Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (2024)

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Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (1)

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A chewy, gooey, chocolatey, no-bake, dairy-free protein bar.

Warning! These bars are definitely gooey. I recommend having a napkin close by to discreetly wipe your hands after you finish it. When mytoddler ate one his whole face and hands were covered in a sweet, sticky mess afterwards, which he delighted in, of course.

You could use powdered egg whites to reduce the stickiness but the cost is expensive in comparison to a carton of pasteurized egg whites. So I think it’s worth putting up with a bit of gooeyness. Speaking of egg white, make sure to use a carton of pasteurized egg whites since this recipe is no-bake. You don’t want to risk food poisoning anyone with raw eggs!

a true copycat recipe

The front package of the RX bar gave me a good starting point since they pretty much spell out the recipe right there. Using that as a starting point and then tweaking the ingredients to match the nutrition info, I nailed the copycat! Check this out:

RX BarCopycat Version
210 calories208 calories
9g fat8g fat
24g carbs27g carbs
6g fibre5g fibre
15g sugar17g sugar
12g protein12.5g protein
Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (2)

why this RX bar copycat recipe a smart choice

The protein in egg whites is high in what we call “biological value.” First: a little primer on proteins. Proteins are composed of different building blocks called amino acids. A good comparison is the alphabet. Words are composed of a specific order and combination of letters. Likewise, proteins are composed of a specific order and combination of amino acids. During digestion, proteins get broken down to amino acids. The body then uses these building blocks to make the proteins it needs: whether that be muscle tissue, hormones, or immune cells, etc.

So when a protein has high biological value, it contains a similar proportion of essential amino acids to what our body typically needs to use.

Additionally, each bar provides 2 tbsp of nuts. In the nutrition world, we are realizing more and more how much a daily serving of nuts can help prevent heart disease and other chronic conditions. If it were up to me, I’d consider includingnuts and seeds as a separate food group with its own daily recommendation!

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or snap a photo and tag it with #smartnutritionrecipes on Instagram! I’d love to see your creations!

Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (3)

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chocolate sea salt RX bars (copycat recipe)

Print Recipe

A chewy, gooey, chocolatey, no-bake, dairy-free protein bar.

12

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups whole dried dates
  • 1/2 cup whole almonds
  • 1 cup whole cashews
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/4 cups pasteurized egg whites
  • coarse salt sea salt or pickling salt

Instructions

  • Place dates into a microwavable bowl

  • Pour water over dates until just covered.

  • Microwave dates until soft and water has evaporated (use 30 second intervals)

  • Pour nuts into food processor and pulse until finely chopped

  • Pour cocoa into food processor. Give it a couple of pulses to mix

  • Pour egg whites into food processor. Pulse until mixed

  • Dump contents of food processor into a bowl

  • Dump softeneddates into food processor

  • Pulse until blended

  • Add in the nut mixture and pulse until blended

  • Line a 9×9 with parchment paper

  • Dump mixture onto parchment and smooth out

  • Sprinkle with coarse salt (sea salt if you prefer)

  • Refrigerate until firm.

  • Cut into 12 bars.

Nutrition

Calories: 171kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 45mg | Potassium: 357mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg

Servings: 12 bars

Calories: 171kcal

Author: Jessica Penner, RD

Calories: 208 | Fat: 8g | Carbs: 27g | Fibre: 5g | Sugar: 17g | Protein: 12.5g

For more high protein snack ideas:

  • Chocolate peanut butter protein bars (no-bake)
  • Energy balls (15 different types!)
  • High protein/low sugar afternoon snack ideas

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Comments

  1. Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (5)Andrea says

    How much water do you use for dates?

    Reply

    • Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (6)Jessica Penner, RD says

      I just pour some over until JUST covered. Thanks for asking for the clarification. I’ve updated the recipe!

      Reply

  2. Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (7)Candace Smith says

    I used powdered egg whites , I just guessed 3/4 cup, perfect.

    Reply

    • Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (8)Jessica Penner says

      Awesome!!! thanks for letting me know!

      Reply

  3. Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (9)Erin says

    Just made a batch earlier- they have been in the fridge for over 8 hours and are still too soft to cut, much less consider it a bar…… BUT- it does taste delicious.

    I am wondering if there was just too much excess water in the dates from softening them. Will definitely try to recipe again- but for now, I will consider it a healthy “fudge”

    Reply

    • Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (10)Jessica Penner says

      Hi Erin, I’m sorry that they were too soft for you to cut! They are a bit on the soft side, I will say that. When this has happened to me I’ve turned them into protein balls instead of bars. And yes, try cutting back on the liquid when softening the dates!

      Reply

  4. Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (11)Heather says

    Looks good! Is the powder egg white a 1:1 substitution? Thanks!

    Reply

    • Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (12)Jessica Penner says

      No, it would be a different formulation as the liquid to solids ratio would be off. Unfortunately I haven’t tested it out with egg white powder. I was going to order some on Amazon but it was so expensive so I stopped myself!

      Reply

Chocolate Sea Salt RX Bars (copycat recipe) - Smart Nutrition with Jessica Penner, RD (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat RX bars on Whole30? ›

RX Bars were also a Whole30 Approved partner, but have been removed from the program NOT because of their ingredients (most flavors are compliant), but because of the way many Whole30 participants were eating the bars as a “sweet” snack to satisfy sugar cravings, etc.

Are smart bars healthy? ›

Conclusion. Smart bars are a good option for those looking for high-quality ingredients, a variety of great flavour options, and good macronutrients from a protein bar (so long as you don't overconsume them). However, smart bars may not be the best option for those with nut allergies or those on a tight budget.

Are RX bars healthy? ›

RXBAR is an overall healthy snack bar that can be a good addition to your stash of snacks at home, in your car, in your bag, or at work. Each bar has 12 grams of protein, at least 3 grams of fiber and is made from whole-food ingredients.

What are the whole 30 rules? ›

The Whole30 diet is a strict 30-day elimination diet that many people turn to for weight loss or help with digestive concerns. The program encourages you to cut out alcohol, sugar, grains, legumes, dairy, and additives from your diet for 30 days. It is advertised as a total lifestyle change, rather than a simple diet.

What is the healthiest snack bar? ›

6 Healthy Snacks that Raise the Bar
  • KIND Nut Bars. Take this Caramel Almond & Sea Salt bar as an example. ...
  • Bob's Red Mill Granola Bars. ...
  • NuGo Slim Bars. ...
  • Simply Protein Snack Bars. ...
  • 88 Acres Seed + Oat Bars. ...
  • Luna Bars by CLIFF.
Dec 10, 2023

Is it okay to eat a protein bar every day? ›

A closer look at the ingredients and sugar levels in some of these bars can make you question whether they're a good idea to eat every day. While there's no problem with the occasional sugary snack or 'unhealthy' treat, eating certain types of protein bars every day might be problematic long term.

What protein bars can you eat on Whole30? ›

The Best 15 Paleo and Whole30 Snack Bars
  • EPIC – I love this bar. ...
  • Bulletproof Protein Bars – I just added this to the list because I love the ingredients and the taste. ...
  • No Bake Nut-Free Paleo Bars | Our Salty Kitchen.
  • Coconut Cashew Bars | The Bewitchin' Kitchen.

Is carob allowed on Whole30? ›

Since all of the potentially problematic parts are contained in the seed (not the pod), carob is A-OK during Whole30 elimination.

What happens if I cheat on Whole30? ›

Since the Whole30 diet is more of a food challenge than a long-term change, there are some hurdles. The Whole30 diet has strict rules. The overall goal is to restrict your eating. So, if you “cheat” on a day of your challenge, they recommend you start again from day one.

Are any sweeteners allowed on Whole30? ›

On Whole30, adherents must cut out all sweeteners including maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup, monk fruit extract, and stevia. However, dieters are permitted to use fruit juice as a sweetener.

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