No Bake Protein Bars

I started making my own protein bars when I was a student mainly to save money. Protein bars can be pricey and are hyper-processed foods that often contain long lists of ingredients you can’t pronounce. Making your own bars is really easy and this recipe requires zero skills. Get creative with different flavours and ingredients.

Base ingredients

100 g oats
100 g coconut flour
150 g protein powder
85 g peanut butter (use butters with just peanuts, not the set type with palm oil as that doesn’t mix well OR 80 mL olive oil
120-200 mL water

For lemon vanilla flavour:

Juice and rind from one lemon (reduce juice from the water volume of the base recipe), ground vanilla / use vanilla flavoured protein powder, nuts and raisins to add texture or desiccated coconut

For chocolate / cinnamon flavour:

2 tablespoons cinnamon, 50 g raisins / use chocolate flavoured protein powder

How to prepare:

Blend the dry ingredients and peanut butter in a food processor until mixed well.

Then whilst the machine is still running add 120-200 mL water depending on the protein protein powder. Vegan protein powders will need more water to make the dough than whey protein powder. You want the dough to be firm, not too wet/pasty. Add the water slowly until the dough starts to form a ball in the food processor.

If the dough gets too wet you can add a bit more oats or coconut flour. Add the water very gradually as it’s easy to overdo.

When the dough is firm enough put it in a tray lined with parchment paper and press it flat. Add the flaked coconut or raisins on top and then put it in the freezer to set for about an hour or 2.

After 2 hours you can take it out and cut it into bars.

To avoid they dry out, I recommend wrapping them separately in clingfilm or foil and keep in an airtight container in the fridge. Eat them within a week.

This is enough for 8 bars and depending on your toppings and type of protein (vegan or whey) the macros are roughly: 22 g protein, 20 g carbohydrate and 10 g fat (258 kcal).