No Bake Protein Peanut Butter Bars

Today we are making a quick snack: No Bake Protein Peanut Butter Bars! Is it just me, or did you love the layers inside the chocolate bars you grew up eating? For example, Twix and Snickers chocolate bars have a cookie or a nougat layer with caramel, chocolate and occasionally peanuts on top. Taking one bite was like eating three types of candy at once. You got sweet, salty, chewy, nutty, crunchy, you name it – It was from here that my love for making healthier (but sweet) candy-like energy bars was born!

We love making blender recipes (as you may have noticed from the slew of no bake energy bites on the blog), because it’s the best way to get in many good-for-you ingredients in one recipe. You can toss in some flax seeds, hemp seeds or chia seeds, or top with pumpkin seeds (pressing down toppings onto the finished bar is a great way to get extra protein!). For chocolate flavors, mix in cacao nibs or dark chocolate chips (or find some sugar-free chocolate chips)!

Why You’ll Love These No Bake Protein Peanut Butter Bars

Pantry Ingredients: These protein bars contain easy ingredients that you may find in your pantry already, or those that can be easily found in the baking aisle of a grocery store. Peanuts, dates, oats and pure maple syrup.

The bars use natural sugar from dates, healthy fats from the peanuts and even have oats mixed in! I love to make these as a replacement to buying energy bars. They’re cheaper, you know exactly what you’re putting in them and they’re fresh!

Higher in Protein: These homemade protein bars contain 7 grams of protein in the recipe alone. For those who are looking for an even higher protein alternative, top the bars with hemp seeds and pumpkin seeds (some of the higher protein seeds).

Also, try using half PB2 instead of dry oats. This will increase the protein to about 10 grams per bar with these substitutions.

Substitutions: Dry Ingredients

Oats: Use quick-cooking oats, or give rolled oats a quick pulse in the blender to grind them up a little before using. They shouldn’t be a powder (not like oat flour), but it should be a smaller size like quick oats.

I have not tried it with alternative flours, but almond flour would be my first option. To make this recipe higher in protein, try using peanut flour for half of the oats, such as the peanut powder PB2. This would also increase the peanut butter flavor (PB is the best flavor for protein bars)!

Peanuts: Use roasted, salted peanuts in this recipe. Raw peanuts don’t give the same flavor. Using natural peanut butter instead of peanuts won’t make a sticky dough, but rather more of a protein peanut butter spread, so avoid nut butters and stick with the peanut itself.

Substitutions: Wet Ingredients

Dates: Use Medjool dates, as these are large, soft and caramel-like for raw recipes. Do not substitute with anything else. If your dates are not soft enough, soak them in boiling water for thirty minutes. Then, pat out the excess water with a towel before using in the recipe.

Maple Syrup: Use pure maple syrup – it should only have one ingredient! Substitute with agave syrup, brown rice syrup, date syrup or another liquid sweetener. It really depends on personal preference. I love maple syrup because of the maple undertones, and because it’s sweeter than using date syrup.

Maple syrup, coconut sugar and dates all provide sweetness and binding in this recipe.

Vanilla Extract: I used an alcohol-free vanilla flavor from Simply Organic. This is free of added colors and dyes, and also tastes and smells more strongly of vanilla.

No Bake Protein Peanut Butter Bars Notes

Roll this recipe into balls to make energy balls instead, or shape them into protein cookies!
For chocolate lovers: Coat the top of the bars with melted vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips to make a peanut butter chocolate combo! Allow the melted chocolate to harden on the bars by placing them in the refrigerator before cutting.

More Recipes You’ll Love

No Bake Pistachio Cake: This Indian-inspired No Bake Pistachio Cheesecake is a creamy, raw vegan cake recipe full of nourishing and simple ingredients!

Raw Butter Pecan Tarts: This vegan tart recipe is a raw version of the holiday butter pecan tart, using healthy ingredients such as dates, cashews and cacao butter!

No Bake Cherry Chocolate Espresso Brownies: This Chocolate Cherry Brownie Recipe is perfect for a sweet tooth! A no bake, triple layer, espresso black forest brownie using dried cherries, cocoa powder and dates.

Raw Salted Caramel Brownies: These no, bake, raw salted caramel 5 Ingredient Flourless Brownies are made with whole foods ingredients and no added sugar. The only ingredients are dates, walnuts, cacao and oats!

Almond Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Kind Bars

Chickpea Cookie Dough Protein Bars

3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies

Raw Samoas Girl Scout Cookies

If you make these No Bake Protein Peanut Butter Bars, then leave a comment and star rating! Don’t forget to tag your photos @peanut_palate on Instagram. Enjoy!