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.
How To Make Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Combine the oats and protein powder.
- Heat the coconut oil and peanut butter until coconut oil is melted. Whisk in the honey and vanilla until everything is combined and smooth.
- Add the mixture into the oats and protein powder. Stir before adding in the almond milk.
- Mix until combined and stocky.
- Press the homemade protein bars mixture into an 8x4 pan and freeze to set.
Step By Step Photos
Mix together the regular oats and vegan protein powder.
Melt the coconut oil and peanut butter. Add to the oats.
Mix in the dairy-free milk and mix the batter until sticky.
Press into an 8x4 pan and freeze to set.
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!).
Fast, crave-worthy snacks that hit your protein goals (without tracking or extra cooking time).
Frequently Asked Questions About Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Protein bars when made with minimal sugars and no processed oils can be a healthy addition to any diet and a tasty way to increase daily protein intake.
If you're trying to avoid nuts, using Sunflower Seed Butter (sunbutter) in place of peanut butter is a great alternative.
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
No-Bake Vanilla Protein Bars
Equipment
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup vegan protein powder 2 scoops
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil measured solid
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup almond milk
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, combine oats and protein powder.
- In a small bowl or pot heat the coconut oil and peanut butter slowly until coconut oil is melted. Remove from heat. Whisk in the honey and vanilla until everything is combined and smooth.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture into the oat mixture and mix with a fork until it looks sticky but crumbly.
- Very slowly, add in the almond milk and mix until everything is combined and holding together.
- Line an 8x4 baking pan with parchment paper. Place the mixture into the pan and use another piece of parchment paper to press the mixture down evenly.
- Place in the freezer for thirty minutes to set.
- Remove and let thaw for five minutes before cutting into bars.
Notes
- The protein powder you choose will affect both the flavor and the texture of the homemade protein bars. Check out my three favorite protein powders and know that the fermented ones absorb liquid more so your bars will the thicker.
- If you’re using a protein powder without pea protein (Botanica), you may need to add more oats so that the bars are not as sticky
- Let the protein bars thaw at room temperature for ten minutes (or in the fridge for longer) before enjoying
- Tip: if you have specific dietary restrictions (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan) – double-check all your ingredients for appropriate brands!
- Keep in mind the protein values may be off by 1-2 grams as it depends on which protein powder you’re using. Each vegan protein powder has a different markup of ingredients which can alter the intake slightly.
- You can drizzle the protein bars with 1 tbs mini chocolate chips + 1 teaspoon coconut oil melted together however the nutritional breakdown does not include that.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
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.
Maya
Everything looks so yummy! I'll definitely have to bookmark this for these recipes. You should create a healthy snack recipe book!
fitasamamabear
Thank you so much Maya! I recently launched my dinner cookbook (eek) but I am a snack fiend...
Clair
These look and sound delicious! I am always looking for good healthy recipes..this one is perfect!
fitasamamabear
Thanks! I love them because I can take them with me!
RM
These look so absolutely yummy!!!! I can't wait to make these with my kids!!
fitasamamabear
My little one loved them! Though really.. peanut butter is hard not to love lol
fitasamamabear
My little one loves them! But really... how can you not love peanut butter 😛
Gillian
What a great protein rich snack. Vanilla and peanut butter is a combination that you can not go wrong with. My son would love these as an after training reat.
fitasamamabear
Definitely protein filled and perfect post workout! What kind of training does your son do?
fitasamamabear
They're definitely full of protein- and delicious! Perfect as a post-workout snack. What kind of training does your son do?
Mandy Allen
I love any recipes with oats in them! I make great flapjacks with ginger, lovely!
Enjoy the journey!
fitasamamabear
Mmm flapjacks with ginger sound good too! Oats are just so versatile they're hard not to love!
fitasamamabear
Mmm those flapjacks sound nice! Oats are so versatile, they're hard not to love
Marcella Kenny
I love eating healthy and peanut butter! This looks like a fabulous healthy snack. I have to try this one.
fitasamamabear
It's definitely tasty! You can't go wrong with peanut butter vanilla lol
Shannon Burlingame
Yum!! These look so simple to make with only a few ingredients. I'm always looking for quick easy breakfasts so these would be perfect! 🙂
fitasamamabear
Extremely simple- and no bake! I love anything no bake lol
Hannah @ The Northern Writes
look yummy! Although I think I'd want mine dunked in some chocolate as well 😛
Hannah @ The Northern Writes | http://www.thenorthernwrites.co.uk
fitasamamabear
Haha keep checking back- I actually made a "chocolate coated" version (nut free though) that comes out in a couple of weeks! Great minds think alike 😉
Akshita
Yumm! These sound delicious as well as healthy and nutritious, which is often hard to find :/ I might just try out the recipe, the next time I am in the mood to try out something new! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Akshita,
fitasamamabear
I hope you enjoy them!
Nita
I'm not a big fan of protein bars, but these look yummy!
fitasamamabear
They're pretty tasty! Peanut butter and vanilla just go so well together!
Aubree Rivera
Wow I am going to have to try some of these. They look great and we are always looking for snacks we can make for the summer without turning on the oven.
fitasamamabear
I adore everything no bake too! These ones are definitely tasty- and perfect to freeze and grab with you when you need them 🙂
Melissa @Real Nutritious Living
I'm obsessed with all the no bake goodies! Yum!
fitasamamabear
Haha yup we live off them!
Gen
These were so so delicious. We love having easy protein bar-type snacks in the house but didn’t want to keep having the same store bought bars. We’ll definitely be making these again!
fitasamamabear
It's definitely nice to switch out for homemade sometimes!
Jennifer
You had me at no bake! Another winning recipe - delish!
fitasamamabear
No bake saves sanity lol
Glenda
These have been a great part of a quick grab and go breakfast for my husband. thanks so much for sharing the recipe!
fitasamamabear
Yay! It's the peanut butter.. it's always a win lol
Kate
Love these for a quick and healthy breakfast. My kids love them too!
Thanks for the recipe!
fitasamamabear
Always a win when kiddos approve!
Greta
Love this no-bake protein bar. Healthy and is super fast to do it. Thanks for the recipe.
fitasamamabear
Glad you enjoyed it!