Print

Print Recipe

Make Peanut Butter Protein Bars with clear ingredient guidance, step-by-step instructions, and practical tips.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 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

  1. Line an 8×8- or 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides like handles.
  2. 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.
  3. 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).
  4. 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!)
  5. Press evenly into the prepared pan and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.
  6. Lift the bars from the pan using the parchment handles and transfer them to a cutting board. Slice into bars as desired and enjoy.

Notes

no-bake
binding with honey and coconut oil
refrigeration to firm
Yield: 12 bars (1×12)
Serving size: 1 bar (of 12)
Store the bars at room temperature for up to 1 week.
These homemade protein bars can be kept in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Storage tip: wrap individually, then remove from the freezer as needed. They can also be stored in the fridge, though they taste best at room temperature.
Add raisins by folding in a handful of raisins or other dried fruit.
Swap flaxseed meal for an equal amount of chia seeds.
Stir in a handful of crisp rice cereal for crunch.
Add chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts) for more healthy fats.
Add 1 tablespoon vanilla extract and use vanilla protein powder; swap chocolate chips for white chocolate chips.
Use chocolate protein powder and drizzle with melted chocolate, then sprinkle with flaky salt.
If mixture seems too loose, add more oats.
If mixture seems too dry, add peanut butter, honey, or water, 1 tablespoon at a time.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://theproteincook.com/peanut-butter-protein-bars/