Made with oatmeal, protein powder, honey, and chocolate (for happy measure), these healthy homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars are no-bake and require only a bowl and some elbow grease.
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Homemade is the way to go for protein bars.
While store-bought protein bars are fine from time to time, nothing tastes quite as wonderful as making your own wholesome homemade protein bars.
I love knowing exactly what is in these peanut butter protein bars. Just like my Protein Balls, the ingredients for this recipe are simple and nourishing.
Also, SO YUMMY. The texture of these bars is soft and chewy (check out Peanut Butter Protein Cookies for another melt-in-your-mouth protein treat).
They’ll save you some money, too. Protein bars are so expensive to buy! Making them yourself is a fraction of what they cost at the store.
As an even-better bonus, these no-bake peanut butter protein bars can be stored at room temperature (like a baked protein bar recipe). This makes them travel-friendly and easy to keep at your desk or tucked in your gym bag for a post-workout snack.
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Peanut Butter. Healthy fats, protein, and the all-out delicious factor. You can use any kind you like, be it shelf-stable or drippy peanut butter. For a peanut-free version, swap almond butter, cashew butter, or sun butter.
- Oatmeal. Rolled oats are hearty, rich in fiber, and give the peanut butter protein bars their structure. Using certified gluten-free oats makes these bars safe for those with a gluten allergy.
- Honey. For its natural sweetness and “glue” factor. If you would like to make these homemade protein bars vegan, swap the honey for vegan natural sweeteners, such as pure maple syrup or brown rice syrup. (Or, see these Vegan Protein Bars which are sweetened with dates.)
- Flaxseed Meal. Omega-3s, please.
- Protein Powder. You can use any whey protein or vegan, plant-based protein. I recommend vanilla, though I suspect chocolate would be tasty too.
- Coconut Oil. To help the bars bind and solidify.
- Chocolate Chips. No ho-hum bars here. These peanut butter protein bars are loaded with the good stuff. Mini chocolate chips are easy to mix in; for a stronger chocolate factor, use dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate.
5 Star Review
“Phenomenal recipe. I’ve given up my nature valley protein bars because these are better and easy to make!”
— Abby —
How to Make Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Warm the Liquid Ingredients. Melt the peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil in a double-boiler and stir until smooth. (You can use the microwave instead if you’d like. Warm low and slow in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring periodically, until smooth.)
Add the Dry Ingredients. Remove from the heat and mix in the oats, protein powder, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt. If your batter is looser than you would like, simply add an extra tablespoon or two of oats until it holds together.
Make Them Chocolatey. Fold in the chocolate chips. If the mixture is still warm, pop the bowl into the refrigerator for a few minutes to let it cool. Cooling the mixture will prevent the chocolate from melting. Don’t worry if they do melt a little—the bars will still be delicious!
Finish. Press evenly into a square pan lined with parchment paper, then chill until firm. Remove the bars from the pan and slice them into bars. ENJOY!
Protein Bar Flavor Variations
This homemade protein bar recipe is super adaptable. Countless readers have shared how they’ve made this recipe their own in the comments. Here are some of my favorite ideas:
- Add Raisins. Fold a handful of raisins (or other dried fruit) into the mixture.
- Swap in Chia Seeds. Swap all or a portion of the flaxseed meal for an equal amount of chia seeds.
- Add Some Crunch. For added crunch, stir in a handful of crisp rice cereal.
- Make Them Nutty. Throw in a handful of your favorite chopped nuts for some additional healthy fats. Almonds, walnuts, pecans, or hazelnuts would all be lovely additions.
- Give Them More Vanilla Flavor. Add 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract, use vanilla protein powder, and swap the chocolate chips for white chocolate chips.
- Make Them Decadent. Use chocolate protein powder. Drizzle the finished bars with melted chocolate, then sprinkle with flaky salt, such as Maldon or fleur de sel.
More High Protein Breakfasts and Snacks
Peanut Butter Protein Bars
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Ingredients
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter*
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder about 2 scoops, depending upon your brand
- 3 tablespoons flaxseed meal
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line an 8×8- or 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides like handles.
- Place the peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil in a medium heatproof bowl. Set the bowl over a saucepan of water and bring the water to a simmer over medium to medium-high heat. (Do not let the water boil, and make sure the water does not touch the bottom of the mixing bowl.) Stir and heat until the mixture is smoothly combined. Remove the bowl from the saucepan and turn off the heat.
- Add the oats, protein powder, flaxseed, cinnamon, and salt to the bowl with the peanut butter mixture. Stir to combine. The mixture will seem very dry at first but will come together as you stir. It won't be sticky but should hold together when pressed (see recipe notes for more details).
- Fold in the chocolate chips. (If the mixture is still fairly warm, pop the bowl into the refrigerator for a few minutes to let it cool. Cooling the mixture will prevent the chocolate from melting. Don’t worry if they do melt a little—the bars will still be delicious!)
- Press evenly into the prepared pan and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
- Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment handles and transfer them to a cutting board. Slice into bars as desired and enjoy.
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Store the bars at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- TO FREEZE: These homemade protein bars can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- STORAGE TIP: I like to wrap mine individually, then remove them from the freezer as needed. You can also store them in the fridge, though I find they taste best at room temperature.
- *INGREDIENT NOTE: The consistency of the bars will vary based on the brand of peanut butter you use. Add a tablespoon or two extra oats if they seem too loose. If they seem too dry, add additional peanut butter, honey, or even water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the bars hold together easily when pressed into the pan.
- **GLUTEN FREE: If you are particularly sensitive to gluten, I recommend sourcing oats (e.g., Bob’s Red Mill) that are processed in a gluten free certified facility.
- The nutritional information will vary based on the brand of protein powder you use. If you’d like to calc them with a specific brand, you can do so for free at myfitnesspal.com.
Nutrition
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These are SO good! They taste like a dessert! I used chia seeds instead of flax seed and I am loving them! I also melted chocolate chips with coconut oil and drizzled the bars instead of mixing the chocolate chips in. Will definitely be making again!
Glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Arianna!
These bars are the best ! I no longer pay 3 times the price for commercially produced protein bars that may have additives I dont want! I have made these bars many times and stick to the original recipe .. the only exception is I add 1/3 cup dried zereshk barberries for a sweet tart complement ! no changes are needed ! Thank you for a keeper!
Great to hear, thank you Terisa!
My second time making these because they are so good! I used almond meal instead of flaxseed, and ended up baking them as i like the texture better!
Thanks for the feedback, Sophie!
Oh my goodness these are good! My husband said do not buy him anymore bought protein bars! He said these are amazing!!!
Love to hear! Thank you Lesley!
I have made so many different types of healthy bars and protein bars over the years but this is absolutely amazing!!! The texture and taste feels like I’m eating cookie dough. I love it! My kids will love these too. Thank you.
So great to hear, thank you Shelley!
I’m so happy I found this recipe! I made these bars over the weekend, and they’ve been a lifesaver during my busy week. They’re the perfect grab-and-go snack, and they keep me full for hours. My kids loved them too, which is a plus for me because it’s not always easy to find healthier snacks that they actually enjoy!
I’m so glad you did too, Samantha! Thank you!
These are fantastic! I always have a batch in the fridge. I haven’t looked at a store-bought bar in over a year. My children love them too!
Thank you Allison!
I wasn’t sure what to expect since I’ve tried a few protein bar recipes before that didn’t turn out great, but this one totally exceeded my expectations! The bars are soft, flavorful, and super satisfying. I love that they’re made with simple ingredients and no weird preservatives. They’ve been the perfect post-workout snack, and I’m already looking forward to making another batch!
So happy to hear, Jennica! Thank you!
These peanut butter protein bars are seriously the best homemade bars I’ve ever made. They taste just like the ones you buy at the store, but even better—and way healthier! I love that I can control the ingredients and sweetness level. They’re soft, chewy, and packed with flavor. I’ve already shared the recipe with a few friends because I know they’ll love them too!
So glad you are enjoying them, Johana! Thank you!
Advice re kosher salt please. Do you put it through a grinder before measuring? I understand it is quite course. Thank you
Hi Sheila, great question. I do not put mine through a grinder before I use it. Hope this helps!