These selfmade protein bars are no-bake, endlessly customizable vitality bars. Identical to Luna and Energy bars, and made along with your favourite protein powder.
This recipe just isn’t like these different fussy, complicated recipes on the market!
The case for protein bars
My children play a number of sports activities. That signifies that we’re usually on the run, so that they eat a number of protein bars.
And naturally, every child has his or her personal favourite number of bar. However all these packaged protein bars have one factor in widespread: they’re loopy costly.
This recipe for selfmade protein bars began out as one thing I used to be simply making for my household, and that was that. After a lot hesitation, I had lastly bought some Vega Necessities protein powder.
I imply, they even promote protein powder at CVS now! I might use a coupon! I used to be simply taking part in round with it.
That’s the form of experimenting I hardly ever get to do anymore, the place I simply throw a little bit of this and a little bit of that right into a recipe. Only a few notes, even fewer apologies.
The selfmade protein bars had been higher than packaged
My children couldn’t get sufficient of those bars. They’d even gotten ok that my husband talked about them out of the blue in the future.
“You know, those protein bars were really good.” That’s excessive reward for him.
My children had began asking, “Are those bars hard to make?” That’s code for “please make them again.”
They’ve the tender texture of a brownie, they usually’re not too candy. For one thing extra cookie-like, give my traditional protein cookies or my peanut butter protein cookies a attempt. 🙂
I additionally get “are these bars good for you?” That’s additionally code for “can I eat them all day every day and be healthy?” I additionally get the identical type of questions once I make my protein pancakes!
Two recipes, limitless choices
Have you ever ever observed that many of the recipes on the market for selfmade protein bars are so particular? I’m a fan of baking recipes being particular, since baking is chemistry. However these are no-bake.
These different recipes both depend on one particular sort of protein powder, name for one million totally different funky components I’ve by no means heard of, or they’re one taste and one taste solely. So irritating!
Medjool date model
So I’ve included two primary recipe formulation for selfmade protein bars beneath. One is made with tremendous tender, packed-with-fiber, deliciously sticky Medjool dates to carry the bars collectively and sweeten them, in fact.
I purchase these dates by the pound at Dealer Joe’s, they usually’re important for recipes like my wholesome Paleo fudge. You’ll be able to embody unsweetened melted chocolate within the combination, or not.
It actually helps the bars maintain their form and provides them a richer taste. Should you choose a extra neutral-tasting bar, use a vanilla or unflavored protein powder, and omit the melted chocolate.
Nut butter model
However I notice that you could be not know the place to purchase Medjool dates. Or chances are you’ll suppose they’re too candy. So I’ve additionally formulated one other recipe with nut butter and no dates.
I like this model greatest made with cocoa powder and melted chocolate. I do nonetheless embody loads of choices for making it extra neutral-tasting (together with making it with cashew butter).
I’ve tried these bars with each single variation I like to recommend. They every work simply in addition to each other.
Our favourite protein bar variation
My favourite solution to make these bars is the “date version.” I all the time embody the melted unsweetened chocolate—and with only a drizzle of melted chocolate on prime, at most.
With out the total chocolate coating, the bars are a lot simpler to deal with and transport. Together with the melted chocolate within the bar itself makes the bar richer in style and extra agency for simple dealing with.
You need to use any taste protein powder you want within the date model and omit the melted chocolate, and also you’ll change the flavour profile to fit your tastes. When you’ve got one other favourite protein powder, use that!
Should you choose a dairy protein powder, attempt whey protein. For now, sure, you do want to incorporate the oats. There’s no substitute!
Changing the oats – “how to make protein bars”
I’ve lastly efficiently changed the oats on this recipe, and each different oat-filled recipe on this weblog (and in my cookbooks!). You’ll be able to learn all about methods to substitute oats within the gluten free baking, and at last make this grain-free!
The TL;DR model for this recipe is that you simply use large, flat coconut chips. Since this recipe is not any bake, the coconut chips take up an identical quantity of area to the oats.
Should you’re on the lookout for a bite-sized model, attempt my no-bake peanut butter vitality bites. They don’t have protein powder in any respect, and there’s no meals processor concerned.
You do should roll all these little bites, although. 🙂 There’s a grain-free model, too!
Some taste ideas
A extra impartial taste
Attempt utilizing cashew butter because the nut butter for a extra impartial taste that basically lets the chocolate taste shine.
A fruity model
Attempt changing the cocoa powder with a freeze-dried fruit powder. You’ll be able to both purchase it as a powder, or purchase freeze dried fruit by the bag and grind it right into a powder.
When you’ve got a dehydrator, you may make any fruit right into a powder. You can too dehydrate fruit on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven for hours. I shouldn’t have that type of endurance.
A no taste protein powder model
As an alternative of protein powder, attempt utilizing collagen powder for an enormous dietary enhance with no added taste in any respect. You need to use whey protein isolate, like in our gluten free bread flour.
I additionally actually like Important Proteins Collagen Peptides. That’s an affiliate hyperlink, be happy to buy round for one of the best value.
I’ve additionally began experimenting with Excellent Hydrolyzed Collagen Peptides (affiliate hyperlink). I’ve used that model in my new protein granola, and I’d identical to it higher. Plus, it’s inexpensive.
There are affiliate hyperlinks on this publish. We’re a participant within the Amazon Companies LLC Associates Program, an affiliate promoting program designed to supply a method for us to earn charges by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated websites.
Components
“how to make protein bars”