Description
These No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are a delicious and nutritious snack perfect for boosting your energy on the go. Combining creamy peanut butter, oats, protein powder, and layers of chocolate, these bars are easy to prepare without the need for an oven. With a perfect balance of sweet and salty flavors, they make a satisfying treat for any time of day.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1¼ cups creamy no-stir peanut butter
- â…“ cup honey
- ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder
Toppings
- ½ cup dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Flaked sea salt (optional, for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare the Base Mixture: In a large bowl, combine creamy no-stir peanut butter and honey. Stir until smooth and well blended. Add the rolled oats and vanilla protein powder, mixing until all ingredients are evenly incorporated into a thick dough-like consistency.
- Form the Bars: Line an 8×8 inch square pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it. Press the peanut butter and oat mixture firmly and evenly into the bottom of the pan to form a compact base layer.
- Melt Chocolate for Topping: In a microwave-safe bowl or over a double boiler, gently melt the dark and semi-sweet chocolate chips together until smooth, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
- Coat the Bars: Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the pressed base layer and spread it evenly using a spatula. Optionally, sprinkle flaked sea salt on top for added flavor balance.
- Chill and Set: Place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or until the chocolate is firm and bars are set well enough to cut.
- Cut and Serve: Once set, remove bars from the pan using the parchment paper. Cut into 16 equal pieces and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup for a vegan option.
- Use gluten-free oats to make this recipe gluten free.
- For variation, add chopped nuts or dried fruit into the base mixture.
- Keep bars refrigerated to maintain firmness.
- Flaked sea salt enhances the chocolate and peanut butter flavors but is optional.
