Peanut Butter Protein Bar – A homemade version of the Peanut Butter Perfect Bars that are soft, high in protein and taste like cookie dough! No baking required, super easy and ready in no time.
I don’t know about you, but breakfast isn’t my favorite meal of the day. I hate taking the time to actually do something. But I want something that’s packed with protein, filling, and easy. And let’s face it, chocolate chip muffins aren’t the best choice for a healthy breakfast.
So I’ve tried pretty much every protein bar on the market trying to find one I like. Perfect Bars seem to be my favorite, but they’re just so expensive. So I decided to try it myself!
what you will need
- peanut butter – You want to use a peanut butter with the only ingredients on the jar as peanuts. You don’t want any added sugar or oil. The recipe definitely works if you use Skippy Peanut Butter, but the nutritional aspect changes a lot.
- protein powder – I like to use vanilla here, but if you want to make them more chocolaty or with a different flavor, any variety will work. Just use any powder you like. There are a million different ones on the market that use different protein sources. Just pick one that you like and that you know is good for your stomach.
- agave – I like agave in this recipe because it sweetens but doesn’t flavor the bars. Honey or maple syrup work great too. I use about 1/4 cup, sometimes a little less. When topping the chocolate I use closer to 2 tablespoons. It’s kind of tasteable. So mix up the batter, taste it before you press it into the pan to see if you want something more.
- Chocolate – The chocolate on top is completely optional. The Perfect bars are not coated in chocolate, which makes them different. It’s great
Perfect bars
I have to say these are probably my absolute favorite bars. They’re just sweet enough without tasting like dessert (at least for me, you can reduce the agave if you want it even less sweet). I think these are smoother and creamier than the Perfect bars. Sometimes I think these can be a little dense and chalky, so I’ll be making my own from now on!
I put the chocolate layer on top to add a bit of fun, but it’s totally optional! The nutritional information on the recipe card includes the chocolate topping. So if these numbers are important to you, be sure to calculate them without if you choose to cook them.
How to make peanut butter protein bars
Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card for measurements and full instructions!
- In a bowl, mix together peanut butter, protein powder, agave, vanilla, and mini chocolate chips.
- Press into a lined 8-inch baking pan.
- Melt the chocolate and avocado oil in a small bowl until smooth. Pour over the bars and spread into an even layer. This is entirely optional – skip this step if you don’t want chocolate on it.
- Place in the fridge for 2-3 hours to fully set.
- Cut into 10 bars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
recipe tips
- I like to use agave in this recipe as I don’t think it affects the flavor as much as maple syrup or honey. But you can really use any liquid sweetener you like.
- If you have a peanut allergy or just want to switch up the flavor, use any nut butter you like! You can even use sun butter or wow butter as allergy-friendly alternatives.
- Once the bars are set, you can remove them from the pan to slice. If you’re going to use the chocolate on it, you might want to just warm it up slightly before slicing it. This will help ensure the chocolate doesn’t break and fall off the bars.
storage
These will keep in the fridge for about a week. I place them in an airtight container with parchment paper or wax paper so they don’t stick to each other. Then you can just grab one in the morning, after a workout or just because and enjoy!
Yield: 10
Peanut Butter Protein Bar
Peanut Butter Protein Bars – A homemade version of the Peanut Butter Perfect Bars that are soft, loaded with protein, and taste like cookie dough! No baking required, super easy and ready in no time.
preparation time 10 mins
Extra time 2 hours
total time 2 hours 10 mins
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (peanuts as the only ingredient)
- 3/4 cup vanilla protein powder
- 1/4 cup agave (or honey)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate (optional)
- 1 teaspoon avocado oil (optional)
instructions
- In a bowl, mix together peanut butter, protein powder, agave, vanilla, and mini chocolate chips.
- Press into a lined 8-inch baking pan.
- Melt the chocolate and avocado oil in a small bowl until smooth. Pour over the bars and spread into an even layer. This is entirely optional – skip this step if you don’t want chocolate on it.
- Place in the fridge for 2-3 hours to fully set.
- Cut into 10 bars. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Nutritional Information
yield
10
serving size
1
amount per serving calories 237total fat 15gSaturated Fatty Acids 4gtrans fat 0gunsaturated fat 10gcholesterol 1mgsodium 209mgcarbohydrates 18gfiber 3gSugar 12gprotein 12g
Nutritional Disclaimer: All information on this website is for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should be used as a general guide only.
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Welcome to Dinners, Dishes & Desserts, where my love of food meets my busy life. My name is Erin and I’m a casual cook who loves to feed people. This blog has hundreds of quick and easy recipes, mostly made from scratch. I spend my days in the kitchen creating new recipes to share with family and friends.
