Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Just five ingredients, and no baking required!
These homemade protein bars are packed with wholesome ingredients and serious peanut-butter flavor. Or would you prefer bachelor bar number two: a highly-processed block with an unpleasant taffy-like texture and an aftertaste that long overstays its welcome?
Oh yeah, he is a handsome one, with a laundry list of ingredients such as: soy protein isolate, fractioned palm kernel oil, maltodextrin, corn syrup solids, distilled monoglycerides these are some of the actual ingredients in many protein bars on the market today.
Youre much better off making your ownthe main ingredient in my homemade protein bar recipe is peanut butter. Do your body a favor and choose homemade:
The Ingredients Needed To Make Peanut Butter Protein Bars:
Peanut Butter Crunch Naked Bar starts with premium grass-fed whey protein, and we add other natural ingredients like almond butter, peanut butter, and monk fruit juice. Enjoy the delicious, satisfying, and crunchy Naked Bar without compromising on the quality of nutrition. The mixture should bind together but not be gooey. Combine: To make these peanut butter protein bars, simply place all ingredients into a high-speed food processor and blend on high until smooth.
Make The Peanut Nougat
First, add all the wet ingredients to a large bowl or stand mixer. The wet ingredients include peanut butter, maple syrup, non-dairy milk, and vanilla.
Using a hand-held mixer, whisk the ingredients together until smooth and creamy. You can also do this in a stand mixer if you have one.
Next add in the salt and slowly start adding in the vegan protein powder, a few tablespoons at a time. Whisk in between each lot to incorporate the powder into the wet ingredients.
Lastly, add the milled flaxseeds and blend again until fully mixed. The mixture will become quite thick and sticky.
For the next part, it’s super important to line your cake pan with parchment paper. Without it, it will be a challenge to remove the bars from the pan once they’ve been set. Transfer the nougat to the pan.
Place a large sheet of parchment paper on top of the nougat, and use your hands to spread the mixture out evenly into the corners of the pan.
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Instructions To Make Peanut Butter Protein Bars:
Add Water: Add water as needed to thin out the dough to make it feel like cookie dough. Add to the dry mixture and mix very well, until a thick batter remains. Remove from the freezer and cut into bars. Place back into the freezer while you melt your chocolate. Add in the protein powder and oat flour.
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About The Author
Peanut Butter Protein Bars Recipe Ingredients
To make these peanut butter protein bars youll need only 6 ingredients:
Weve included substitutions for all of these ingredients below in the green shaded box.
Important Tip: Its important to weigh out/measure your protein powder due to different densities of protein powders. I used Gold Standard Vanilla Whey Protein. It came out to about ½ cup , but measuring is strongly recommended.
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Making Protein Bars At Home
Protein bars can be a great way to get in your daily dose of protein fast! They provide energy, keep you full, and help recover after a good workout.
Unfortunately, most protein bars are pretty pricey, and full of a lot of sugar and ingredients your body does not need. If you have protein bars in your house, stop reading this and go check out that ingredient label. Pretty crazy huh!?
I love making protein bars from home because I know EXACTLY whats going in them. Not to mention I can actually make them taste delicious and not waste money on a box of very expensive taffy textured bars.
Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bar Faqs
Is it cheaper to make your own protein bars?
Yes it is cheaper to make your own protein bars. The average perfect bar costs between $2.49-$2.99. This recipe makes 8 bars, and it costs under $8 for all of the ingredients, which means theyre just under $1 per bar. . Its more than 50% cheaper to make your own protein bars than buy them.
Is it ok to eat 2 protein bars a day?
We wouldnt recommend eating 2 protein bars per day. You can, but its better to eat real foods. Protein bars are high calorie and can leave you not feeling as full as lean protein, vegetables and healthy carbs can.
Can you mix protein powder in peanut butter?
You can mix protein powder in peanut butter but it will get very thick. Its best to add a little bit of water if youre going to add protein powder to peanut butter
Also Check: Nutrition Facts On Whey Protein Powder
Substitution Recommendation To Make Them Vegan Protein Bars
To make these Peanut Butter Protein Bars into Vegan Protein Bars simply make the following substitutions:
- Substitute honey for agave. You could also use maple syrup however we find that agave tends to be a better substitution for honey in this recipe as it also plays a role in the bars sticking together nicely.
- Use your favorite plant-based vanilla protein powder. See our favorites below.
How To Make Peanut Butter Protein Bars
For the full ingredient measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to view the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
First, add protein powder, peanut butter, maple syrup, almond flour, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl. Mix together until dough forms.
Second, line a square baking dish with parchment paper. This is an important step! It will prevent the dough from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Third, add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until the chocolate is completely melted. Pour the melted chocolate over the dough. Spread in an even layer across the dish.
Finally, chill the bars in the freezer for 5 minutes or until the chocolate sets. Gently slice 8-12 bars, depending on your preferred size. Enjoy!
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How To Make Homemade Protein Bars
Note: This recipe has been updated since the creation of this video! While I loved it before, I think the bars have a much better structure to them now. The concept in the video is still the same, but I know that you will enjoy the new and improved taste of these Homemade Protein Bars as much as I do!
Heres how to make Homemade Protein Bars :
Healthy Peanut Butter Protein Bar Ingredients
There are plenty of peanut butter protein bars out there that use oats to thicken. I chose coconut flour because not only is it low carb and magnificently healthy, but it also absorbs plenty of liquid. Together with the protein powder, it is the ideal binder.
You can use crunchy or smooth peanut butter in this recipe, whichever you prefer. The bars with crunchy peanut butter can crumble a little when you cut them. If you are after razor-sharp edges, I recommend you use smooth peanut butter.
Always check the label when buying peanut butter to make sure it does not contain added sugar! I like to use the Meridian brand here in the UK – it contains 100% peanuts and nothing else.
You can add 1 tsp of cinnamon for a taste variation or a pinch of salt. If you’re feeling a bit naughty, you could also add a handful of sugar free chocolate chips!
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Try This Peanut Butter Cup Protein Bars Recipe
When youre on the go and trying to eat healthy, what is your go-to item for a quick snack to tide you over until the next meal? For many, its a protein bar. But some protein bar choices arent all that healthy. Ashley Holman is a registered nurse and a health and wellness coach. She understands why many of us just grab-n-go when picking a protein bar. She also knows how expensive some protein bars can be. She stopped by to share a DIY protein bar recipe so you will know exactly whats going into them. She also shared advice for what to look for on the label when there just isnt time to whip up the homemade variety.
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Tips For Making Homemade Protein Bars
Here are all my tips to make the best protein bars at home. Perfect this recipe, and youll never want to buy the store bought bars again!
Use peanut butter protein powder. For a rich peanut buttery flavor, I recommend using a high-quality peanut butter protein powder. If you dont have this flavor, vanilla protein powder will work too.
Do not pack the protein powder. Instead, gently spoon the protein powder into a measuring cup. If you pack the protein powder into the measuring cup, you will use too much and the protein bars will be very dry.
Salt the bars. I love adding a sprinkle of flaky sea salt on top. It not only adds a delicious salty-sweet flavor, but it also decorates the protein bars!
How to make clean slices: Have you ever cut into a homemade dessert and caused it to crumble all over the place? This tip will change your life. Follow the simple steps below.
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Chocolate Chips Vs Chocolate Glaze
This recipe calls for a chocolate glaze made from chocolate chips and a little bit of coconut oil. However, another option would be to simply omit the coconut oil and mix the chocolate chips into the peanut butter protein bar batter, then freeze. This can help save on calories as well as save time!
Peanut Butter Protein Bar Varieties
You know, for when youre looking for a little something extra
Chocolate chip: Top it off with some chocolate chips
Almond butter: If you dont like peanuts this is a great substitute! Use almond butter instead of PB
Birthday Cake: Add some sprinkles into the batter
Dark chocolate: Top with some melted dark chocolate
Crunch: Top off with some extra crushed nuts
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Top Tips For Homemade Protein Bars
Use a good food processor this has to be our #1 tip. A high-speed food processor is so important for not only pulverizing your dates but combining all of your ingredients into a smooth consistency.
Consistency is key all said and done, youre looking to get a cookie dough-like consistency out of your batter. This is why this recipe calls for drippy peanut butter and honey. They will help your ingredients stick!
- too dry: add more water
- too wet: add more oat flour
Any size pan works dont have a 9×13-inch pan? No worries! Since these are no-bake protein bars, you can use any size pan. Use a square pan or even 2 loaf pans. You can cut your bars smaller, longer, thicker, etc. The world is your oyster.
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars
You have the lunch lady to thank for these old school cafeteria-style Peanut Butter Cookie Bars that have a chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookie base and a thin layer of salty-sweet melted peanut butter underneath those rich swirls of chocolate frosting.
These peanut butter oatmeal bars with chocolate frosting are dangerous to have around. I cant make them for just my family of four unless we are having friends over or we are taking them someplace because I legit cannot resist the temptation. They are great for a crowd and things like potlucks, picnics, and bake sales.
I was recently reminded of these peanut butter cookie bars when we went to a place in Utah called Blox Dessert Bars. One of their signature dessert bars is called The Skippy which is a peanut butter blondie with chewy oats that is topped with a layer of melted peanut butter and rich chocolate frosting.
You might know or remember them as lunch lady peanut butter bars if you grew up in a certain era. I grew up back when school cafeteria lunch was still pretty decent. Sloppy joe day was always my personal favorite.
These days dessert isnt offered as part of a healthy school lunch, and most schools are nut-free anyway. But these classic peanut butter bars will forever immortalize the stalwart lunch ladies in my memory.
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How To Make Grandmas Peanut Butter Bars:
Grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter, set aside.
Place the rest of the butter that you used to grease the pan along with the other stick of butter and place them into a large microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Continue to microwave in 15-second intervals until melted.
Into the bowl with the melted butter add the powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and peanut butter. Stir until combined well.
Stir until combined well.
Immediately pour into the greased baking dish and smooth it out. Place it in the freezer for 30 minutes to set.
While the peanut butter layer sets in the freezer, place the chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring each time until the chocolate is melted and smooth, do not overcook or the chocolate will seize.
Spread the melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter mixture.
Place it back into the freezer until the chocolate is just set but not frozen, about 10-15 minutes.
Cut immediately into squares and serve.
Easy Keto Protein Bar Recipe
With a teeny-tiny bit of planning ahead, you can make absolutely DELICIOUS FUDGY, CHEWY peanut butter protein bars at home. They’ll boost your energy after a workout and they’re a fat-fuelled, protein-rich snack if you simply need a pick-me-up in between meals.
The main ingredient of this healthy Keto protein bar recipe is peanut butter. Peanut butter already has a high protein content, which I’m boosting with additional protein powder. I never add protein powder to my smoothies . But I do like to add a scoop to my granolas because it helps to add extra crunch – check out this the crispy clusters are to die for.)
I experimented quite a bit with this recipe, because originally I wanted to create a no-bake protein bar. The problem with this was that no mix was sufficiently firm at room temperature whilst still fudgy and chewy. I did not want to coat the whole bar in chocolate only to get around that issue.
The solution? 25 minutes in the oven. Yes, a lil’ bit of baking produces absolutely awesomely healthy protein bars that you can carry around all day in your handbag until hunger strikes!
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
These chocolate peanut butter protein bars are so easy to make with just 8 ingredients and no baking! Layers of peanut nougat, peanut butter caramel, and dairy-free chocolate, they’re vegan, gluten-free, and so delicious.
These chocolate peanut butter protein bars are so easy to make with just 8 ingredients and no baking! Layers of peanut nougat, peanut butter caramel, and dairy-free chocolate, they’re vegan, gluten-free, and so delicious.
These vegan chocolate peanut butter protein bars come together in just a few easy steps with minimal ingredients.
Forget storebought vegan protein bars, make these homemade ones instead. They’re no-bake and taste like snickers! You’ll be sinking your teeth into soft peanut nougat and crunchy peanut butter caramel encased in a chocolate shell.
The recipe is like two of my favorites joining forces.
Can I Replace The Coconut Flour
If you dont follow a grain free or keto diet, you can use another flour instead of coconut flour. Here is what can be substituted instead:
- Almond flour: You can use almond flour or almond meal as another low carb and grain free flour. However, you will need to double the amount of coconut flour required.
- Oat flour: Oat flour can also be used instead of coconut flour, and you will need to double the amount.
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How Do You Make The Peanut Butter Protein Bars
The Ingredients
Oat flour- I make my own by blending oats into oat flour
Nut/seed butter of choice- Use any nut butter/seed butter if choice! My personal favourites are peanut butter or hazelnut butter
Protein powder- Vanilla protein powder of choice
Granulated sweetener of choice- I like to use monk fruit or erythritol but any granulated sweetener or sugar will work.
Chocolate of choice: Dark or milk works best!
Almond Milk- You can use any milk of choice but my preference is almond milk
Method:
Combine all ingredients above in a bowl. Roll into desired shape.
Ingredient Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Want to add a little extra protein to your snack repertoire? Try these easy peanut butter protein bars! Made with just four ingredients, these bars are incredibly simple to make. Each bar packs in 10 grams of protein and tastes amazing!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by NOW®. As always, all opinions are my own.
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