These Healthy Homemade Paydays are gluten free, vegan, and don’t require any baking! They’re just as good as the classic candy bar but made with simple ingredients.
If you love sweet and salty, peanut butter and caramel, these bars are probably going to be your new favorite treat! I’ve been loving coming up with simple, healthy alternatives to our favorite classic candy bars so I wanted to know what recipes YOU wanted and so many said Paydays! I couldn’t agree more and was SO excited to make this recipe 🙌
Paydays were another one of my favorite candy bars growing up, anything chewy and salty was my go-to. These couldn’t be easier to make – they don’t require any baking, come together in a blender, and have only six ingredients you might even have already! You get the chewy caramel layer from the peanut butter and dates, adding natural sweetness. The crunch and saltiness from the peanut butter and peanut coating. AND some extra protein from the added protein powder that helps hold everything together. It’s a balanced treat that also doubles as a protein bar!
Why You’ll Love These
- Healthier alternative – These are made with only six simple ingredients, have extra protein, and no refined sugars. They’re naturally sweetened with medjool dates which give the caramel taste and texture.
- High protein – Using protein powder and peanuts adds a nice boost of protein to these bars!
- No bake – No oven needed and the only wait time is for them to set in the freezer.
- Dietary friendly – These are naturally gluten free, vegan, and refined sugar free!
What You’ll Need
- Medjool dates – You’ll want to make sure these come pitted or you take the pits out before adding to the blender with the other ingredients.
- Vanilla protein powder – I’m loving this one from Truvani!
- Peanut butter – I use organic peanut butter because it’s only ingredient is peanuts and it’s runny. You can use any nut/seed butter but the flavor might change slightly!
- Almond milk – or any milk of choice.
- Roasted unsalted peanuts
- Sea salt
How To Make
- Line a tray or large plate with parchment paper. Make sure it will fit in your freezer!
- Remove the pits from the dates.
- Add the dates, peanut butter, 1/3 cup protein powder, salt, and a splash of almond milk to a high-speed blender or food processor. Blend the mixture and continue to add a little almond milk at a time until everything is smooth and a thick consistency.
- Pour the mixture to a medium mixing bowl, add 1/4 cup more protein powder, and mix with a silicone spatula. This will help make the batter firm so it’s easier to form into bars! (Tip: each protein powder is different, you might need to add more until a dough forms)
- Scoop out some of the dough and form into a bar shape. (Tip: use a cookie scoop to get even-sized bars and slightly wet your fingers to help keep the dough from sticking while working with it).
- Place the roasted peanuts on a separate small plate and roll the bar into the peanuts.
- Place the finished bar on the parchment-lined tray and repeat until all of the dough is used.
- Once all of the bars are made, set the tray in the freezer for at least 30 minutes until firm.
- Let them thaw for a minute or two before taking a bite and enjoy!
Recommended Tools
- Baking tray – This is my go-to tray for no-bake treats.
- High-speed blender – I love that you can take the bottom part right off so it’s really easy to scrape any mixtures out!
- Silicone spatula – Great for mixing this sticky dough.
- Parchment paper – Place this on the tray so the bars don’t stick!
- Cookie scoop – To help make forming bars easier.
- Stainless steel measuring cups & spoons – Easier to clean and last longer than plastic ones.
More Classic Candy Recipes
Healthier Homemade Butterfingers (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Mini Protein Peanut Butter Cups (Gluten Free, Vegan, High Protein)
No Bake Healthier Snickers Bars (Gluten Free, Vegan, High Protein)
Healthier Homemade Paydays (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Ingredients
- 8 medjool dates (pitted)
- 3-4 scoops protein powder (1/3 cup + 1/4 cup)
- 1/4 cup peanut butter (or nut/seed butter of choice)
- almond milk (as needed)
- 1 pinch sea salt
For rolling layer:
- 1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts
Instructions
- Line a tray or large plate with parchment paper.
- Remove pits from dates.
- Add dates, 1/3 cup protein powder, peanut butter, salt and a splash of almond milk to a blender or food processor. Blend until a dough forms. Add more milk a little at a time until everything is mixed and smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl. Add 1/4 cup protein powder (or more) until you reach a dough-like consistency. Dough will still be slightly sticky.
- Lightly wet your fingers with water to help with stickiness of the batter and form the dough into bar shapes.
- Add peanuts to a small plate and roll each bar into the peanuts.
- Place the finished bar on the parchment lined tray and repeat until all dough is used.
- Set in the freezer for at least 30min-2 hours or until the bars have hardened.
- Let thaw for a few minutes and enjoy!
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