• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Low Carb Yum
Easy Gluten-Free & Keto-Friendly Recipes
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Start Keto
    • What Is The Keto Diet?
    • The Benefits Of A Keto Diet
    • What Are Macros In Keto?
    • 5 Types Of Keto Diets
    • Low Carb vs Keto?
    • The Keto Food Pyramid
    • Keto Supplements
  • Recipes
    • By Course
      • Keto Appetizers
      • Keto Drinks
      • Low Carb Breads
      • Keto Casserole Recipes
      • Keto Salads
      • Sauces & Dressings
      • Keto Sides
      • Low Carb Snacks
      • Low Carb Soups
    • By Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Paleo
      • AIP
      • Nut-Free
      • Egg-Free
      • Vegetarian
      • Vegan
      • Kid Friendly
    • By Cooking Style
      • Crock Pot
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pan
      • Freezer Friendly
      • 30 Minutes or Less
  • Breakfast
  • Desserts
    • Cakes
    • Candy
    • Cheesecakes
    • Cookies
    • Frosting
    • Frozen Desserts
    • Fruit
    • Pies
    • Puddings
  • Dinner
    • Beef
    • Casseroles
    • Chicken
    • Eggs
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Turkey
  • Shop
    • 5-Ingredient Keto Cookbook
    • Simple Keto Meals Cookbook
    • Low Carb Casseroles eCookbook
    • Low Carb Keto Products
    • Custom Meal Plans
  • Members
    • Join Now
    • FREE Meal Plans
    • Recipe Collections
    • Log In
    • Log Out
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Starting a Keto Diet
  • Keto Recipes
    • Breakfasts
    • Desserts
    • Dinners
  • Membership
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home / Recipes / Low Carb Snacks

    DIY Homemade Quest Bar Recipe - Coconut Cashew

    By Lisa MarcAurele · Jun 12, 2020 · 16 Comments

    941 shares
    Jump to Recipe
    Easy coconut cashew DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    Save money by making this DIY homemade Quest bar recipe. These low carb all natural coconut cashew protein bars are quick and easy to make.

    Easy coconut cashew DIY homemade Quest bar recipe
    Article Index
    • DIY Homemade Quest Bar Recipe - Coconut Cashew Flavor
    • Recipe

    My first attempt at making gluten free protein bars was somewhat of a failure since the protein per serving was too low. But, I'm happy to declare victory on my second try with these DIY Quest bars. Looking back, I have to admit that I spent way too much money on protein bars.

    The reason is because there are very few choices when it comes to all natural low carb protein bars. My favorite are Quest Nutrition bars and they are very expensive. And, not all of the Quest bar flavors are all natural either.

    The current flavors of low carb Quest bars that are all natural are Strawberry Cheesecake, Lemon Cream Pie, Coconut Cashew, Cinnamon Roll, and Chocolate Peanut Butter. The cost of these bars can really add up.

    So, I came up with a homemade Quest bar recipe that results in bars that cost less. Unfortunately, to get the nice chewy texture, you need one essential ingredient that probably isn't available at your local store.

    Coconut CashewDIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    The magical ingredient needed to make homemade Quest bars is VitaFiber Syrup which is a soluble dietary fiber, a prebiotic and a low-calorie sweetener. BioNeutra is the company that manufactures the syrup. I bought the large 5 kgs size of Syrup which came in a plastic bottle that looks exactly like a one gallon vinegar bottle.

    The sweetener used in VitaFiber Syrup is isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMO) which is a mixture of short-chain carbohydrates that are digestion-resistant. In addition to the syrup, a powdered form of this sweetener is available and I purchased a bag of that to experiment with as well.

    I tested out the homemade Quest bar recipe as a copycat of the Coconut Cashew flavor. It was the first flavor I tried and it soon became one of my favorite low carb protein bars. To make my own version of this flavor, I used a nut chopper to finely chop a quarter cup of roasted and lightly salted cashews.

    Low carb DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    I recently purchased this nut chopper and I absolutely love it because it makes chopping nuts so easy. Just turn the crank clockwise for coarsely chopped nuts and counterclockwise for finely chopped nuts.

    It can even be used upside down to chop nuts further without opening. The best part is it doesn't create any fine nut dust like a food processor or hand chopper.

    There are two basic ingredients to make the homemade Quest bar recipe. You'll need protein powder and VitaFiber Syrup. I found that it is best to weigh the ingredients with a food scale because volume type measurements aren't very accurate, especially when it comes to dry ingredients like protein powder.

    For each protein bar, you want to use about 35 grams of VitaFiber and 25 grams of protein powder. I used 23 grams of protein powder for each of these bars because that is the listed serving size on my bottle of natural whey protein which contains 18 grams of protein.

    Cashew coconut DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    The VitaFiber Syrup needs to be heated up so that it is easier to combine with the other ingredients. I used a wooden spatula to combine the ingredients together by hand.

    The syrup sweetener holds the dry ingredients together as well as creating a chewy texture unlike the dry crumbly bars made with powdered sweetener. The mixture should be pressed out into a rectangle on a non-stick surface.

    I used a round silicone cake pan because it was a good size to stick in the refrigerator. You could use a silicone mat, parchment paper, or even plastic wrap.

    Super simple DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    Putting the mixture in the refrigerator hardens the bars up so it is easier to cut them. The mixture will be slightly warm after mixing since the VitaFiber syrup was heated.

    Once cut, they should be wrapped up to stay fresh. There is no need to store them in the refrigerator unless you like your bars cold. None of the ingredients in these protein bars require refrigeration so it's fine to store them at room temperature.

    So easy DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    This homemade Quest bar recipe does not produce bars that taste exactly like a Coconut Cashew Quest Bar, but it comes very close. The all natural Quest bars are also sweetened with erythritol, stevia, and lo han guo.

    I may add a bit of these additional sweeteners next time to see if the taste will more closely resemble that of a Quest bar. Combining sweeteners does have a synergistic effect which more closely resembles sugar. However, the main sweetener for Quest bars is isomalto-oligosaccharides (IMO) which is the VitaFiber sweetener.

    Simple DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    I will be experimenting more with VitaFiber and trying to come up with different flavors of homemade Quest bars. This is going to save me tons of money by making my own delicious all natural low carb protein bars at home.

    These low carb coconut cashew protein bars are extremely filling. In fact, I was full after eating only a half a bar. They would make a great meal replacement for those who are cutting calories to lose weight.

    DIY Homemade Quest Bar Recipe - Coconut Cashew Flavor

    Easy DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!

    Recipe

    Easy DIY homemade Quest bar recipe

    DIY Homemade Quest Bars - Coconut Cashew

    5 from 1 vote
    Save money by making your own homemade coconut cashew Quest bar with this quick and easy recipe. These low carb all natural protein bars are simple to make.
    Prep Time:5 mins
    Total Time:5 mins
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Print Pin Review Recipe Save Recipe View Collections
    Servings: 4 bars
    Calories: 223

    Ingredients

    • 140 grams VitaFiber syrup or other IMO Oligosaccharide Syrup, adjust amount as needed
    • 92 grams unflavored whey protein 4 scoops, adjust amount as needed
    • 32 grams roasted & lightly salted cashews finely chopped, ¼ cup
    • 15 grams unsweetened flaked coconut ¼ cup
    • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Heat VitaFiber syrup just until bubbles begin to form (about 30-40 seconds in microwave).
    • Mix in remaining ingredients.
    • Form mixture into a rectangular shape on non-stick surface.
    • Cool in refrigerator about 1-2 hours.
    • Cut into four equal size bars and individually wrap.

    Notes

    Adjustments may be needed to the amount of protein powder and syrup used to get the appropriate consistency.
    To lower net carbs, use only ½ or ⅓ coconut and cashews. Carbs can be reduced even further by leaving out coconut and cashews and flavoring with any extract like lemon or orange.
    Makes 4 bars
    Nutrition per bar: 223 calories, 8.5g fat, 61.3mg sodium, 33.3g carbs, 25g fiber, 8.3g net carbs, 19.5g protein

    Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 223 | Carbohydrates: 33.3g | Protein: 19.5g | Fat: 8.5g | Sodium: 61.3mg | Fiber: 25g

    Additional Info

    Net Carbs: 8.3 g | % Carbs: 17.7 % | % Protein: 41.6 % | % Fat: 40.8 % | SmartPoints: 5
    Values
    Array
    (
        [serving_size] => 1
        [calories] => 223
        [carbohydrates] => 33.3
        [protein] => 19.5
        [fat] => 8.5
        [sodium] => 61.3
        [fiber] => 25
        [serving_unit] => g
    )
    

    Notes on Nutritional Information

    Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

    Copyright

    © LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.

    « Pressure Cooker or Crock Pot Chicken Kale Soup Recipe
    Sloppy Joe Pie Casserole (Keto, Gluten-Free) »

    Related Posts

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Diane

      August 08, 2020 at 2:01 pm

      It’s really annoying that I can’t opt out of adding my email address to your website AGAIN and get rid of the header that eats up half my phone screen. I wish you would add a button that says “No thanks” as I’ve already signed up previously.

      Reply
      • Lisa MarcAurele

        August 08, 2020 at 2:28 pm

        It's not easy to see, but there is a light gray "x" at the top right. I'm working to fix that so it's more obvious.

        Reply
    2. Veronica Gilroy

      June 25, 2019 at 3:14 pm

      Plz share low sugar low carb recipes
      Thanx
      CT born senior

      Reply
      • Lisa MarcAurele

        June 26, 2019 at 7:40 pm

        The recipes are all low sugar and low carb. I don't use the Vitafiber syrup anymore because there are some better fiber syrups available these days. I just haven't had time to update the post.

        Reply
        • Dany

          August 10, 2019 at 2:13 pm

          What syrup would you recommend instead of the vitafiber now? Thanks

        • Lisa MarcAurele

          August 10, 2019 at 5:04 pm

          I've had good results with the syrup made by ChocZero.

    3. Liz

      January 21, 2017 at 8:02 am

      Hi Lisa, the latest research shows that IMO is in fact a carb, even quest changed their source of fiber on the contents of the bars after the research, as other protein bars manufacturers.

      Reply
      • Lisa

        January 21, 2017 at 9:52 am

        This was posted before there was evidence. I am aware that IMO acts like a carb after consumed.

        Reply
    4. TimsDanni

      September 27, 2016 at 10:12 pm

      5 stars
      OMG this is incredible!!! THANK YOU for sharing this!
      I used premier vanilla protien powder and used butter nut flavor (from Krogers spice section)
      subbed lightly salted peanuts (that is what I had)

      I also weighed each ingredient carefully and got a good consistency each time- I had tried a few other similar recipes with less exact measurements and less great results

      I laid wax paper on my sushi roller and placed half the recipe on it and squished it into a log - repeated with the other half and then chilled. Cut the logs into 6 bites each for easy transport in a small plastic box in my purse

      Reply
      • Lisa

        September 28, 2016 at 6:04 am

        You're welcome! 🙂

        Reply
    5. Bruce Ward

      June 06, 2016 at 2:00 pm

      I have been making homemade Quest Bars for a few months now. I too buy Vitafiber in bulk!

      Like you, the main part of my bars is protein powder and imo syrup. I then use combinations of these to flavor:

      PB2 powder
      sugar free chocolate
      cocoa
      dried fruit
      instant coffee granules
      various flavor extracts
      cashews

      It's fun coming up with new flavor combos, and having bars at half the price!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        June 07, 2016 at 5:40 am

        I don't make them that often, but I've got a huge bottle of VF I need to use up. I'll have to try some of these ideas. Thanks!

        Reply
    6. Anita Gandolfo

      April 03, 2016 at 5:26 pm

      I have made these with just the syrup (heated) and protein powder and shaped them in a silicon 'bar' pan.

      Can they be frozen?

      Reply
      • Lisa

        April 04, 2016 at 5:56 am

        I've never put them in the freezer, but I don't see why they couldn't be frozen.

        Reply
    7. Jake

      February 05, 2016 at 5:56 pm

      I made this recipe and it yielded a big glob of (sweet-- and protein packed) goo. In the future I would halve the amount of syrup or double the protein powder; the ratios seem way off for the consistency I anticipated.

      Reply
      • Lisa

        February 05, 2016 at 6:11 pm

        It may vary depending on protein powder used. It is a recipe that needs to be adjusted to get the right consistency. Will add a note to the recipe. Thanks!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Trending Recipes

    We focus on creating low-carb, keto-friendly meals that are easy to make at home. Here are some of our recipes that are trending:

    • How to Cook Boneless Pork Ribs in the Oven Fast
    • Keto Coconut Flour Pancakes
    • Tzatziki Sauce with Sour Cream Recipe
    • Mexican Zucchini and Ground Beef Skillet
    • Keto Friendly Yeast Bread Recipe for Bread Machine
    • Sugar-Free Keto Cheesecake Mousse Fluff

    Popular Desserts

    Desserts can be a challenge while on a keto or low-carb diet. We have wonderful recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth, while watching those macros.

    • Best Keto Chocolate Cake Recipe
    • Homemade Almond Milk Ice Cream
    • How To Make Vanilla Chia Seed Pudding
    • Keto Peanut Butter Balls (Buckeyes)

    Footer

    Featured On:

    Parade FitnessHuffington PostHealthLineBuzzFeedThe KitchnShapeWomen's HealthCountry Living Men's Health

    Keto

    • Get Started
    • Keto Calculator
    • Low Carb vs Keto
    • Low Carb Food List

    Recipes

    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Dinners
    • Salads
    • Sides

    About

    • About
    • Contact
    • Newsletter
    • Work With Us

    ↑ back to top

    LowCarbYum.com makes money through affiliate partner links: If you click on a link, we may earn a commission. Our writers create all reviews, recipes, and other content to inform readers, with no influence from our advertisers. LowCarbYum.com may earn from qualifying purchased made on Amazon.com. Learn more about our policies and disclosures.

    Copyright © 2023. Low Carb Yum. All Rights Reserved.