(Note: this post was originally published on August 19, 2021. It has since been updated with a few tweaks).
Are you ready for the most fun treat? These adorable vegan birthday cake bars are nostalgic, decadent, and eye-catching. They'd be perfect for a birthday celebration, but are just as wonderful for everyday snacking. Although they seem indulgent, these healthy birthday cake bars are made with nourishing whole-food ingredients like dates, nuts, and even chickpeas.
Yes that's right, these birthday cake protein bars are made from chickpeas! You'll be surprised to learn that they're plant-based, grain-free, naturally sweetened, and surprisingly high in protein. They're easy to make too, with no baking required, so there's no reason not to enjoy these cute vegan birthday cake bars whenever the craving strikes.
Although there are many variations, the term "birthday cake" usually refers to the combination of vanilla and almond, typically with colored sprinkles. Those flavors and colors are iconic symbols of classic birthday cake. Unfortunately, most birthday cake bar recipes online call for ingredients like cream cheese, butter, crushed cookies, and a lot of added sugar.
If you're craving that classic birthday cake flavor but in a healthier format, then you've come to the right place. The ingredients in these vegan birthday cake bars are better than almost any protein bar you'll find at the store. The delightfully chewy crust is just dates, almonds, and a dash of coconut oil to help the mixture stick together (essentially my homemade larabars, just in a different shape).
The true miracle of these bars, however, is the cheesecake-like filling. Instead of the usual culprits, this version is made from protein- and fiber-rich chickpeas. You'll add a small amount of almond flour (= more protein and fiber) to help thicken it. The filling is sweetened naturally with a modest amount of maple syrup and flavored with both vanilla and almond.
Since birthday cake isn't really birthday cake without the sprinkles, these healthy birthday cake bars also call for a couple tablespoons of colored sprinkles. There are some good naturally-colored options available at health food stores and online. You can omit them if you prefer, perhaps adding some unsweetened shredded coconut on top instead, or just decrease the amount (try just a teaspoon on top instead, which will still give the same visual effect).
If you love the idea of these birthday cake protein bars, then there are a lot of other treats here on the blog for you to explore. You won't find any refined flour, refined sugar, or butter here; instead, I love to create desserts from nourishing whole-food ingredients like chickpeas, avocados, nuts, tahini, and fruit.
If you're a chickpea lover (and I bet you are since you're reading this healthy birthday cake bars recipe), then you definitely need to check out these famous vegan chickpea blondies and this dreamy healthy vegan banana bread. Both recipes use chickpeas (or chickpea flour) and tahini, and both are entirely grain-free and naturally-sweetened.
There are a lot of wonderful baked goods here on the blog that use dates and nuts in place of the usual flour, butter, and sugar. I actually have three date brownie recipes that you're going to love. These ultimate healthy vegan brownies are the base recipe that inspired these vegan Snickers brownies and these vegan Samoa brownies. All three are grain-free and sweetened with nourishing dates. And don't forget date and nut cookies; these healthy monster cookies are my all-time favorite.
Or, if no-bake is more your style, these raw vegan carrot cake cupcakes and these raw vegan brownie bites are essentially protein bars in disguise. Ingredient-wise, they're somewhat similar to the crust of these healthy birthday cake bars, but have different toppings.
In the mood for fudge? Ditch the butter and sugar and try making this raspberry chocolate chip freezer fudge or this matcha freezer fudge instead. Both are made from cashew butter and are naturally sweetened.
Did you know that you can make a dreamy dessert from avocado? It's true! You'll be amazed by this vegan chocolate cream pie.
Here's what you'll need for these vegan birthday cake bars, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.
Are you excited to try these vegan birthday cake bars? They feel so decadent and indulgent; you'd never believe they're made from nourishing ingredients like chickpeas, nuts, and dates. Thanks to those great ingredients, these bars are high in protein and satisfying. They're also vegan, grain-free, gluten-free, and naturally-sweetened, so they're a treat that almost anyone can enjoy.
Whether it's your birthday or not, there's no reason not to make a batch of these no-bake birthday cake protein bars today. Share them with a friend (or keep them all to yourself, I won't tell).
It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.
These vegan birthday cake bars are delightfully indulgent and nostalgic, yet they're grain-free, high in protein, and made from whole-food ingredients. You'll never believe that the creamy vanilla filling is actually chickpeas!
For the Crust
For the Filling
Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.
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