My Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are packed with healthy fats and 9g of protein per serving. So good for post-workout snacks!
I love a good protein bar, but I don't like the price tag. After all, they're so easy to make yourself, especially if you have a protein powder you love the taste of.
Once I created these chocolate peanut butter protein bars, I haven't gone back. Not only are they made with whole foods, but they actually taste good- no chalky taste or weird texture. We top these protein bars with a chocolate coating and flakey sea salt for the best post-workout snack or balanced sweet treat!
You're always asking for more high protein vegetarian snacks like my homemade perfect bars, and I know you'll be obsessed with these too!
Why This Recipe Is Dietitian Approved
- Tastes like Reese's. Who doesn't love a Reese's PB Cup?! These chocolate peanut butter protein bars hit all the same notes, in a convenient balanced snack.
- Meal prep friendly. I love batch prepping these to keep on hand for healthy snacks throughout the week. They're so handy for when hunger strikes.
- No bake. You don't need to turn on the oven at all for these homemade protein bars. Just store them in the freezer and they're ready to go.
Ingredients
Peanut butter. Look for a natural peanut butter made with just 1-2 ingredients (peanuts and salt). I recommend ensuring your peanut butter is as runny as possible. If you're at the end of the jar when it's more crumbly, you may need to add additional moisture to the mixture.
Maple syrup. For natural sweetness with trace amounts of nutrients. You may also use honey if you are not vegan.
Vanilla extract. This is for flavour. I recommend natural vanilla extract in this recipe.
Flaxseed. Flax is an amazing source of healthy fats, fibre and even has some protein, fiber and healthy fats. If you don't have any, you can find replacements in the recipe card below.
Protein powder. My personal favourite protein powder is this Nuzest, however I also enjoy using collagen in this recipe if you are looking for absolutely no protein powder flavour. I have also really been enjoying the Neue Theory vanilla protein!
Sea salt. Use flakey sea salt for the PERFECT hint of sweet and salty! Don't skip it, it makes a huge difference.
Chocolate chips. I recommend dark or semi sweet chocolate chips.
Coconut oil. This helps melt the chocolate, but can also be replaced with natural peanut butter.
The complete ingredient list with measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add flax seed, protein powder and sea salt. Stir well. You may need to use your hands to ensure the mixture is fully combined.
- Press the mixture evenly into a parchment paper lined 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- To melt chocolate- add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in increments of 15-30 seconds, stirring in between until melted (this should take a total of 1 minute 15 seconds).
- Pour the chocolate in an even layer over the top of the protein mixture. Place in the freezer to set for about 30 minutes.
- Slice into 10-12 equal sized bars, sprinkle with flakey sea salt. Store in the fridge or freezer and enjoy!
Substitutions and Variations
To make gluten-free: this recipe is naturally gluten-free, however I recommend checking all your products to ensure they are gluten-free.
To make vegan: use dairy-free chocolate and maple syrup instead of honey.
To make dairy-free: use dairy-free chocolate. Most higher %cocoa chocolate such as dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate is naturally dairy-free.
To make nut-free: try my brownie protein bars for a nut-free recipe.
Flax seed can be replaced with peanut butter powder, oat flour, almond flour or additional protein powder.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Spatula
- Baking pan
Storage
These chocolate peanut butter protein bars stay fresh in the fridge for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Note that the peanut butter will soften, creating a slightly more messy bar. If you are looking for longer storage you can enjoy these straight out of the freezer for up to 3 months.
Top Tips for Success
Don't forget the flaky sea salt! I love a sweet & salty combination and the salt helps bring out the rich chocolate flavour for the perfect bite.
If you are noticing your peanut butter isn’t quite runny enough, I recommend microwaving it for about 15-20 seconds and stirring to help soften it up a bit and releasing more of the natural oils.
This is a fairly forgiving recipe. If you would like to play around with the ratios of flax seed and protein powder, you absolutely can. Just ensure you have a total ¾ cup of dry ingredients.
Run your knife under warm water prior to cutting to help avoid cracking the chocolate.
Frequently Asked Questions
I like the Clean Lean Protein by Nuzest, but I've also been enjoying the 2-in-1 Plant-Based Probiotic Protein Powder from Neue Theory. Both taste really great!
Yes! If you like a little crunch you can mix in some chopped nuts or seeds for more healthy fats.
I haven't tested it, but I'm sure it would work fine.
More Protein Bar Recipes
If you loved these chocolate peanut butter protein bars, you'll love these other high protein snacks!
- Homemade Perfect Bars
- 5 Minute Pumpkin Protein Bars
- Brownie Protein Bars (Nut-Free)
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars
See you in the kitchen!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make these chocolate peanut butter protein bars, don't forget to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram- @nourishedbynic or leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it!
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Ingredients
- ¾ cup natural peanut butter ensure it is runny and not the end of the jar!
- 4 tablespoon maple syrup or honey
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup ground flax seed
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder or collagen
- ⅛ teaspoon flakey sea salt + more for topping
- ¾ cup semi sweet chocolate
- 2 teaspoon coconut oil or peanut butter
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract until smooth.
- Add flax seed, protein powder and sea salt. Stir well. You may need to use your hands to ensure the mixture is fully combined. *note: if you are having trouble combining the mixture, this may be a sign your peanut butter was not runny enough- add 1-2 tablespoon of water.
- Press the mixture evenly into a parchment paper lined 9x5 inch loaf pan.
- To melt chocolate- add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in increments of 15-30 seconds, stirring in between until melted (this should take a total of 1 minute 15 seconds. Pour the chocolate in an even layer over the top of the protein mixture. Place in the freezer to set for about 30 minutes.
- Slice into 10-12 equal sized bars, sprinkle with flakey sea salt. Store in the fridge or freezer and enjoy!
Rebecca Land says
Best gluten free snack in our house!! Big double batch everytime, and right out of the freezer for summer💜
Lori says
These are amazing! Super easy to put together and they taste better than a resees' with better ingredients.