Recipe

How to Make Homemade Protein Bars Without Protein Powder

By Anna Neufeld at St. Francis Xavier University

Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a huge fan of making things from scratch. Even though high-protein snacks are abundant in grocery stores, many of them taste like gobs of protein powder with just enough emulsifier to hold it together. It is for this reason that I still prefer homemade protein bars without protein powder.

To make protein bars without protein powder, all you really need are a couple high-protein items (like nuts or nut butter), something for texture (like oats), something for flavor, and something to keep it all together (again, nut butter). By using this generic formula, I've come up with a trustworthy no-bake recipe.

Peanut Butter Protein Bars

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 9
Ingredients
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 2/3 cup peanut butter or any nut butter
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries or chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup almonds
  • 1/4 cup flaxseed ground
  • 2 tablespoons honey

Anna Neufeld

Step 1

Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.

Anna Neufeld

Step 2

Finely chop almonds.

Anna Neufeld

Step 3

Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix together.

Anna Neufeld

Step 4

Place the mixture into your lined baking pan and press flat.

Anna Neufeld

Step 5

Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Anna Neufeld

Step 6

Cut the mixture into 9 bars.

Anna Neufeld

Ringing in at about 10-12 grams of protein, depending on how large you cut the bars, these homemade protein bars without protein powder are comparable to many store bought alternatives, and they're definitely easier on your wallet.