Making your own protein snack bars couldn’t be any easier with this recipe! These quick, no-bake Peanut Butter Protein Oat Bars are made with oats, peanut butter, and some protein powder for an extra filling snack with 10 grams of protein in each bar. Gluten-free friendly!
ALRIGHT. So if these bars look a tad familiar to you all, it’s because they’re the blonde sista of my Chocolate Protein Oat Bars, a recipe I shared over on Jess’s blog. I was so, so excited about how they turned out. I NEEDED to make them again. Actually I made the chocolate version twice. And then when those ran out I thought, “Hhmmmm… what if I did a straight up peanut butter version to share here with you all?” DONE and DONE.
Okay, so I added a chocolate topping, but we’ll get to that in a sec.
Peanut butter is making up the base of these bars today, which is (duh) awesome. I used a 100% pure peanut butter, nothing added. Mine was pretty drippy, so if you’re going that route give it a good stir before adding in the honey and coconut oil. The mixture then goes in the microwave for a bit to melt the coconut oil. (If you decide to use a thicker peanut butter, make sure it is melted well. You may need to add another tablespoon of coconut oil if your peanut butter is really thick.)
DAT PEANUT BUTTER THOUGH ^^
Just like my original recipe, these bars are SO EASY and take about 5 minutes to throw together.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
PEANUT BUTTER
HONEY
COCONUT OIL
ROLLED OATS
HEMP HEARTS
CHIA SEEDS
PROTEIN POWDER
Add your peanut butter mixture to your dry ingredients, then press the mixture into a lined pan, and put in fridge to set.
VOILÁ. Homemade, wholesome Peanut Butter Protein Oat Bars done.
Of course after the bars set, I decided I definitely needed some kind of topping. Naturally chocolate came to mind. But then I thought, “What if I added MORE peanut butter?…. HOLLA.” And so a peanut butter chocolate drizzle was born. You could do this a couple different ways, realistically. But what I did was melt 3 TBS mini chocolate chips + 2 tsp coconut oil, then stirred in 3 tablespoons of peanut flour (or a PB2 type of thing works) until it was smooth. Then we DRIZZLE.
The peanut butter chocolate topping is just another way to sneak even more buttah into these bars Peanut Butter Protein Oat Bars. It might not be 100% necessary, but it sure is tasty.
Peanut Butter Protein Oat Bars
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Yield: 12
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeIngredients
- for the bars:
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten-free if needed)
- 3 TBS hemp hearts (or flaxseed)
- 2 TBS chia seeds
- 3 scoops (a little less than ½ cup) whey protein powder*
- ¾ cup all natural peanut butter*
- 1.5 TBS coconut oil
- ⅓ cup + 1 TBS raw honey (or brown rice syrup)
- optional peanut butter chocolate topping:
- 3 TBS peanut flour
- 2 TBS mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Line 8×8 pan with parchment paper, set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients (oats through protein powder). Set aside.
- In a medium microwave safe bowl, add peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey. Microwave for 10-15 seconds, and stir until evenly combined.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stir gently until mixture is evenly combined. Mixture will be thick and heavy.
- Press mixture into prepared pan, using hands to press evenly into all corners. Place pan in refrigerator for 1 hour to set (or 30 minutes in freezer).
- Once bars have set, lift parchment paper from pan and place on cutting board. Using a large sharp knife, cut bars into 12 servings. If using topping, melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in microwave for 10 second intervals. Once completely melted stir in peanut flour until no lumps are present. Drizzle peanut butter chocolate on bars and allow to set, about 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Store Peanut Butter Protein Oat Bars in airtight container in fridge up to 2 weeks, or in store in freezer for longer period of time. Enjoy!
Notes
*I used Tera’s Whey Vanilla protein, and 1 serving=2 scoops. 3 scoops comes out to be a little less than 1/2 cup for this brand.
– I have not tested these bars with a vegan protein powder yet. But if you try it, let me know how it turns out! Some wet ingredients may need to be adjusted.
*For the peanut butter I used a “drippy” kind with no added ingredients
-Nutrition does not include PB chocolate topping
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 10
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 21
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 10
So just make these, mmmmkay?
Yummmm I used to make bars like this all the time. Totally using this recipe to make them again! I’ve been dying for some protein bars, might as well make my own!
★★★★★
You won’t be disappointed 😉
Hello Ashley, do you happen to have all the nutritional information on the recipe?
Calories, carbs, sodium, fat saturated.. I could figure it out but if you had a rough idea that would be great:)
Thank you for sharing <3
Hi Randi – I do actually have approximate nutrition info for this one. 1/12 (1 bar of 12 servings) 237 calories. 14g fat. 4g saturated fat. 7mg cholesterol 18mg sodium. 21g carbs. 3g fiber. 10g sugar. 10g protein. Again, that is approximate based on the ingredients I used – unsalted and no sugar added peanut butter, high quality vanilla whey protein powder, etc. Hope that helps!
thank you so much for the quick reply. I have tried these and modified them a bit, but the idea is genius. Thank you and i wish you all the success!
Ohhhh girl look at that peanut butter!! Sometimes, you gotta make a recipe AGAIN… Pretty much every time I make muffins it’s the same recipe just a different flavor. After all, why change something that works?
AGREE. No need no need <3
Love the extra PB you snuck in there! Can never have too much 🙂 Also that thickness <3
heehee, thanks Rachel!
These look amazing. I might need to make a batch for this week. I’ve been struggling with protein snack ideas; my go-to’s are getting boring!
Ah I hope you make them! They are so tasty 🙂 I’d been getting a little tired of my other base so these are definitely a new favorite.
Okay…. that DRIZZLE makes me want to make these bars right about now. When in doubt, add more peanut butter is my motto 😉
I just ate my last one yesterday and thinking about whipping up another batch right NOW 😀
Yum, these look amazing! Need to get in the habit of making protein bars more often and I’m definitely going to have to try out this recipe. 🙂
I hope you do! They don’t even taste like protein bars. When I made the chocolate one’s for Hello to Fit, my husband ate two right in a row and I think he thought they were dessert… lol
The topping is never optional…never!! Hahaha! <3
These look super good Ashley! Totally would love it if you'd send me some? Okay thanks! 😉
Haha, true!
YUM! I need these bars. How do you get your chocolate swirls so pretty too? Haha…mine always come out looking like a 4 year old did it.
lol my OCD tendencies :-p
Love the chocolate drizzle on these! I’m always looking for new bar recipes!!
Thanks Chelsea, hope you give em a try! 🙂
I love making homemade protein bars and these look SO good! Especially with that chocolate drizzle! <3
Can never go wrong with more chocolate! Thanks Kristy 🙂
These look amazing! And super easy to make. Your photography is great – what kind of camera + lens do you use?? XOXO
These look so good! Will have to give them a try. I’ve been needing something to snack on in the middle of my work day and this sounds perfect 🙂
These look SO good. Definitely going to give them a try this next week. I much prefer the option of making my own protein bars to spending so much money buying them.
Thanks Emily! I agree, I feel like finding a good store-bought bar can be such a trial and error process sometimes. When you find a homemade recipe that works, it’s easy! Would love to hear if you give em a try 🙂
Shut your face, 5 minutes?! I can like DO 5 minutes!!!
It’s crazy easy and you must make! I made the chocolate ones again and they’re so gooooodd
Ohhhh yummy! I love that chocolate PB drizzle on top! I gotta make these 🙂
I hope you do Mel! They’re such a good snack. Thank you for stopping by 🙂
Oh WOWzzaaa! When can I sign up for your oat bar deliveries???? YUMMM!
★★★★★
Haha maybe one day! 😉
Love this mixture! I make a protein ball recipe similar to this every week to have on hand but the problem is that they usually only last like 2 days because they’re so tasty…lol
Lol right?! Make a quadruple batch and freeze em 🙂
Oh heeeey! These look JUST as fantastic as the lovely bars you made for my site. GAH. I’ve noticed that when I make snacks ahead of time, adding chia seeds is a MUST! Well…besides nut butter 😛
Get ready for some comments on comments on comments! <3
lol yesssss <3
Do you think these would still taste decent with either half the honey to reduce the carbs or do you think the texture would turn out the same using maple syrup?
They look super yummy, but the carb to protein ratio is a bit high for my needs. Trying to find a way to reduce the carb count but keep protein count higher! Suggestions?
Hey there! If you’re looking to reduce carbs, I think you’re going to need to do a combo of reducing both the honey as well as some of the oats in order to keep the texture similar. If I were looking to reduce the carbs I would personally try just 1/4 cup of honey, and maybe try reducing the oats 1/4 cup as well? So 1 +3/4 cups of oats total. If the mixture seems a little dry without adjusting the other wet ingredients, try adding in 1 TBS of liquid at at time. Let me know how it goes! P.S. If you’re looking for a particular ratio/set of macros, I would love to see what I can do for a future recipe. Feel free to email me fitmittenkitchen@gmail.com 🙂
Made these a few days ago and they are all devoured already! I used Vega protein powder and it turned out fab!
Ah yay! So glad you love them 🙂 and thanks so much for letting me know about the Vega protein! I haven’t quite gotten around to trying my plant protein with these yet.
I’m so far behind on my blog comments, bud. These are TREMENDOUS. Really SO tasty. I used flax instead of hemp hearts and they turned out perfect. Yesterday I asked Andy how his lunch was and he said “Those protein bars are really, seriously good.” 😀
★★★★★
lol YAY. They’re so simple too! Glad Andy enjoyed 😀 ly <3
Yum! And every family member loved too! I used vegan protein powder (TJ’s pea protein powder) as that’s what I had on hand. Also put the choco chips inside to help encourage my son.
Love what you do and want to make everything!! Keep up the amazing recipes, positivity and humor!
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Wow thank you so much for your comment Alison! I am so glad your whole family enjoyed them 🙂 And thank you for your kind words! They truly mean so much 🙂 Let me know if you make anything else!
These are my go to bars for my kids and husband. He loves to take these hunting…I ended up adding coconut flakes, smashed up pretzels, and sometimes peanut M&M’s on my last batch. I also use vegan protein powder. THANK YOU!
Yay so glad you love them! Thank you so much for your comment 🙂 I love the addition of pretzels and m&ms –My husband would love that!
How many carbs and protein
Hi there Nyla, nutrition information is going to be approximate, and will vary depending on products and protein powder used. But roughly 1/12 of the recipe is : Calories 240. Fat 14. Carbohydrates 21. Sugar 10. Fiber 3. Protein 10.
Hope that helps!
Will they melt or get disfigured if i take them out in room temperature because i plan on bringing them to work
They should stay pretty well together! Room temp should be fine, just don’t let them sit out in the heat 🙂
Just finished making these!! omg they are awesome and super easy. I added melted dark chocolate on top. I even think next time i will add shredded coconut to the mixture.
Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Hi Jenna, so glad you love the bars and thanks for your feedback! I appreciate you taking time to stop by and leave a comment – it means a lot 😀
My husband and I love these. You have to have exactly the right peanut butter or else they are crumbly.