Homemade Protein Bars

4.67 from 24 votes

Learn how to make easy homemade protein bars that are healthier and cheaper than store bought.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Snack

Servings:

Calories: 436kcal

3 cups oats
1/2 cup sesame seeds or sunflower seeds, or hemp seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut unsweetened
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup Greek yogurt I use plain; vanilla would make the bars a little sweeter
1/4 cup maple syrup +2 tablespoons
1 cup peanut butter or use almond butter or the nut/seed butter of your choice
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup coconut oil liquified if solid (coconut oil will be solid at room temperature in cooler weather)
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup pecans pumpkin, or sesame seeds or almonds, walnuts or pecans (or use additional peanut or other nut butter)
1/2 cup dates chopped
1 cup protein powder vanilla or chocolate whey protein powder--go with 1 cup if you want the bars to have significant protein content; use 1/2 cup or omit if you dislike the taste or the idea of protein powders; Garden of Life Raw Protein is the one I like for this purpose

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with a little coconut oil or organic butter.
Combine dry ingredients (oats through brown sugar) in a large bowl.
In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients (Greek yogurt through coconut oil).
Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until thoroughly combined, and then mix in the chocolate.
Taste a little of the homemade protein bar mixture. Is it tasty? You can add more peanut butter or the optional nuts at this point if you like. Is it sweet enough? If not, you can add some additional sweetener or some of the optional dried fruit. Now is also the time to add in the protein powder if you are going to use it. Mix well using very clean hands (warning--it will be sticky!)
Spread the mixture into your prepared dish and bake for 15 minutes. Take the pan out of the oven, let them cool a little, and then slice the bars as you desire. Your homemade protein bars can be sliced into squares, or into the more typical bar shape you would purchase, if you prefer. Spread the bars out onto a cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes more. Allow to cool, and then wrap and store in the refrigerator.