Vanilla Peanut Butter Protein Bars Recipe (dairy-free, gluten-free, no-bake)

 Easy to make, these vanilla peanut butter protein bars make a tasty post-workout snack! Made with vegan protein powder and creamy peanut butter this homemade protein bar recipe is great on-the-go and for meal prep!

No-bake snack recipes are a staple in my house as a Certified Nutrition Coach and a mom (think energy balls, healthy pudding, berry protein fluff etc).

Mainly, because they keep life super simple! Thus, there is almost always some in the freezer to grab.

These homemade, vanilla peanut butter protein bars are both easy to make and even easier to grab while you're running out the door!

While this is the basic recipe, they also taste delicious with:

• mini chocolate chips
• dried cranberries
• shredded coconut

Don't be nervous about adding. The best part about homemade protein bars is that you can customize them!

Boost your protein intake and enjoy it while you do! Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up!

Ingredients You'll Need

These gluten-free protein bars actually only require seven ingredients, making them ultra simple.

Likewise, learn everything you need to know about making homemade protein bars (step-by-step guide!).

Regular oats: oats are an easy way to bulk up the recipe and stretch it further. Plus, they're a great source of recovery post-workout.

Vegan Protein Powder: the protein powder you choose will affect the flavor and the texture of the bars. Make sure you choose a gluten-free protein as per any allergy requirements. For best results use certified gluten-free protein powder.

Peanut Butter: a crucial element in homemade peanut butter protein bars! Make sure to use natural peanut butter to avoid unnecessary sugars and oils (this goes for Snickerdoodle protein bars too).

Honey: sweetened with just two tablespoons of honey it also helps hold these homemade bars together.

Plant-based milk: you can use any non-dairy milk you have on hand. I make mine with creamy, dreamy hemp milk but have done almond milk many times too.

I drizzle mine with homemade chocolate sauce but that's totally optional. if you love the chocolate peanut butter combo though, check out these protein buckeyes.

Step By Step Photos

Notes On Vegan Protein Powder

While these vanilla peanut butter protein bars were originally made with whey protein, given I am now dairy-free they use a vegan protein powder (learn more about making dairy-free living easy here).

If you’re making the switch to vegan protein powder, there are a few things you should note:

• vegan protein powder absorbs liquid. So, most recipes with whey are not directly interchangeable
• vegan protein powder tends to be less sweet than whey. This means that you normally have to add a bit more sweetness to counter the flavor
• each vegan protein powder is slightly different based on its blend (pea/rice/etc). Meaning, one protein powder may absorb better than another

Thus, the protein powder you choose for these no-bake protein bars will affect the flavor of the bars.

Choosing A Protein Powder For The Bars

These peanut butter protein bars are made with Genuine Health Protein Powder.

Genuine Health’s Fermented Vegan Protein Powder helps fuel your goals, recover and stay full.

Made with 20 grams of plant-based protein, this vegan protein powder is dairy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO and certified organic. It’s also been voted one of the best tasting vegan protein powders.

But best of all is that this protein is fermented. This helps break down the “anti-nutrient” in grains, nuts, seeds and legumes that often causes bloating.

This protein powder literally gives you the best of both worlds.

Shop the Genuine Health Store on Amazon or grab it from Well Dot Ca.

How To Store The Peanut Butter Protein Bars

The homemade peanut butter protein bars can be stored in either the fridge or the freezer. In the fridge, they should last roughly one week. Whereas in the freezer they'll obviously last longer (a month or so) so long as they're in an airtight container.

They do freeze pretty solid so if they're in the freezer make sure you let them thaw in the fridge or at room temperature before you're ready to eat them!

Likewise, if planning to store them in the freezer, make sure they are cut and separated into bars first. Otherwise, you'll crumble them getting apart!

Texture 

Part of the texture of the protein bars depends on the protein powder you use and how well it binds. These bars are typically a bit delicate from the oats but they do hold together.

The plus side is that they're not super sticky- even coming out of the freezer. While they are peanut butter-based, your hands (or the hands of your toddler!) won't be completely covered.

That said, using fermented protein powder is what binds them together. If you're using a vegan protein that does not contain pea protein (like Botanica protein powder) you may need to add more oats or the bars will be too sticky.

Important Teaching Tips

As I mentioned above, the best part of making your own protein bars is that you can alter them if you need to (like when you run out of ingredients!). Any nut butter will work with these peanut butter protein bars as will Sun butter.

If you need the bars nut-free, sun butter is a wonderful alternative. And any plant-based milk will work in place of the almond milk.

Similarly, I've also replaced the oats with puffed rice to make a bit more of a crunchy protein bar and that turned out great also.

If you use a fermented protein powder like Genuine Health, your bars will the thicker. If you use a protein powder like Botanica perfect protein the bars will be sweeter and squishier (in a really yummy way!).

Frequently Asked Questions About Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Other Wicked Protein Recipes You'll Love

• Chocolate peanut butter protein balls
• Peanut butter and jam protein balls
• Gluten-free homemade protein bars
• Homemade protein bars with chocolate
• Chocolate fudge protein balls
• Savory blueberry protein oatmeal
• Chocolate peanut butter bomb shake
• Chocolate protein fluff
• Coconut protein balls
• High protein cookies
• High protein pancakes
• Yogurt protein pancakes
• Energizing protein bar
• Easy, no-bake vanilla protein bar
• High protein snack recipes

If you're looking for an easy, simple-to-make, delicious snack, these are for you! These no-bake peanut butter protein bars are sweet, full of healthy ingredients, and portable.

Plus, protein bars make a great snack that will keep you full when you're stuck. Make a big batch and keep them in your freezer for a quick grab and go.