Homemade Protein Bars

These homemade protein bars are made with wholesome ingredients and naturally sweetened- they need just 4 ingredients! I love how each bar has over 21 grams of protein each!

Love high protein snacks? Try peanut butter protein balls, protein cookie dough, and protein granola bars.

I grew up eating Pure protein bars and Quest protein bars, but not anymore. Sick and tired of forking out tons of money for a store-bought protein bar, I opted to make my own and feel SO much better about it… and my wallet is thanking me too!

This protein bar recipe combines two of my favorite no bake snacks: protein balls and oatmeal energy balls. I love packing them in my bag for a quick and healthy snack between meals.

Table of Contents

1. Why I love this recipe
2. Ingredients needed
3. How to make homemade protein bars
4. Recipe swaps and substitutions
5. Storage instructions
6. Frequently Asked Questions
7. More protein bar recipes to try
8. Homemade Protein Bars (4 Ingredients!) (Recipe Card)

Why I love this recipe

• Made with just 4 simple ingredients, they take minutes to prepare. We try to make a batch at least once a week, so we always have some on hand. However, they taste so good, they rarely last that long.
• They use wholesome ingredients, like coconut flour, and are sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup.
• Each bar packs in over 21 grams of protein.
• They are great to enjoy between meals as they always keep hunger at bay!

Ingredients needed

• Protein Powder. Any protein powder works, including whey protein powder, casein protein powder, and pea protein powder. For flavored protein bars, why not try a flavored protein powder? Chocolate, peanut butter, and cinnamon roll are all fabulous flavors.
• Coconut Flour. This helps hold the protein bars together while ensuring they have a soft and doughy texture.
• Peanut Butter. Smooth and drippy peanut butter with no added sugar. You can also use almond butter.
• Maple Syrup. Sweeten the bars without adding refined sugar. I’ve also made these with honey and agave nectar which works well.
• Chocolate Chips. To cover the protein bars with! To keep these as plain peanut butter protein bars, you can omit the chocolate.

How to make homemade protein bars

I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1- Mix the ingredients. Add all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix until combined. Fold through the chocolate chips. 

Step 2- Let the bars set. Transfer the mix into a lined pan and press down until smooth on top. Refrigerate for an hour. 

Step 3- Slice. Using a slightly wet knife, slice into protein bars, then serve.

Recipe swaps and substitutions

This protein bar recipe is very forgiving and it’s easy to make them compliant to a plethora of diets out there with a few simple swaps.

• Cut the sugar. Replace the maple syrup with a sugar free maple syrup.
• Replace the coconut flour. Either oat flour or almond flour can be used instead. You may need to add a little extra flour to compensate for the extra moisture.
• Make them peanut-free. Almond butter or cashew butter are both great nut butters to use. You could make chocolate protein bars by using healthy Nutella.
• Make them nut-free. Tahini or sunflower seed butter have an almost identical texture to nut butter.
• Vegan and/or gluten free. Make vegan protein bars instead.

Storage instructions

To store: Homemade protein bars are best stored in the fridge in an airtight container. They will keep well for up to two weeks.

To freeze: Place the bars in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

More protein bar recipes to try

• Snickers protein bar
• Cookie dough protein bars
• Chocolate protein bars
• Coconut protein bars
• Protein crunch bars