Easy Protein Bars
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Published Feb 26, 2024, Updated Apr 09, 2024
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Packed with 12 grams of protein each these no-bake protein bars are delicious and super easy to whip up. They’re the perfect snack to meal prep for the week.
Want more high protein snacks? Try my protein shakes, protein muffins or these no-bake protein balls.
Why I Love These Protein Bars
- Protein-packed – Each bar is loaded with 12 grams of protein.
- Easy to make – These bars require less than 10 minutes of prep time and just one bowl to whip up. Plus, they’re no-bake, so there’s no need to turn on your oven!
- Healthy – Many store-bought protein bars are loaded with preservatives, artificial sweeteners and other questionable ingredients, but these homemade protein bars are naturally sweetened and made with only 8 real-food ingredients.
// ★★★★★ Review //
“I am addicted to this protein bars. I’ve made them already three times and now I have it always in my fridge for a snack or quick dessert. Thank you!” – Marina
Ingredients Needed
You only need 8 simple pantry staple ingredients to make these protein bars! I bet you already have most, if not everything in your kitchen right now. Here’s what you need:
- vanilla protein powder – you’ll need a plant-based vanilla protein powder for this recipe. I’ve tested it with Sun Warrior and Nuzest and I highly recommend one of these brands. You can use my code eatingbirdfood for 15% off your Nuzest order.
- oat flour – use store-bought or make homemade oat flour. I wouldn’t swap the oat flour with another flour as I’ve only tested this recipe with oat flour.
- salt – omit if your peanut butter has salt.
- natural creamy peanut butter – you want to use natural, drippy peanut butter not a thick peanut butter spread. Look for a peanut butter with just one or two ingredients, the nuts and salt. I love Crazy Richard’s creamy peanut butter. Feel free to use almond butter or a seed butter in place of the peanut butter if needed.
- honey – this natural sweetener holds the bars together and gives the bars a subtle sweetness. Maple syrup will work as a substitute.
- coconut oil – you want this to be in its liquid state when you measure it!
- vanilla extract – a delicious flavor enhancer.
- chocolate chips – I recommend Lily’s chocolate chips because they have zero sugar added.
How to Make Protein Bars
These protein bars are so easy to whip up. You just need one bowl and less than 10 minutes of prep time. The hardest part is waiting for the bars to chill in the fridge!
Step 1: In a medium mixing bowl combine the protein powder, oat flour, salt, peanut butter, honey, vanilla and coconut oil. Use a spoon or your hands to mix together. If the dough is too dry, add more coconut oil, 1 teaspoon at a time.
Step 2: Stir in the chocolate chips. Press the dough into a lined loaf pan and top with additional chocolate chips. Let the bars chill in fridge for at least one hour before cutting. Once chilled, remove the pan from the fridge and cut into 6 equal-sized bars. Enjoy!
Brittany’s Tips
- Use the right protein powder: Make sure to use plant-based protein powder for this recipe. Don’t use whey protein powder as it doesn’t soak up as much liquid and will change the consistency of these bars.
- Mix dough with hands: The dough will be quite thick after combining all the ingredients so I suggest mixing it with your hands to ensure everything gets evenly mixed together.
- Add more liquid as needed: If your dough is too dry/crumbly you can add more melted coconut oil or water, 1 teaspoon at a time.
Dietary Substitutions
- Peanut-free – Have a peanut allergy? Use almond butter or cashew butter instead.
- Nut-free – Swap the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter or tahini.
- Gluten-free – Make sure you’re using gluten-free oats or oat flour.
- Vegan – Make sure you’re using vegan chocolate chips and swap the honey for maple syrup.
- Low-sugar – Use monk fruit sugar free maple syrup instead of honey
How to Store Protein Bars
- In the fridge: Store these protein bars in the fridge for up to one week in an airtight container.
- In the freezer: These protein bars can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let them thaw in the fridge before eating.
More Protein Snacks
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bars
- Strawberry Protein Muffins
- Peanut Butter Protein Cookies
- Double Chocolate Protein Muffins
- Protein Chia Pudding
- Blueberry Protein Muffins
Be sure to check out my full collection of snack recipes here on EBF!
Protein Bars
Ingredients
- ¼ cup plant-based vanilla protein powder, I used Nuzest
- 1 cup oat flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt, omit if peanut butter has salt
- ½ cup creamy natural peanut butter, or almond butter
- ¼ cup honey, or maple syrup
- 1 Tablespoon melted coconut oil, plus more if needed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2-4 Tablespoons chocolate chips, plus more for topping
Instructions
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Combine protein powder, oat flour and salt. Add in peanut butter, honey, vanilla and coconut oil. The dough will be quite thick. I suggest combining the dough with your hands. If it’s still too dry add more melted coconut oil or water, 1 teaspoon at a time.
- Mix in chocolate chips with hand or spoon.
- Press dough into a lined loaf pan and add more chocolate chips on top. Press the chips in with your hands.
- Let bars chill in fridge for at least one hour before cutting.
- Remove bars from the fridge, cut into 6 equal-sized bars and enjoy. Bars will last about one week in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Video
Notes
- Peanut butter: any natural, drippy nut butter should work. You can try almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
If I can’t have oat flour or gluten free all purpose is there any other flour that can be used? It’s so hard to gluten free bake now that I can’t have any rice flour which all the gluten free all purpose flours have. I use to love to bake before allergies but now I get so frustrated. So many recipes have oat or almond flour and I can’t have nuts either. :(.
I love these! I even accidentally left out the honey because I just completely missed it when doing the recipe and it was still really good! I used my granola bar silicon pan to make bars. Very good! I did melt my peanut butter so it was drippy and it helped with mixing sooo much! Will definitely make this again!
Totally enjoyable one!! Thanks a lot!
So glad you’re loving these protein bars! Thanks for the review 🙂
OMG! They are soooo goood and easy to make! Thank you thank you thank you ❤️
Yay!! So glad you’re loving these protein bars, Genny! Thanks so much for the review and star rating. It means so much to me!
Thank God!!! Finally found something. I have been looking for easy protein intake recipes. Amazing work!
Ah yay! So happy to hear these protein bars were a hit, Robert! Thanks so much for the review and star rating. It means so much to me!
These look amazing and I can’t wait to try them…I just have one question! This may sounds silly, but where do you find “drippy” peanut butter? Every healthy, 1-2 ingredient, one I’ve ever tried is always so thick and definitely not “drippy” 😊 thanks so much!!
Hey. Could I swap the oat flour for coconut flour? Would you happen to know what the ratio would be? Looking forward to trying them
Unfortunately not. Coconut flour can’t be subbed 1:1 with other flours as it soaks up way more liquid and I wouldn’t recommend trying it for this recipe. I have no idea how the bars would turn out.
I have made this 3 straight weeks and it is my kids new favorite breakfast item! They love the brand name version of these, but I don’t get them very often bc they’re so expensive. These taste almost identical and they’re so easy! I bought the nuzest protein powder that Brittany suggests and it works perfectly! I now have to double the recipe and use an 8×8 pan so I’m not making more every 4 days.
Ah yay! This makes me so happy to hear, Caroline! I’m so pumped everyone is enjoying these protein bars. Thanks so much for trying them out and coming back to leave a review. It means so much to me!
Tastes like cookie dough! Even my kids loved it. I’ve made it 3x already.
Woo!! So happy to hear these have been a hit, Roxanne! Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate it!
After following the instructions these came out dry. I like other ones I’ve seen a bit better.
Hey Stacey – So sorry to hear that! What kind of nut butter did you use? Thinking your nut butter might have been on the dry side.
I am addicted to this protein bars. I’ve done already three times and now I have it always in my frigde for a snack or quick dessert. Thank you!
Ah yay! This makes me so happy to hear, Marina! So glad these protein bars have been a hit. Thanks so much for the review. I really appreciate it!
Do you think you could do a blend of butters? Or use tahini?
I found these to be really tasty and great with a side of fruit! I used dark chocolate chips and a mix of peanut butter and almond butter.
YUM! Sounds delicious, Sue. Thank you for your review + star rating, I so appreciate it!
These are divine and took me no time to make! I had to substitute the oat flour for 1/2 gluten free flour and 1/2 almond meal because of what I had on hand and they turned out great! They were so easy to make and delicious!
Ahh excellent! I am so glad you are loving this recipe and that your subs turns out great for you, Brittney. Thank you so much for your review + star rating, it means so much to me!
Does it have to be oat flour?
Hi Sarah – I haven’t tried it with a different flour, but another follower tried it with 1/2 gluten free flour and 1/2 almond meal and said it turned out great. Let me know how they turn out for you! Enjoy!
can i use almond butter instead of peanut butter?
Absolutely! Enjoy!
and could i use almond flour instead of oat flour
Hi Claie – I have not tested this recipe with other flours so I am not sure how it would turn out. You might be able to use gf flour with a mix of almond flour. Let me know what you try and how it turns out.
Thank you so much for making this recipe! I use a muffin pan with muffin pan liners , instead of a loaf pan. I usually use just maple syrup or half maple syrup and half honey, and both ways work wonderfully! Thank you again for creating a recipe that’s easy to make, healthy, and super delicious!
WOO! This sounds amazing. I am so glad you gave these a try and they turned out fabulous for you. Thanks for sharing your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
Can I use plain plant based protein, and just add more vanilla extract?
Sure! That should be fine. Hope you enjoy these!