The BEST Protein Bars are healthy, no-bake, and contain nothing artificial! These are chewy, delicious, easy to customize, and are the perfect healthy snack.
Looking for more healthy snacks? Try my Energy Balls, Applesauce, Carrot Muffins, or learn how to make The Perfect Charcuterie Board.
Why I love this recipe:
No Bake – No heating up the house, and only takes 10 minutes to throw the ingredients together and put in the fridge.
Healthy – Nothing artificial here. These bars are filled with normal pantry ingredients and sweetened with honey.
Taste Delicious – I've had one to many unappetizing protein bars in my life, so I'm all about making them from scratch, with ingredients I recognize, and they taste wonderful!
Ingredients in Protein Bars:
- Rolled Oats – quick oats would also work.
- Protein Powder – Add your favorite whey or plant based protein powder including Chocolate, vanilla, or plain flavored.
- Peanut Butter – or substitute any nut butter or sunflower butter.
- Honey – Naturally sweetened and no added sugar. You could substitute agave.
- Ground Flax Seed
- Banana – mashed, for sweetness flavor and binding.
- Salt
- Vanilla Extract
- Mix-Ins – I like to customize my bars with chopped dates, dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, or raisins), mini chocolate chips, or unsweetened coconut flakes.
How to make Protein Bars:
Combine Ingredients: Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Press firmly into an 8×8 inch pan.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.
Cut into bars and store in the fridge.
Freezing Instructions:
Layer bars in a freezer safe bag or container, with a piece of parchment paper between layers, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator or on the counter before eating.
Recipe Variations:
- Mix-Ins: Customize these bars with your favorite mix-ins! Some ideas: chopped dates, dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, or raisins), mini chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes, crispy rice cereal, chopped nuts, or anything you like!
- Nut Butter: Swap out the peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower butter.
- Protein Powder: Use your favorite kind. Chocolate, vanilla, or plain would all work great for this recipe!
- Vegan Protein Bars Recipe: Use your favorite vegan protein powder.
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Recipe
Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (135 g)
- 3/4 cup peanut butter , or favorite nut butter or sunflower butter (180 g)
- 1 banana , mashed (120 g)
- 1/3 cup honey , agave or real maple syrup (110 g)
- Pinch salt
- ½ cup ground flax seed (55 g)
- 1 cup protein powder* (120 g)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10 ml)
- 3/4 cup Mix in options: chopped dates, dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, or raisins), mini chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes, nuts (about 90 g)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients until well combined. Mixture should be fairly soft and not dry or crumbly. Add a splash of water or milk, or an extra drizzle of honey, if needed.
- Press very firmly into an 8×8 inch pan. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.
- Store bars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
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I made this and its very yummy but when I put the ingredients (I followed your recipe to a “t”) it says it is 298 calories per bar. Is there a reason it varies so much?
Are you counting for 16 servings? I’ve double checked the ingredients and the only thing I can see to cause variance is the protein powder. What brand are you using?
Could you leave out the banana?
Yes, but replace it with something to add sweetness and moistness, like applesauce.
Hi, Lauren.
Is there any reason this wouldn’t work with Walnut butter, or is it something you don’t have in the US?
Love the site, btw.
Hi! Walnut butter should work just fine in this recipe. It’s a great alternative and will add a delicious flavor. Thanks for the kind words about the site!
Hi, I’m not Lauren, but I wanted to let you know that I’ve tried this with walnut butter, tahini, cashew butter and, of course, peanut butter. It works with any type of nut butter as long as you like the flavor. I usually mix tahini or walnut butter with peanut butter. I wasn’t happy with just walnut butter. Any nuts you have on hand will work and turning them to butter is fast and easy.
11/10 my husband is a strength coach and is always looking for snacks to get more protein in. He LOVES these! I do add more oats to help them stick together more.
The taste is so good! The issue I ran into was they weren’t hard enough. When I cut them after 3 hours of being in the fridge, they were just mush. Did anyone else run into this problem?
Try adding more oats it helps keep it hard and better.
I like mine hard or crunchy
How many bars should the recipe be divided into to reach the quoted Nutrition Facts per 1 bar?
Divide them into 16 bars to match the nutritional facts. Enjoy!
Made these today. They were still moist after being in the fridge for a couple of hours so I popped them in the oven at 300 for 30 minutes and they’re now perfect! I used my homemade protein powder in lieu of store bought. Delicious!
Gianna, Can I ask how you make homemade protein powder?
These are so good!! I typically buy protein bars, but after trying this recipe I’ll be making my own from now on! Thank you!!
I have made these 3 times, very good but very sticky!
I used Natural sugar free peanut butter, first 2 times, last one regular peanut butter. Messy to eat, I will keep making them though!
Agreed
Any tips on making it less sticky (post refrigeration)? I may have added too much water to help mix.
If it’s too stick you could sprinkle in some more oats.