No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
No bake chocolate peanut butter protein bars that taste just like a peanut butter cup. This low carb protein bar recipe will be your new favorite snack to keep in your fridge and enjoy all week long!
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Happy Monday, I hope your weekend was fabulous, healthy, happy and sunny.
Today were doing a throwback recipe from 2017. These peanut butter protein bars were so delicious that I had to redo the photos and hit publish on the blog again.
Ill occasionally do this with older recipes because 1) I dont want you to forget about them and 2) anything with peanut butter is always acceptable, right?!
The Case For Protein Bars
My kids play a lot of sports. That means that were often on the run, so they eat a lot of protein bars.
And of course, each kid has his or her own favorite variety of bar. But all those packaged protein bars have one thing in common: theyre crazy expensive.
This recipe for homemade protein bars started out as something I was just making for my family, and that was that. After much hesitation, I had finally purchased some Vega Essentials protein powder.
I mean, they even sell protein powder at CVS now! I could use a coupon! I was just playing around with it.
Thats the kind of experimenting I rarely get to do anymore, where I just throw a bit of this and a bit of that into a recipe. Very few notes, even fewer apologies.
Homemade Fudgy Brownie Keto Protein Bars
Are you a fan of everything chocolate? Then, you will just love these fudgy brownie protein bars.
Theyre fudgy, rich, and full of chocolatey goodness. From the cacao powder to the cacao nibs to the chocolate protein powderyour taste buds will be delighted.
Besides being yummy, these protein bars are low in carbs. In fact, one bar contains less than 4 grams of net carbs.
The coconut oil adds creaminess and keto-friendly MCT fats. Meanwhile, the cacao nibs add a nice crunch.
They also add nutrition. Cacao nibs add bone-building minerals like manganese, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Theyre also rich in copper, which you need for a healthy immune system. Besides adding them to your protein bars, you can add them to smoothies, oatmeal, or even your morning coffee. If youd like to try some, you can get some here.
Per Serving:
Do you like your protein bars crunchy? Ive got you covered.
These protein bars are nice and crunchy. The chopped almonds and chocolate chips give them an extra layer of crispiness.
Meanwhile, the peanut butter adds an element of creaminess. Its a great combination.
Besides being high in protein, these bars are also low in carbs.
Theyre also high in fats. So, they make a pretty tasty fat bomb.
They also contain calcium, which you need for healthy bones.
To ensure they come out crisp, you will want to use a plant-based protein powder like Vega Sport Vanilla protein powder. If you use a whey-based protein, they will end up being too soft.
Per Serving:
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How To Make These Delicious Keto Protein Bars
Im still amazed at how easy it is to make these delicious low carb keto protein bars recipes in just 10 minutes from start to finish.
Can You Freeze Homemade Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Its easy to freeze homemade Perfect Bars to make them last longer.
How to freeze: Youll need to wrap each bar in Saran Wrap and store them in a ziploc container. Frozen protein bars will stay good for up to 6 months! Just thaw them in the fridge or on the counter for a couple hours before eating.
More high protein peanut butter recipes you will love:
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A No Flavor Protein Powder Version
Instead of protein powder, try using collagen powder for a huge nutritional boost with no added flavor at all. You can use whey protein isolate, like in our gluten free bread flour.
I also really like Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides. Thats an affiliate link, feel free to shop around for the best price.
Ive also started experimenting with Perfect Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides . Ive used that brand in my new protein granola, and I might just like it better. Plus, its less expensive.
There are affiliate links in this post. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
More Keto Peanut Butter Chocolate Recipes
If you like this keto peanut butter slice, you’ll definitely also enjoy the recipes below. They all combine chocolate and peanut butter!
Keto Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge – This sugar free fudge is incredibly chocolatey and satisfying, it’s just like a fat bomb!
Keto Peanut Butter Mug Cake – I love that this cake cooks in just 90 seconds. It contains sugar free chocolate chips, because everything tastes better with chocolate!
Sugar Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Pops – A favourite for hot days. These sugar free popsicles are a hit with kids and adults.
Low Carb Peanut Butter Protein Bars – Save money on expensive energy bars and make this easy low carb protein bar recipe with only 5 simple ingredients!
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Ingredients
How to prepare
Granulate the Oats
- Granulate a piece of the moved oats into a kind of oat flour by setting 1/2 measure of the moved oats in a blender or sustenance processor. Process on rapid for around 5 to 10 seconds, until the point that the oats take after a coarse flour.
- Put the oat flour aside until the point when the time has come to consolidate the majority of the fixings.
- Warmth the stove to 325 F.
Consolidate the Ingredients
- In a huge bowl, consolidate the rest of the 2 containers moved oats, the 1/2 glass mixed oat flour, the almonds, slashed raisins, darker sugar, wheat germ, and salt.
- In a little dish, consolidate the egg and the two isolated egg whites utilizing a fork to whisk the eggs daintily.
- Include the maple syrup and the vanilla to the egg blend and consolidate well.
- Empty the egg blend into the oat blend and utilize a fork to consolidate the blend until the point that the majority of the dry fixings are soaked.
Press the Mixture into a Baking Dish
- Coat a 10×8-inch preparing skillet with nonstick cooking shower. Spoon the oat blend into the dish.
- Utilize the back of a huge spoon or your fingers to press the blend solidly into the heating dish. Ensure that the blend is equally appropriated in the skillet.
Prepare the Mixture
Why You Will Love These Cookie Dough Protein Bars
I love them so much that I ate up the whole batch in one day. And you will love these cookie dough protein bars too!
Let me tell you why. They are:
- Rich in high quality protein
- Low carb, free from refined and nasty ingredients
- Gluten-free
- Quick and easy to put together
- Peanut buttery and chocolatey, just like cookie dough
These low carb protein bars are the perfect snack or quick fix dessert for your sweet tooth. Plus, they come in very handy as a healthy snack to pack for school or work. For me they are a life saver now that university has started and Im away from home all day.
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Low Carb Peanut Butter Balls Recipe
Today Im sharing an easy low carb snack recipe that is completely sugar-free peanut butter balls. The original 70s recipe needed some updating for my low carb lifestyle. Since powdered milk contains a lot of sugar, I swapped it with whey isolate protein powder. My favorite brand is Isopure which has zero carbs. I get the plain because I can use it in savory applications, too.
To make the low carb peanut butter balls, I simply mixed peanut butter and plain whey isolate protein powder together and sweetened to taste with Stevia glycerite.
Stevia glycerite is one of my favorite sweeteners. Its a thick viscous liquid form of stevia that I dont find bitter. Because its so concentrated, a bottle will last me a year, making it a smart purchase for my baking needs.
These low carb peanut butter balls are very easy to make and they are even easier to eat! They are nutritionally dense, so make sure to remember the carbs per ball before over indulging. My kids love popping a couple of these as an after school snack. Of course I triple the batch.
Variations:Use any nut butter you like. Thinner nut butters will require more whey protein or you can add some unsweetened dessicated coconut.Flavored protein powder is fun. I prefer vanilla or chocolate.Cocoa powder or cinnamon can be added to the recipe.
They are soft so keep them in the refrigerator. Sometimes I roll them in chopped nuts and to be fun in sprinkles for the kids.
Faq Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I make this recipe without protein powder? Although this cookie dough protein bar recipe works best with protein powder, you can also make it without. Replace protein powder with more almond flour or oat flour and adjust with more nut butter or more almond flour to consistency.
- Can I make this recipe with vegan protein powder? Yes, vegan protein powders work fine but you might need to adjust the dough with more peanut butter or maple syrup, only if your protein dough is too dry. This will probably happen because vegan protein powder absorb liquids more.
- Which protein powder flavor should I use? Use unflavored, vanilla, peanut butter or cookie dough flavor protein powder.
- How to make keto protein bars? Make this recipe with sugar-free syrup for a keto alternative.
- Do I need to bake these cookie protein bars? No, this homemade protein bar recipe does not require baking or cooking.
- Where to store protein bars? Seal in a food container and keep these homemade protein bars in the fridge. They will last for up to 4 days.
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Benefits Of Eating Protein Bars
- When we do not have time to eat, these bars can be the solution that will allow us to curb our hunger until we can eat something consistent.
- The protein bar can effectively substitute an unhealthy snack by providing protein, minerals, and other essential nutrients to keep us energized during the day.
- In addition to being a very good source of protein and fiber, many protein bars contain micronutrients such as calcium, B vitamins, potassium, iron, etc.
How To Make Low Carb Peanut Butter Protein Bars
1.) Put the ingredients for the base and the top layer in separate bowls. I decided to use a brown sugar alternative to sweeten, but any granulated erythritol will work.
Your peanut butter should be EASY TO SCOOP. Give it a good stir if necessary – especially in larger pots it tends to settle on the bottom.
2.) Mix your ingredients with a fork and knead with your hands until you have a smooth dough.
3.) Grab yourself an oven-safe container. The mixture will fill a space of 5 x 6 inches. Your dish is larger than that? No problem. Simply fold a bit of aluminium paper and use it as a separator. That way, you can use only part of your casserole dish. The mixture does not spread.
Line the space with parchment paper and fill in first the peanut layer, then the chocolate peanut layer. Or do it the other way around
4.) After 25 minutes of oven time the bars are ready. This is what you should look out for: The top does not glisten any more. It has set and the edges are beginning to brown.
Wait until your low carb protein bars have cooled down before you cut them. They will be fragile and soft while hot, but firm up as they cool down.
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How To Make Keto Peanut Butter Balls
This section shows how to make sugar free no bake peanut butter balls with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.
- Mix dough. Combine the peanut butter, collagen powder, Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend, and vanilla in a powerful blender or food processor. Process until uniform, scraping down the sides as necessary.
TIP:If the mixture is too runny, you can add more sweetener and protein powder in equal amounts. The consistency of the mixture will vary depending on how thick your peanut butter is. You want the mixture to be dense, but not so dry that it cant be pressed together.
- Freeze. Freeze the dough for about 20 minutes to make the mixture firmer and less sticky.
- Roll balls. Use a small cookie scoop to scoop out balls of dough and then roll in your hands.
TIP: Use cold hands to make the rolling process easier. You can do this by washing your hands with cold water.
- Coat protein balls. Roll the formed balls into the chopped peanuts to coat. Place the protein balls on a baking sheet after rolling each one. From there you can refrigerate or freeze.
Are Protein Bars Really Healthy
I shared over 20 of my homemade protein bar recipes which are all full of healthy, whole food ingredients.
With that said, many protein bars can be full of added sugars or even have a very minimal amount of protein. Be wary if you do opt to buy a packaged one that it is high in protein, fiber, and has no added sugars.
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The Best Perfect Bars Recipe
Lets face it: kids could live on sweets if we let them. But being the responsible adult, you have to be the health police.
These perfect bars are both kid and adult approved. Theyre chewy, moist, and full of peanut flavor.
And they have a whopping 16 grams of protein. So, theyre great for growing kids.
As an added bonus, theyre gluten-free. So, theyre a great option if your kids have allergies to gluten.
Best of all, these bars last a pretty long time. In fact, they last up to 2 months in the fridge and up to 4 months in the freezer.
So, make sure you make a couple of batches, and your kids snacks will be all set.
Per Serving:
Low Carb Vegan Protein Bars
Flourless
Dairy Free
No Sugar Required
These healthy protein bars are a great homemade alternative to Perfect Bars or Quest Bars. Whip up a batch in under 5 minutes, and you might never want to spend money on another packaged protein bar ever again.
Also Try This Keto Ice Cream Recipe
Ive gotten a lot of requests from readers to come up with a homemade keto protein bar recipe, and this one is super quick and easy.
You simply stir all of the ingredients together to form a dough, shape into bars or squares, and refrigerate or freeze until chilled.
Theyre great for an on-the-go snack, with 10 grams of protein and under 2 grams net carbs per bar.
Feel free to use your favorite protein powder, and the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled if you want to make up a big batch for meal prep.
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Above watch the video of how to make keto protein bars.
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Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Have you ever had the munchies, opened your pantry to peruse the options, then realized every item on the shelves is either in a shiny wrapper or cardboard box? Thats been me for the last two months. No more! Im taking back my breakfasts and snacks with these Peanut Butter Protein Bars.
Made with oatmeal, protein powder, honey, and some chocolate for happy measure, these healthy oatmeal protein bars are no bake, and the only equipment youll need is a bowl and a spoon.
With the all-out crazy of the last few months , Ive been relying on more store-bought snacks than usual. While they certainly have their place, Ive missed my homemade healthy snacks.
One of the shiny wrapper foods Ive been relying on the most these past few months is protein bars.
Yes, a store-bought bar will do in a pinch, and I appreciate the larger selection of healthy, high-protein options that are on the market now, but nothing feels or tastes as wonderful as making your own wholesome snacks from scratch.
I love knowing exactly what is in these homemade chocolate peanut butter protein bars.
Plus, just like these no bake Protein Balls, the ingredients are simple and nourishing, and the cost-per-bar is a fraction of the ones at the store.
Also, SO YUMMY. The texture of these bars is soft and chewy, and they taste like a thick, bakery-style peanut butter cookie.