This post was originally published in October 2019. Updated in December 2022.
Protein bars are a healthy snack that helps keep you full and increase your protein intake. Making homemade protein bars can be a great idea that will save you money and boost your health. Plus, they are just as tasty as commercial protein bars.
Some protein bars contain loads of hidden sweeteners and additives which makes them super unhealthy. Making your own protein bars at home help you add only natural and healthy ingredients to your recipe. Also, Protein bars are pretty pricey and they will cost you a lot of money especially if you eat them daily as a snack.
In this article, I will include 6 super tasty homemade protein bars recipes that you can easily make, tips for making healthy homemade protein bars, why our body relies on protein, and more FAQs.
Table of Contents
Top 6 Healthy Homemade Protein Bars:
1- Peanut Butter Banana Protein Bar
This recipe is full of antioxidants, vitamins, fiber, minerals, and healthy fats. And it’s also high in quality protein. This means this protein bar can keep you full and satisfied for a long time. Plus, it’s easy to make!
So you’ll need:
- 2/3 cup uncooked quick-cooking oats.
- 1/3 cup buckwheat flour.
- 1/4 cup chia seeds.
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts.
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
- 2 mashed bananas.
- 1/4 cup creamy low-sodium peanut butter.
- 15 drops chocolate-flavored liquid stevia sweetener.
- 2 tsp organic or natural stevia sweetener.
Directions:
- In a medium bowl, mix well oats, buckwheat flour, chia seeds, walnuts, and cinnamon.
- Combine bananas, peanut butter, and sweetener in another medium bowl then pour the flour mixture into the bowl.
- Stir well until the mixture is well-combined.
- Transfer the mixture to a glass baking pan and add cooking spray to the pan.
- Then, bake for 12-17 minutes in a 350°F preheated oven.
- Let it cool for 30 minutes then cut it into 6 bars.
2- Cookie Dough Protein Bar
Regular cookie dough is high in sugar and unhealthy fats and contains too many calories. So, I brought to you this healthy cookie dough protein bar to try instead! It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan. Also, it’s loaded with protein and contains only 4 grams of sugar.
Another bonus! there’s no baking required to make this protein bar which makes it one of the best snacks that you should add to your diet.
You’ll need:
- 128g roasted almond butter.
- 211g unsweetened vanilla almond milk.
- 168g ( 1 1/4 cups) vanilla brown rice protein powder.
- 90g oat flour.
- 1/4 tsp salt.
- 1 tsp Natural butter flavor.
- 1 1/4 tsp vanilla creme-flavored stevia extract.
- 1/4 cup no-suagr-added dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Directions:
- Add all the ingredients to the mixer and process until well combined.
- Transfer the batter to a baking pan.
- Refrigerate overnight.
- Then, cut it and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories: 200 cal.
- 14g of carbs.
- 17g of protein.
- 9g of fat
- 4g of fiber.
- 4g of sugar.
3- Easiest Homemade Protein Bar
You need only 4 ingredients to make this recipe. It’s a healthy snack that can curb your appetite and keep you satiated. Plus, it’s one of the best homemade protein bars that are low in calories and high in protein that your body needs to stay healthy.
So you’ll need:
- 2 cups oats.
- 4 scoops of protein powder.
- Half a cup of almond milk, water, or regular milk.
- 5 tbsp (80g) peanut butter or almond butter.
Directions:
- Combine all the ingredients well in a bowl.
- Transfer the batter to a baking pan.
- Spray the pan with a non-stick cooking pan before adding the batter.
- Refrigerate for a few hours and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories per serving: 200 cal.
- 18g of carbs.
- 17g of protein.
- 7g of fat.
4- No-Bake Nutella Protein Bar
This recipe is the perfect one for you especially if you love chocolate. The Nutella protein bar is rich and filling to satisfy your chocolate cravings. Plus, no baking is required to make this delicious protein bar.
You’ll need:
- 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk or regular milk.
- 6 tbsp coconut flour.
- 1/2 cup rolled oats.
- 3 scoops of chocolate protein powder.
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder.
- 1 tbsp Nutella.
- 3 tbsp dark chocolate chips.
Directions:
- Blend up all the ingredients except for the dark chocolate chips until it has a thick consistency.
- Then, shape the batter into bars, in whatever shape or size you like.
- After that, melt the dark chocolate chips and add a layer of chocolate on top of your bars.
- Put them in the fridge for 20 minutes then serve.
Nutrition Facts:
- Calories in each bar: 369 cal.
- Fat: 12g.
- Carbohydrates: 32.6g.
- Protein: 32.6g.
- Fiber: 9.3g.
- Sugar: 11.6g.
5- Chocolate Fudge Protein Bar
This homemade protein bar recipe is super delicious. And it’s a vegan-friendly recipe that is full of nutrients.
But it’s not a budget-friendly recipe as this protein bar may cost you some more money. So you can just give it a try!
You’ll need:
- 1 pound white dried mulberries.
- 1 pound ripe pitted dates.
- 1-2 scoops chocolate protein powder.
- 2 tbsp raw cocoa powder.
- 2 tbsp raw coconut nectar.
- A pinch of cinnamon.
For foresting:
- 2-3 tbsp raw cocoa powder.
- 1/2 cup coconut water.
- 2 tbsp raw coconut nectar.
- A pinch of cinnamon.
Directions:
- Add the ingredients to your food processor.
- Process until the batter becomes chunky.
- Transfer the batter to a glass pan.
- Then, blend up all the foresting ingredients until it looks like a chocolate sauce.
- Pour the sauce on top of your protein bar and sprinkle some sweet cocoa nibs on top.
- Put it in the fridge for an hour and enjoy!
Tip:
You can replace mulberries as they’re super expensive with oats and mixed nuts, dried blueberries, hazelnuts, hemp seeds, or buckwheat flour.
All these ingredients are full of nutritional benefits, so add any of them to your recipe instead of mulberries to make your recipe more affordable.
6- Quest Style Homemade Protein Bar
Here is another healthy recipe to make. A quest-style homemade protein bar is packed with high-quality protein and fiber as each bar contains 25 grams of protein and 19 grams of fiber.
If you are always busy, you can make these protein bars and store them in the fridge. Then grab one or two bars before going out.
So you’ll need:
- One scoop of protein powder.
- 2 tbsp VitaFiber syrup.
- 2 oreo cookies.
Alternative recipe:
- Two scoops of protein powder.
- 1 tbsp of unsweetened almond milk.
- 1 tbsp of agave.
- 2 cookies.
Directions:
- Mash up the cookies in a container then add the protein powder.
- Then, heat the VitaFiber or agave on the stovetop and when it begins to form bubbles, pour it into the container and mix well with the other ingredients.
- Shape your bars and put them in the fridge for 30 minutes.
Nutrition Facts:
This recipe contains:
- 206 calories.
- 4 grams of fat.
- 25 grams of protein.
- 29 grams of carbs.
- 19 grams of fiber.
- 8 grams of sugar.
The alternate version contains:
- 340 calories.
- 44 grams of protein.
- 31 grams of carbs.
- 2 grams of fiber.
- 23 grams of sugar.
- 4 grams of fat.
Tips For Making The Best Homemade Protein Bar:
- Homemade protein bars can be stored in the fridge for up to a month. Just make sure to put them in an airtight container.
- You can also put them in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
- If you’re not sure which protein powder you should use, read this article.
- Always use natural low-sodium nut butter to maintain your health.
- Avoid using sugar, you can add Medjool dates, raw honey, stevia sweetener, bananas, or berries instead.
- You can also add fruits to your recipes like banana, strawberry, blueberry, coconut, dried pineapple, or cranberry. These fruits are healthy and full of nutrients.
- Adding chocolate to your homemade protein bars can satisfy your chocolate cravings. So add dark chocolate chips or semi-sweet dark chocolate chips to the recipe.
- Plus, you can use any protein powder flavor you like not just the vanilla or chocolate flavor.
- The best thing about making your protein bars is you can switch up the flavors every time you make the recipe. Meaning, you can add almond, cashew, lemon zest, espresso powder, peppermint extract, or any other flavor you like.
- To make a healthy homemade protein bar, add natural sweeteners, cinnamon, nuts, or fruits. All these ingredients make your protein bars super nutritious.
Why Does Your Body Need Protein?
Our body needs protein to build tissues, muscles, and bones. Your body needs protein daily so it can function well.
Also, eating protein each day helps you lose weight as it reduces hunger and makes you eat fewer calories.
Plus, protein helps boost metabolism and burns more calories. Eating a healthy protein bar after exercise rebuilds muscle proteins and helps your body recover after exercise.
If you exercise to gain muscles, consuming protein after a workout can stimulate the growth of new muscles.
But keep in mind that eating too much protein could cause some health problems. You should know how much protein your body needs per day, here is how to calculate it.
Related: How To Make Protein Pancakes: Top 6 Tasty & Healthy Recipes
FAQs:
Are Homemade Protein Bars Cheaper?
Yes. Homemade protein bars are much cheaper than store-bought bars. Plus, they are healthier and easy to make.
What Ingredients Should Not Be In Protein Bars?
Avoid protein bars that contain:
– Soy.
– Sugar.
– High fructose corn syrup.
– Casein and whey.
– Carrageenan.
– Sugar alcohols.
– Preservatives and chemical compounds.Do Protein Bars Actually Work?
Yes. Protein bars can help increase your protein intake, keep you full, curb your sweet cravings, and make your diet healthier.
So now it’s time to try the recipes and let us know which one you liked the most!