These no-bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are a super easy snack that taste like dessert! Made with oat flour, vanilla protein powder and peanut butter, these bars are the perfect healthier alternative to store-bought protein bars.
Trust me when I say I’ve tried a whole lot of protein bars in my life. In college I worked at SportCheck and probably used the majority of my staff discount on Cliff Bars. Then throughout most of my early twenties protein bars were something I always had on hand because I just found them so convenient.
I can’t say I ever loved the taste of them and honestly most of them are just candy bars in disguise. Even the natural ones can be loaded with a ton of sugar and other ingredients you really don’t need. So, eventually I started making my own at home and once I saw how easy they were to make and how much better they tasted, I couldn’t go back to store-bought!
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are one of my favourite versions and makes the perfect afternoon snack or healthier dessert. They’re made with good-for-you ingredients, are much lower in sugar than most store-bought protein bars and can help keep you satisfied between meals. Not to mention, they are incredibly DELICIOUS!
Why you’ll love these homemade protein bars
- Gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free and vegan
- Made with healthier ingredients
- High in protein, fibre and healthy fats
- Super easy to make – no equipment needed!
- Taste like a chocolate peanut butter dessert (the best flavour combo in my opinion).
Ingredients you’ll need
- Oat flour: this is the main ingredient for the dough. You can easily make your own oat flour at home by processing rolled oats into a fine powder using a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder. However, this oat flour is a great option if you want to buy it already ground. If you’re looking for a grain-free version, you can try using almond flour instead, although I haven’t tested this myself!
- Vanilla protein powder: feel free to use any vanilla protein powder. We’re using a decent amount, so just make sure that it’s one you like the flavour of. My current favourite is from Ritual.
- Peanut butter: choose a natural, creamy peanut butter with only 1-2 ingredients (peanuts and salt). You could also use almond butter, or for a nut-free version, try sunflower seed butter or tahini.
- Ground flaxseeds: for some extra fibre and healthy fats. If possible, grind whole flaxseeds yourself for the freshest flaxseed meal. I typically do this in a coffee grinder that I solely use for grinding spices or seeds.
- Maple syrup: how much you add will depend on how sweet your protein powder is and the level of sweetness you want.
- Coconut oil: used in the bar as well as the chocolate topping to give it a smoother consistency and help it spread out more easily.
- Milk: I used unsweetened almond milk, but any non-dairy or dairy milk works. Add a little at a time until you have a soft dough consistency. The amount will depend on the peanut butter and protein powder you use. A plant-based protein powder will absorb more liquid than a whey protein powder will.
- Dark chocolate chips: the perfect complement to the peanut butter. Chopped dark chocolate can also be used instead of chips.
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Sea salt
Find the full ingredient measurements and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
How to make protein bars
Are these protein bars healthy?
A lot of protein bars miss the mark when it comes to a nutritious snack, but this homemade version is packed with healthy ingredients and is balanced with protein, fibre and healthy fats. This means they aren’t going to spike your blood sugar like a lot of store bought protein bars would.
Although I recommend prioritizing whole food protein sources over protein powder the majority of the time, using protein powder can be a really great and convenient way to ensure you’re getting enough protein in your diet. Especially if you are using a high-quality protein powder.
More no-bake snacks & treats
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Ingredients
Bars
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseeds
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
- 2-3 tbsp maple syrup
- 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3-4 tbsp milk, plus more as needed
Chocolate Topping
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
- Flaked sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Add all the bar ingredients, except milk, to a bowl and use a rubber spatula or your hands to mix well. Add 1 tbsp of milk at a time until the mixture is a thick cookie dough consistency. It should easily stick together when squeezed in your hands and shouldn't be crumbly. How much milk you need will depend on the type of peanut butter and protein powder used.
- Add the dough to a loaf pan lined with parchment paper and press down firmly with your hand or rubber spatula.
- Place chocolate chips and coconut oil in a small bowl and melt in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring each time. Spread evenly over the base. Place in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to set.
- Remove from the fridge, sprinkle with flaked sea salt if desired and cut into bars. Store in the fridge until ready to eat.
