Dark Chocolate Coffee Nut Bars are homemade vegan, gluten-free, protein-packed treats perfect for breakfast or snack time. An assortment of nuts and seeds mixed with whole coffee beans, chocolate chips, and peanut butter baked into personal sized bars are both filling and energizing.
These dark chocolate coffee nut bars have been in the back of my mind for quite some time now. I have been wanting to create protein bars for breakfast but never put them as a priority. When I asked you guys what you want to see more of, an overwhelming amount of readers want to see more breakfast recipes! These are great because they work for breakfast or a mid-morning to afternoon snack.
I have to give credit where credit is due, and these bars would not be up here today without the help of my husband. He is always helping me come up with recipes and content for the blog. Recently we both went on separate trips and when we came back we compared the treats we both received. My mom gave me a dark chocolate bar with espresso beans and Zack received a swag bag with dark chocolate covered espresso beans. This gave us the idea to finally develop the nut bar recipe and include whole coffee beans!
I love snacking on nut bars because they're full of filling ingredients and leave me satisfied – but of course, homemade is better because you can control what goes in. After testing this recipe, I know I'll be baking homemade nut bars time after time. They take no time at all and are super simple.
Simply preheat your oven and spray your baking dish. Combine ingredients, spread into a baking dish, bake, cool, and enjoy! Seems too quick and easy? That's because it is, no tricks here.
Besides the whole coffee beans, my favorite part of this protein-packed nut bar is the pepitas! I love these little edible pumpkin seeds. I've been using them a lot these past few months and thought they would make a great addition to this recipe. When you bite down on this bar and get a pepita, you get a satisfying pop full of flavor.
Dark Chocolate Coffee Nut Bars (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups lightly salted mixed nuts
- ½ cup gluten-free brown rice crisp cereal
- ¼ cup vegan dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup whole dark roast coffee beans
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon pepitas
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, mix all dry ingredients together.
- In a small bowl, mix together maple syrup and peanut butter until combined. Pour into medium bowl and fold until incorporated.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Smooth into an even layer using a rubber spatula.
- Bake for 30 minutes then let cool completely.
- Remove from baking dish then slice into even bars. Enjoy and store bars at room temperature for up to one week!
Amanda
I'm not much of a coffee person, but these look perfect to make as a gift for my mom. Using the whole coffee beans is genius!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much, Amanda 🙂 They would make a great gift!
Margaret E Clegg
I'm always on the hunt for snack bars without oats. These look great. My husband really loves coffee and imagine he's going to LOVE these!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yay, I'm thrilled to hear that 🙂 I hope y'all enjoy them!
Leslie
Crave-worthy!! I can just imagine eating these with a nice cup of hot coffee!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Ohhh yes, perfection 🙂
Jules Shepard
So I've never had a coffee nut bar before but it looks delish! Every single ingredient is on my list of loves - pinning and making later!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yay, so happy to hear that 🙂 These are great for on the go snacks and traveling treats!
Kathy Hester
We love using bars like this for to go snacks. We are always traveling or on the go, so this is perfect.
Jenna | The Urben Life
For sure!! Happy to hear that 🙂
Sarah
These look delicious and I love all the texture!!
Pinning this recipe to make for heading north as they'd be a great snack on the go.
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much, Sarah 🙂 They're the perfect on the go snack!
Cassidy @ Cassidy's Craveable Creations
These look amazing! I prefer making my own bars too so I can control the ingredients - I love that you added coffee and used all clean ingredients 🙂
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yes, absolutely!! I love the coffee in these, gotta make em again sometime soon 🙂
Alisa Fleming
My husband would love these! He's a sweet and coffee guy in the morning, and would be so happy if I made these for him.
Jenna | The Urben Life
Oh, so perfect 🙂 Best of both worlds!
loveyoumoretoo
These sound SO GOOD. I need them in my life STAT.
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much!! I love em 🙂
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health
homemade granola bars are my fav and i love your version with PB, chocolate, and coffee...best combo!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much 🙂
Kylie
Yum!! I feel like I spend so much money on bars I really should just make my own. Will definitely be giving this recipe a try!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yes!!! Yay, enjoy 🙂
beautybeyondbones
Wow that looks scrumptious!! Hugs and love xox
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much!!
cindybee23
These sound amazing! I don't do coffee though but will try substituting cacao beans.
Jenna | The Urben Life
Oh yum, let me know what you think!
Sarah Newman
I love dark chocolate ANYTHING - but especially with coffee, wowzers! These sound delightful. 😀
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yes!!! Thank you 🙂
Louann Kristy
This looks so delicious !
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much!
Melissa
I am totally going to make these!!! We do lots of vegan recipes and this one looks delish!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yay, enjoy!! 🙂
Samantha
Wow that looks delicious! Can't wait to try these out, never thought to use whole coffee beans in a recipe.
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Camille Kurtenbach
Yum!!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks!
Corina Blum
I think it's a brilliant idea to put whole coffee beans in these, definitely good for a snack.
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thank you so much!
julieannhoag
These sounds and look super yummy! I'll have to try them out:)
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thank you 🙂 Enjoy!
Aditi Wardhan Singh
I have to have these now ! So yummy they look. Slurp ...
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much!
Jo-Anne Mazurat-Orlesky
I feel like my hubby would love these
Jenna | The Urben Life
I hope y'all enjoy them 🙂
Jolene
They look yummy! Even better than the store bought ones!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Wow, thanks so much!
wanderlostsoulsphotography
These look delicious!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks 🙂
Kayla
My mouth is totally watering from reading this post ? I wish I had all the ingredients so I could make them RIGHT NOW!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Haha! I hope you try them soon 🙂
Ania
Oh I'm so glad I came across your post. I've been looking for a recipe like this and the fact that there's coffee in it is simply amazing! I'm definitely going to make these bars! And I pinned your post so I could easily get back to it when I need it 🙂
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yay, I am so glad you found your way over here! Let me know what you think once you try them 🙂
pizzapullups
Yum! These sound awesome!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thank you!!
nicoleanndawson
Homemade bars are the best, aren't they? We make our own vegan, gluten-free and nut-free bars since we have multiple food allergies.
Jenna | The Urben Life
They're great!! That's awesome 🙂
Leslie
These are the perfect snack. Totally delicious way to stave off hunger!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Totally!!
Amanda Kanashiro (@glutenfreemiami)
These are outrageously good looking! I'm a nut for nuts!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much!!
Brittany Strawbridge
These look delicious! I am allergic to peanuts so I can never have these tasty + easy bars because they all have peanut butter 🙁 But still looks yummy!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thank you! Aw, I'm sorry.
Miranda
This look delicious! And the best part is they don't have coconut in them. I have been having trouble finding coconut free health bars for my hubby:) thanks! Do you find pepitas in your grocery or purchase on Amazon?
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks, Miranda! I buy them in the bulk bins at my grocery store 🙂
maddi
These have all my favorite flavors rolled into one healthy bar! I'll definitely have to make these since they are perfect on the go snacks!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Awesome, enjoy!!
jen@dinnerthendessert.com
These look absolutely delicious! Can't wait to try these!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yay, enjoy!
Linda
Shut up! These look so good! What an awesome combo! I’m sure these will be the next “staple” in our home!!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Haha!! Thank you 🙂
Amy French
OMG these look seriously delicious ??? Im definitely giving this a go!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much, enjoy!!
Alicia
Omg!! These have ask my favorite ingredients!! And they look so good. I have to make some for my next trip!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Yay!!! Enjoy 🙂
Kaila (The Wanderlust Celiac)
These look so simple to make and delicious! I love how beautifully they came out. 🙂
Jenna | The Urben Life
Totally 🙂 Thanks so much!!
Homemade Vegan
These look so good!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thank you!
inthekitchenwithstacey
Those look awesome!! Dark Chocolate and the crisp cereal! YUM!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thank you 🙂 I hope you give em a try!
I'm Busy Being Awesome
Oh my gosh - these look so hearty and delicious! Cashews are my favorite - I love seeing those in there 🙂 And anything with peanut butter is a winner in my book 🙂
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thank you! Oh yes, I love cashews!!
Alyssa | Lattes & Faith
These look delicious! And I love dark chocolate!
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks 🙂 Same here!
e2bakesbrooklyn
Oh. my. word. ??
Jenna | The Urben Life
Hehe thanks!
Christina
These look so yummy! I will have to give these a try.?
Jenna | The Urben Life
Thanks so much, enjoy!