Description
Delicious and nutritious homemade protein bars packed with oats, peanut butter, banana, and protein powder. These bars are easy to make, customizable with your favorite mix-ins, and perfect as a healthy snack or post-workout fuel.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (135 g)
- 3/4 cup peanut butter, or favorite nut butter or sunflower butter (180 g)
- 1 banana, mashed (120 g)
- 1/3 cup honey, agave, or real maple syrup (110 g)
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 cup ground flax seed (55 g)
- 1 cup protein powder* (120 g)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10 ml)
Mix-in Options
- 3/4 cup chopped dates, dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, or raisins), mini chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes, or nuts
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mix together the rolled oats, peanut butter, mashed banana, honey, salt, ground flax seed, protein powder, and vanilla extract until well combined. The mixture should be fairly soft and not dry or crumbly. If the mixture feels too dry, add a splash of water or milk, or an extra drizzle of honey to reach desired consistency.
- Fold in Mix-ins: Gently fold your choice of mix-ins such as chopped dates, dried fruit, mini chocolate chips, coconut flakes, or nuts until evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
- Press into Pan: Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper. Firmly press the mixture into the pan, ensuring it is compacted well to help the bars hold together.
- Refrigerate: Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour to let the bars set and firm up.
- Cut and Store: After chilling, remove from the pan using the parchment paper and cut into 16 bars. Store the protein bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness.
Notes
- You can substitute peanut butter with any nut butter or sunflower butter to suit dietary preferences or allergies.
- Protein powder type can be whey, plant-based, or any favorite brand depending on your dietary needs.
- Mix-ins can be customized based on preference and availability; try different dried fruits or nuts for variation.
- If bars are too dry, adding a bit of liquid sweetener or milk helps achieve the right texture.
- For longer storage, bars can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
