High protein granola bars – they can be oil-free, flourless, + no high fructose corn syrup!
These granola bars could be your new favorite recipe.
In less time than it takes to read this post, you can have a batch of your own delicious and homemade protein granola bars fully prepared and ready to eat. Feel free to change up the flavor to match your mood.
Chocolate, vanilla, chai, caramel, cookies’n cream…
YOU get to choose the flavor!
Only a few ingredients are needed, all of which can be found in regular grocery stores – and you can avoid the unhealthy processed filler ingredients and isolated soy protein so often added to packaged protein bars.
These granola bars need no refrigeration and can be packed into a lunchbox for a healthy snack.
Leftovers are best stored in the freezer, where they will keep for months!
3 Minute Protein Granola Bars
Inspired by: Peanut Butter Homemade Protein Bars
“3 Minute” High Protein Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups quick or rolled oats (120g)
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup butter, peanut butter, or allergy friendly sub
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or agave
- 2/3 cup protein powder - have fun with different flavors (70g)
- handful mini chocolate chips, optional
Instructions
Stir all ingredients together until well-mixed. Transfer the mixture to an 8×8 pan lined with parchment or wax paper. Place another sheet of parchment or wax over the top and continue to smush down and spread until it fills the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, then cut into bars.
Link Of The Day:
Healthy Eatmore Fudge Bars – From Christal @ Nutritionist In The Kitch
Holy cow, awesome recipe, Katie! I printed like 6 or 7 different granola bar recipes, tried this one first, and threw the rest away. Forget baking!
My notes:
I threw in 1/4 cup of chia seeds (just ‘cuz I have them). Turned out great!
I used maple syrup (same reason). I don’t think it’s any sweeter than honey or agave, but I thought they were sweeter than they needed to be. I used 1/3 cup my second time, still plenty sweet. I’ll probably go for 1/4 cup next time. That was with unflavored (unsweetened) whey protein and no chocolate, but I did add about 1/2 cup of raisins, so there’s some sweetness there.
Also, three minutes? It takes me three minutes just to get the peanut butter into and out of the measuring cup! I’m like that with every recipe, though 🙂
Could maple syrup be used in place of honey/agave? Or stevia? Anyone tried these??
These are awesome… soooo much tastier than the icky store-bought ones! I like them better with some peanuts than with chocolate chips!
Great Post-Workout snack!! Followed the recipe and it was just as easy to make as stated. My go to protein powder is Isopure, which is an unflavored protein powder. That being said, these bars were still super tasty! After pulling them out of the freezer and cutting them, I store them in the fridge so they maintain their firmness. I used a 9×9 pan which I cut into 8 servings, with the specific ingredients/brands that I used, here is the basic nutrient values per serving.
Calories: 245
Protein: 13 g
Fat: 9 g
Carbs: 32 g
Hi,
Can this recipe be baked ? I guess thease bars must be eaten cold always. Besides, can they be taken to work, for instance, or do they loose their shape after two hours out of the fridge?
Thank you.
Lara
They can!
What is Protein Powder? And can I make it easily?
Protein powder isn’t something you make. You can buy it at pretty much any grocery store, but bigger chain-type stores like Walmart or health food store will usually carry a larger variety of protein powders. However, you can actually make a more basic version of a protein powder yourself to add protein to the recipe by just taking nuts and putting them through a food processor, like walnuts or almonds. Store protein powders are usually a more complex combination of ingredients.
I made my version with honey bunches of oats cereals, homemade pecan butter and buckwheat honey. Put a little less protein powder and mixed it all in the food processor. These bars fueled a 16 km hike up an Adirondack peak. They were very gooey but I did not care because when on the go it’s nice if it melts in your mouth. I had made them once before with the original recipe and they were good too!
Quick question…in one part of this you said they will keep for months frozen, but at the end of the instructions you said they will keep in the freezer for up to a month. Which is the actual freezer keep time?
Honestly they are fine to keep for at least two.
These bars ook so yummy… But, why does everyone think that raw oats are healthy? I love oats, personally, but they are high in phytic acid–even more than most other grains from what I’ve read–and require a good soak and proper cooking to reduce it. Otherwise, the phytic acid blocks absorption of minerals and causes an environment for tooth rot (those trying to remineralize teeth definitely must avoid oats). Also, many also recommend soaking oats with a little buckwheat added to assist in phytate reduction and/or serving with raw milk/cream/butter. Sorry, I don’t have links to specific sources, but those genuinely interested can easily google it. You might start with http://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/food-features/be-kind-to-your-grains-and-your-grains-will-be-kind-to-you/
I find msot protein powders sweet enough, so instead of honey I used unsweetened almond milk. Tasted great but they are probably better kept in the freezer.