Protein Bars

This no-bake Protein Bars recipe is super easy to make with just 5 healthy ingredients. Naturally sweet, chewy, and customizable, they taste better than store-bought. Only 63 cents per bar!

If you are still buying protein bars, you’re missing out. As for protein balls, protein muffins and protein donuts, there are so many reasons why you should make them at home.

First of all, they are healthier and actually high in protein. My recipe for example is refined sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan friendly and contains no artificial ingredients. Erythritol, sucralose and aspartame may have no calorie, but they bloat a lot and make you addicted to sweets. Second, DIY bars taste better and natural. Oh, let’s mention how cheaper it is.

Why you will love this recipe

• Healthy ingredients – You only need protein powder, oat flour, peanut butter, yogurt and maple syrup. Nothing artificial goes in here.
• Easy preparation – These are no bake protein bars, so you can whip them up in a bowl in just 5 minutes in the comfort of your kitchen. Perfect for quick meal preps and easy snacks on the go.
• Excellent taste – Have a bite and it will taste like Quest. My bars are sweet and chewy, with a delicious peanut buttery flavor that you won’t be able to resist.
• Budget friendly – I did the maths and it was shocking. One of these homemade protein bars cost 63 cents, only 63¢ can you believe it?! In comparison one Quest bar is sold for over 2.49$ on Amazon. More on this later.
• Endless customizable – Add chocolate chips, swap out nut butter or stir in some funfetti and you’ll get a different snack every time. There are so many ways how you can make them at home.

Ingredients

• Protein powder. This recipe has whey protein concentrate, but you can use casein, plant protein, collagen or whey isolate. I recommend a flavored protein, natural vanilla and chocolate are my favorite.
• Oat flour. Store-bought or homemade oat flour are both great, gluten-free if necessary. As a replacement you can use blanched almond flour but not regular flour. It is not safe to eat regular flour raw.
• Peanut butter. I recommend creamy peanut butter without added sugar or oil, either unsalted or slightly salted. Almond butter, cashew butter and sunflower seed butter are excellent replacements.
• Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt adds more protein and provides moisture without excessive amounts of nut butter. Nonfat or whole milk Greek yogurt and dairy-free options are all suitable.
• Maple syrup. Pure maple syrup sweetens protein bars naturally without refined sugar or artificial ingredients. Feel free to substitute with honey, agave or keto maple syrup if desired.

How to make protein bars

Step 1 – Gather the ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, combine protein powder with oat flour, peanut butter, Greek yogurt and maple syrup. If using unsalted peanut butter, add a pinch of salt.

Step 2 – Mix the dough. With the help of a spatula or fork, stir all ingredients until combined into a smooth dough. Add more peanut butter if the dough is crumbly, or add more oat flour if sticky – this depends on protein powder used.

Step 3 – Refrigerate and slice. Line a 6 x 6 in (15 x 15 cm) pan with parchment paper or grease with little oil so that the bars won’t stick. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, smooth it out and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. After the dough has set, slice into bars.

Watch the video recipe

Recipe variations

• Chocolate – Add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder and use chocolate flavor protein powder, compensating for the extra cocoa with 1 to 2 tablespoons of peanut butter more.
• Cookie dough – Make my cookie dough protein bars or customize this recipe with the addition of 4 tablespoons of chocolate chips.
• Birthday cake – Substitute peanut butter with almond butter and use vanilla flavor protein. For authentic birthday cake protein bars, mix in some sugar-free sprinkles or funfetti.
• Cookies and cream – Use almond butter in combination with vanilla protein powder and add crushed Oreos for the complete experience. Chocolate protein cookies will also work.
• No protein powder – Swap out protein powder for blanched almond flour, the bars will still have some protein.
• Vegan – Replace Greek yogurt with nondairy yogurt, such as soy yogurt, and choose plant protein. You’ll get gluten-free and dairy-free protein bars in the blink of an eye.
• Low carb – These squares are already low in carbs (7.6 g carbs each). But you can cut carbs further by swapping oat flour for almond flour and maple syrup for keto syrup.

Storage directions

To store. Once the dough has set and you slice them, the bars should be stored in an airtight food container in the fridge. They will last for up to 5 days. I do not recommend keeping them in the cupboard at room temperature, they may lose texture.

To freeze. Pack in zipper bags or in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 4 months. Before eating, remove the desired amount from the freezer and allow to thaw overnight in the fridge.

Frequently asked questions

More high protein snacks

• Protein balls
• Protein muffins
• Greek yogurt protein cookies
• Cottage cheese brownies
• Protein brownies
• Frozen yogurt