This rocky road is a no-bake bar made with nuts, dates, dried fruit and dark chocolate, with two scoops of whey protein powder mixed in. You blend everything together in a food processor, press the mixture into a baking tin and leave it to set in the freezer. Sweetened with dates and maple syrup, and ready in about a quarter of an hour plus setting time.
What is protein rocky road?
Rocky road is traditionally a no-bake chocolate bar with nuts and biscuit pieces. In this version, a base of walnuts, dates and cocoa binds everything together, and we add cocoa-flavoured whey protein powder for extra flavour and protein. Cut it into firm cubes.
What do you need?
For around 16 cubes, you’ll need the ingredients listed below. The protein powder is whey-based (Ekopura Smooth Cacao); you can also replace it with a vegan or casein protein powder – see the variations.
- 80 g walnuts
- 60 g cashew nuts
- 60 g pistachios
- 12 Medjool dates, pitted
- 3 plain biscuits
- 2 scoops of cocoa-flavoured whey protein powder (Ekopura Smooth Cacao)
- 3 tbsp raw cocoa powder
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- 30 g dried goji berries
- 30 g dried cranberries
- approx. 50 g dark chocolate
How to make it
Allow about a quarter of an hour’s preparation time and at least an hour to set in the freezer. You’ll need a food processor, a baking tin and baking paper.
- Briefly pulse the cashew nuts and pistachios in the food processor until coarsely chopped. Scoop them out and set aside in a small bowl.
- Put the walnuts and biscuits into the food processor and grind finely. Add the pitted dates, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, whey protein powder and maple syrup, and blend until you have a sticky mixture.
- Add the cashew nuts, pistachios, goji berries and cranberries and mix very briefly, so that everything is just combined but the pieces remain chunky.
- Line a baking tin with baking paper, spoon the mixture into it and press down firmly.
- Melt the dark chocolate in a bain-marie or briefly in the microwave, then pour it over the mixture.
- Place the baking tin in the freezer for at least an hour. Then cut it into cubes.
Variations
The base of nuts, dates and cocoa lends itself well to variations. A few ideas:
- Different protein powder: replace the whey with a vegan protein powder for a vegan version, or with casein protein powder for a more neutral flavour.
- Other nuts: almonds, hazelnuts or pecans work just as well as cashews, pistachios and walnuts.
- Different dried fruit: swap the goji berries and cranberries for dried cherries, raisins or pieces of dried apricot.
- Topping: sprinkle the melted chocolate with a pinch of sea salt, desiccated coconut or extra chopped nuts before allowing it to set.
Storing and portioning
Store the cubes in an airtight container in the fridge, where they’ll keep for about a week. You can keep them for longer in the freezer; in that case, allow a cube to come to room temperature for a few minutes before eating it. As the bar is quite firm, it’s easiest to cut when it’s fresh out of the freezer.
Why add protein powder?
The protein powder gives the rocky road a rich cocoa flavour and increases the bar’s protein content. Whey is a source of protein. Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass. Protein contributes to a growth in muscle mass. Want to know how much protein you need each day? Read our guide to daily protein needs or find out more about the benefits of protein powder. The protein powder used in this recipe is Ekopura cocoa-flavoured whey protein powder; you can find it in our whey collection.
More recipes with protein powder
Looking for more? Check out our chocolate protein brownies, nut protein biscuits or be inspired by our smoothie recipes with protein powder.
Frequently asked questions
Is this rocky road high in protein?
The bar contains protein powder, but because of the nuts, dates and chocolate, it also contains a fair amount of fat and natural sugars from the fruit. So think of it as a tasty snack with a bit of extra protein, not as a high-protein meal replacement.
Can I make it without protein powder?
Yes. Omit the protein powder and replace it with an equal amount of extra ground nuts or rolled oats. The flavour will be slightly less chocolatey and the bar a little less firm, but the recipe will still work.
Which protein powder is best to use?
For the chocolate flavour in this recipe, we use cocoa-flavoured whey protein powder. If you want a vegan version, choose a vegan protein powder; plain casein protein powder is also an option, with a more neutral flavour.
How long does the rocky road need to set?
Allow at least an hour in the freezer. By then, the mixture will be firm enough to cut into neat cubes. If you have more time, you can leave the bar in the freezer for longer.
