These Homemade Protein Bars are easy to make—no baking or stove needed! Made with everyday ingredients, no special shopping required.
Making your own protein bars is not only economical—store-bought protein bars can be pricey—but you’ll also know exactly what’s in them.
Homemade Protein Bars
Last year, my husband’s trainer told him to eat more protein, but store-bought bars were expensive and had weird ingredients. So, I made my own!
These homemade bars cost less, have simple ingredients, and taste amazing. I don’t even need extra protein, but I can’t stop eating them!
They’re soft, thick, and chewy—like a “Perfect Bar.” The flavor is close to a peanut butter “Perfect Bar,” with a little protein powder taste, similar to a “G2G Bar” or “Go-Macro Bar.”
How To Make Homemade Protein Bars
- Prep the Pan: Line a bread pan with parchment paper for easy removal.
- Blend Oats: Pulse oats in a food processor until they resemble coarse flour.
- Mix Ingredients: Add the rest of the bar ingredients. Pulse until it forms a thick dough.
- Press Into Pan: Transfer the dough to the pan. Press it down firmly and evenly.
- Optional Chocolate Drizzle: Melt chocolate chips with oil, then drizzle over the bars.Chill: Refrigerate for about an hour until firm.
- Cut and Serve: Lift out the set bars using the parchment, slice them, and enjoy.
- Store: Keep in a sealed container in the fridge.
It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Is Making Your Own Protein Bars Cheaper?
Yes, making your own protein bars is usually cheaper. Buying the ingredients might cost more at first, but you can make a lot of bars, which saves money over time.
Store-bought bars usually cost between $1.50 and $3.00 each. Making them at home can be cheaper, depending on what ingredients you buy.
Also, you can choose all-natural ingredients and know exactly what’s in your bars. Plus, you can easily change the recipe to be exactly how you like things!
Ingredients In Homemade Protein Bars
- Old-fashioned oats: Give the bars shape and a chewy texture.
- Peanut butter: Smooth works best. Stir natural peanut butter first. You can also use cashew or almond butter.
- Honey: Sweetens and holds everything together. Add more or less to taste.
- Vanilla extract: Adds flavor but is optional.
- Salt: Makes everything taste better. Skip if using salted peanut butter.
- Vanilla protein powder: Affects flavor and texture. Use one you like. Add more honey if needed.
- Mini chocolate chips: Use dark chocolate for less sweetness.
- Optional chocolate drizzle: Skip for a simpler bar.
Homemade Protein Bars Tips
Here are some tips for whipping up the best possible homemade protein bars:
- Adjust Sweetness: If your protein powder is already sweet, use less honey. You can add more later if needed.
- Check for Salt: Some protein powders have salt. Taste before adding extra.
- Pick a Nut Butter You Like: Use one you enjoy straight from the jar—it’ll taste great in these bars.
- Press Down Firmly: Pack the dough tightly in the pan with a measuring cup for an even layer.
- Line the Pan: Use parchment paper so the bars come out easily.
Storage
Storing Homemade Protein Bars
Store the bars in an airtight container or bag in the fridge. They’re best if eaten within a week but can last up to two weeks. These bars get soft and melty if left out in a warm environment.
More Protein-Packed Recipes
- Protein Breakfast Cookies cinnamon roll flavored!
- Chocolate Protein Shake with chocolate protein powder
- Peanut Butter Granola with chocolate
- Pumpkin Protein Shake with vanilla protein powder
- Chocolate Protein Balls with almond butter
Homemade Protein Bars
Equipment
- Small blender or mini food processor
Ingredients
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup peanut butter stir well if using a natural butter
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract optional
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/3 cup vanilla protein powder see note 1
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 3 tablespoons dark chocolate chips
- 1/2 teaspoon melted coconut oil
Instructions
- Line bread pan (8.5 x 4.5-inch) with parchment paper or foil. Leave an overhang for easy removal of bars and set aside.
- Add oats in a small blender or food processor. Pulse for about 15–20 seconds until oats resemble a coarse flour. Add remaining “Protein Bars” ingredients. Pulse until well combined into a thick dough. Scrape edges as needed.
- Press the dough firmly and evenly into the prepared bread pan.
- Combine chocolate chips with coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in bursts of 15 seconds, stirring in between each burst for 10 seconds until the chocolate is smooth. Transfer chocolate to a plastic bag, cut off the tip of the bag, and drizzle chocolate over the bars. If desired, sprinkle a light dusting of sea salt.
- Pop in the fridge until bars are set and firm, about an hour.
- Remove from the fridge and, using the overhang, pull the bars from the pan. Cut into 10 to 12 bars.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
DANGER-these are so good that it’s easy to gobble 600 calories in an instant 😂. Seriously though I made these with almond butter which I far prefer over peanut butter, omitted coconut (for once in my life) and used Orgain vanilla protein powder. Just SO GOOD. I also made some with chocolate powder and they’re almost as good. YUM YUM!
YAY! I’m so happy to hear this! Thanks Stephanie! 🙂
Is there a viedo available on theese bars
Not yet! But here’s a step by step tutorial: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17883403064020029/
Can the bars be used when on KETO
I’m so sorry I’m not familiar enough with the KETO diet to give recommendations; I’d work with a nutritionist on that!
thank you for this recipe, I eat commercial protein bars all the time, but very few measure up for long, just get sick of them and most are loaded with sugar, so really nice to be able to make my own with your recipe