumpkin-Hemp-Bars-2-1-683x1024.jpg)
For another fun twist on healthy granola bars, make sure to give my homemade trail mix bars a try!
How to Make Hemp Seed Protein Bars
These hemp seed protein bars start like many of my favorite quick snack recipes: mix everything together in one bowl.
One bowl recipes are the best – You don’t even need a food processor.
And since these pumpkin seed bars are egg-free, feel free to lick the batter as you go along.
Then, you’ll transfer the batter to your baking sheet and press down firmly. Bake for 20 minutes.
![Ingredients for homemade hemp seed bars mixed in a bowl with oats](http://bucketlisttummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Chewy-Pumpkin-Hemp-Bars-Process-3.jpg)
Make sure to scroll down for the full recipe!
This is a tasty, high protein bar recipe without protein powder, as we’re relying on the power of plant proteins, nuts and seeds.
While I love a chewy Quaker granola bar, it doesn’t provide much protein at all, so I wanted this hemp protein bar recipe to be different.
They are a little tougher and chewier than your typical granola bar, but the pumpkin puree does make them a bit softer.
![Gluten free pumpkin bars overhead shot in baking pan](http://bucketlisttummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Chewy-Pumpkin-Hemp-Bars-Process-4.jpg)
These bars are great for quick energy and also keep you full for a bit of time, which is ideal for that incessant breastfeeding hunger.
Storage
You can store these hemp protein bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
For the best results, make sure your hemp seeds are refrigerated, since they can oxidize when not stored properly.
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Hemp Protein Bars
![Stacked Vegan Hemp Protein Barsth oats in background](https://www.bucketlisttummy.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Chewy-Pumpkin-Hemp-Bars-735x1103.jpg)
These homemade hemp seed bars are the perfect flavorful, on-the-go vegan and gluten-free snack. With no refined sugars, these bars are perfect for before or after a workout and a great family-friendly, kid-friendly snack!
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup hemp seeds
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/8 tsp tsp sea salt plus some for topping
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ cup almond butter or peanut butter
- ½ cup pumpkin puree
- ¼ cup + 1 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life to keep them vegan)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- Grease 8x8 pan or line with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, seeds, salt, spices, almond butter, pumpkin, maple syrup, and vanilla. Mix until fully combined. Fold in chocolate chips last.
- Transfer dough to baking pan and spread evenly over the pan. Press down firmly so it is flat.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until edges turn brown.
- Let cool in pan for 15 minutes before cutting into bars. These will harden slightly upon cooling.
- Top with sea salt and enjoy!
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
-
Kirkland Organic Creamy Peanut Butter U.S. Valencia Peanuts 28 Ounce Each Jar 2 Pack
-
Enjoy Life Semi-sweet Chocolate Mini Chips, 10 Ounce, Pack of 2
-
Nutiva Organic, Raw, Shelled Hempseed from non-GMO, Sustainably Farmed Canadian Hemp, 19-ounce
-
Terrasoul Superfoods Organic Pumpkin Seeds, 2 Lbs - Premium Quality | Fresh | Raw | Unsalted
-
Coombs Family Farms Maple Syrup, Organic, Grade A, Dark Color, Robust Taste, 32-Ounce Jug
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
10Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 218Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 48mgCarbohydrates: 26gFiber: 4gSugar: 11gProtein: 6g
Now that you know how easy it is to make your own homemade protein bars, I hope these will be a staple in your simple meal prep.
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Support Bucket List TummyI made these & they’re so delish!
Thanks Rebecca 🙂
I need to make these ASAP. This recipe calls for so many of my favorite tastes/ingredients. Hemp seeds add the best texture.
Yay! Hope you enjoy 🙂
OH my I need to make these! Love the hemp in there!
Oh these have such common ingredients, I will definitely pin! I love granola bars, so this is definitely gonna be useful to me when I am looking for snack ideas!
One granola bar that I was never allowed to have but absolutely loved were the bars that were basically like chocolate bars. You know the ones completely dunked in chocolate with nougat inside? Ugh, those were so darn good. The sweet tooth issue never resolved itself, but at least I don’t eat those kinds of granola bars haha.
I LOVE ice cream cake; I love how you would eat a slice every day. It’s interesting how our diets change over time. 🙂 I’m still an ice cream cake lover. When we were little we used to have those cracker sandwiches from the store with the slightly fakey (I loved it) cheese and peanut butter in others.
This just sparked a craving for granola bars; now I need to cook up my other pumpkin!
I’m still an ice cream cake lover, too! I used to love those cheese and crackers too. If only I knew how easy they were to make them myself!
Oh heck yes to CHEWY!!!! These look deliciously addicting!
Chewy all the way!
These sounds so good! I love chewy granola bars
xo Jen
http://www.asipofbliss.com
They are the best!
I used to love all of the sugary ones too–basically it was like eating a candy bar! These look so amazing–im making them this weekend!
Yay! Hope you like them!
These look so good! I bet your kitchen smelled awesome!
It sure did!
These sound really good! Definitely a good use for the pumpkin seeds!
Absolutely! They are one of my favorite fall foods!
I love to make my own granola bars too that way I love everything in there. Looks easy and delish thanks for joining us today
It’s great to be able to control each ingredient!
Oh my gosh ice cream cake is my absolute favorite so I’m actually pretty envious! My childhood snacking wasn’t much more nutritionally outstanding- uncrustables and ramen!
Wish we could have gotten together- I’m glad you had fun!!
Uncrustables – bringing back memories. Bagel bites were another fave of mine 🙂
oooh these sound so good! I loved granola bars ever since I was a little kid. And pumpkin stuff is my fave!
They can be such a great snack because they are portable!
These look so good and chewy! Love the plantbased protein punch with the hemp seeds! Thank you for linking up with us for Meatless Monday!
So small but they pack a punch!
Yum these looks great and I have a ton of hemp seeds at home that I have no idea what to do with!
I love adding them to bars, oatmeal and salads!
I love granola bars. I really need to start making my own. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I definately try this one 🙂
Hope you like it!
I pinned and tweeted this. They look so good!
Hope you like them, Maggie. Thanks for stopping by!
Holy protein batman. In one bar? That’s awesome. I can just imagine the smell wafting through my kitchen.
I was never a granola bar fan growing up actually. Favorite seed though? I’d say sunflower seeds. I love throwing them onto my salads or stirfrys.
Love those little guys!
Pinning these for later! I wish I could remember what sorts of snacks i ate as a kid… Haha. When I was in undergrad the local coffee shop served these amazing homemade oat bars, which were a weekly addiction!
I love oat bars and how you can add so many different flavors. I hope you like these!
I never used to like granola bars growing up as they were too sweet, however, when I was about 11 I made my first batch of homemade ones from a recipe book and I was hooked! 😛 These look perfect!
They are really good! And not too sweet!