Description
Delicious and easy no-bake protein bars made with peanut butter, protein powder, and natural sweeteners. These bars are customizable with optional chocolate coating and come with five different flavor ideas for variety. Perfect for a quick, healthy snack or post-workout fuel.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup peanut butter (or allergy-friendly substitute)
- 3/4 cup protein powder (90g, unsweetened preferred)
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup or honey (or use keto-friendly syrup for keto bars)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Optional Ingredients
- 4 oz melted chocolate chips
- 2 teaspoons oil (optional, to stir into melted chocolate for smoother coating)
Instructions
- Prepare the mixture: In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, protein powder, maple syrup (or honey), and salt. Stir thoroughly until the ingredients form a thick, dough-like consistency.
- Shape the bars: You can either shape the mixture into bars with your hands or spread and smooth it evenly into a lined 8×8 inch pan to create a uniform layer.
- Add chocolate coating (optional): If using the optional chocolate, melt the chocolate chips. For a smoother finish, stir 2 teaspoons of oil into the melted chocolate. Spread the chocolate evenly over the top of the mixture in the pan, or dip individual bars into the chocolate sauce for coating.
- Chill: Refrigerate the shaped bars or pan until the bars are firm and chilled, typically about 1-2 hours.
- Serve and store: Once chilled, cut the bars into desired sizes if made in a pan. Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Make sure you enjoy the flavor of the protein powder you use, as it significantly affects the taste of the bars.
- Feel free to experiment with different protein powder flavors for variety.
- The recipe works best with unsweetened protein powder to control sugar content.
- If you want a smoother chocolate coating, adding a little oil to the melted chocolate helps.
- Refrigerate the bars to set properly and maintain freshness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Bars
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: protein bars, no bake protein bars, healthy snack, peanut butter protein bars, homemade protein bars, easy protein bars
