How To Make Delicious Homemade Protein Bars

Today, there are hundreds of protein bars on the market competing for shelf space at supermarkets, health food stores, convenient stores, and gyms that claim to deliver handsome health benefits. While some protein bars have a nice balance of fat, carbohydrates, and protein, which make them an attractive choice for a snack or post-workout recovery option, many others are glorified candy bars.

Like many other individuals who are always on the go, I’m guilty of purchasing a variety of protein bars over the years in an effort to satisfy my protein intake and nutritional goals. However, as I focused on a more health-conscious lifestyle, I began to pay closer attention to the ingredients listed on protein bar wrappers, in addition to the nutritional facts. What I learned is that many protein bars are packed with unhealthy and unnecessary ingredients that are simply not beneficial to one’s health.

Instead of removing protein bars from my everyday diet, I searched for healthier protein bars in hopes of finding a brand that provided a budget-friendly, great-tasting, low-calorie bar – minus the sugars, sweeteners, trans fat, and other unhealthy ingredients. While I discovered a few options that ticked most of my checkboxes, the sugar levels were high and the cost per bar was too much to digest. Therefore, I decided to explore the art of making homemade protein bars. 

Prior to creating a recipe, I made a list of 3 important requirements that had to be met for each bar to survive in my kitchen. First, each bar had to be 200 calories or less. Next, each bar had to include at least 15 grams of protein. Lastly, the bar could not contain any added sugars. Also, the finished product had to taste great and be cost effective.

After several attempts with different products, I was finally able to achieve the aforementioned results and the Dino Bar was born. It’s been approximately one year since I made my first batch of protein bars and my family still enjoys them everyday. I recently shared the recipe with several friends who were searching for a new protein bar and they absolutely love the taste and approve of the ingredients. After receiving positive feedback, I decided to share my recipe with the world since it’s a much healthier choice than the protein bars on the market and a lot less expensive.

If you’e interested in tasting a delicious, healthy homemade protein bar, check out the recipe below for step-by-step instructions. You can also watch the video to learn more about the preparation process. Enjoy!

Recipe


Prep Time: 15 Minutes
Freeze Time: 45 Minutes
Thaw Time: 5-10 Minutes
Yield: 12 Bars

Ingredients


1 3/4 cups (6.3 oz, 179g) Quaker Oats Quick 1-Minute Oats
1/5 cup (4 oz, 113g) Smucker’s Organic Creamy Natural Peanut Butter
2 cups (8.24 oz, 234g) Six Star 100% Whey Protein – Triple Chocolate Flavor
1/4 cup (1.2 oz, 34g) Sliced Almonds
1.5 cups (12 fl oz) Califia Farms Unsweetened Almond Milk

Instructions


1. Crush sliced almonds into small pieces and set aside.
2. Mix dry ingredients (oats, protein powder, and almonds) together in a medium-sized bowl.
3. Add peanut butter to the bowl and mix in thoroughly.
4. Pour almond milk in the bowl and stir until the consistency is smooth.
5. Pour batter into small flat pan (Recommended pan size: 7x11x1).
6. Tap the pan gently against the counter to release air bubbles.
7. Place pan in freezer for at least 45 minutes.
8. Remove protein bars from freezer and slice into 12 bars.
9. Return pan to freezer to store bars until they are ready to eat.

Serving


Remove protein bars from freezer 5-10 minutes before eating each time.
Note: Protein bars will melt if left at room temperature for a long period of time.

Nutrition


Calories: 199
Fat: 8.7g
    Saturated: 1.3g
    Trans: 0g
    Polyunsaturated: 1.7g
    Monounsaturated: 3g
Cholesterol: 29.9mg
Sodium: 111mg
Carbohydrates: 15.1g
    Dietary Fiber: 2.9g
    Sugar 1.6g
    Added Sugar: 0g
    Sugar Alcohol: 0g
Protein: 16.8g

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