Peanut butter protein bars that are no bake and made with homemade chocolate! These bars are vegan and gluten free. They are a perfect grab and go snack, post workout bar, or an after dinner dessert!

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These No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars are SO delicious that you'll want to make them weekly! It's no secret I LOVE peanut butter. I also LOVE Reese's Peanut Butter cups. However, I'm always searching for healthier and homemade alternatives to satisfy my sweet tooth. For me, it's always nice to have something ready to go, like energy bites or these healthy peanut butter protein bars, so I don't reach for the jar full of chocolates! These come in handy when you need high-protein sweet snacks and are much better than store-bought peanut butter protein bars. Bonus: they taste just like a peanut butter cup!

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📋 Ingredients for No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars
📖 Step by Step for Healthy Peanut Butter Protein Bars
🍽 Variations of Homemade Protein Bars
Storing Peanut Butter Protein Bars
More No-Bake Desserts To Try
Baked Healthy Desserts
📖 Recipe
⭐ Reviews

peanut butter protein bars with layer of chocolate stacked

These chocolate peanut butter protein bars are no-bake, vegan, & gluten-free. They're also made with homemade chocolate using cocoa powder!

📋 Ingredients for No Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Almond flour: Almond flour is packed with protein and is the base for this recipe.
Protein Powder: The protein powder will bulk up the bars with protein. I like to use vanilla-flavored protein powder in mine, such as Orgain Plant Based Protein Powder.
Peanut butter: Peanut butter is a great source of good fats and protein. The peanut butter helps hold these bars together. I use a creamy, no-sugar-added option.
Maple syrup: To add a little sweetness! If you're trying to make these sugar-free, you can use dates or grind them with warm water to make a date paste. Since a liquid sweetener is used in the recipe, I recommend adding a little more water to the date paste or increasing the amount of peanut butter in the recipe.
Sea salt: Optional. If you like the addition of sea salt, you're welcome to add it. The natural peanut butter I used was already salted, so I used less. However, if yours is unsalted, I recommend using ½ teaspoon of sea salt.

Homemade dark chocolate:
- Cocoa Powder: This is the base of the dark chocolate
- Maple Syrup: Adds a sweet flavor to the chocolate. Again, if you're trying to make these sugar-free, you can omit the chocolate altogether or you can add date paste to this as well, it will give it a ganache/frosting type of consistency.
- Vanilla: To add a vanilla flavor and because I like to add vanilla to all of my desserts.
- Coconut oil: This gives the chocolate some smoothness and creaminess.

📖 Step by Step for Healthy Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Step 1: In a small bowl, mix the almond flour, protein powder, maple syrup, peanut butter, and salt (if using). Mix until no lumps remain and well combined.

Step 2: Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Press the dough into the pan until well spread.

Step 3: In another small bowl, add coconut oil, cocoa powder, vanilla, and maple syrup. Give it a quick stir, then microwave it for 10-15 seconds. The consistency should be liquid-like.

Step 4: Pour chocolate over the pressed dough in the baking pan.

Step 5: Refrigerate for about 2 hours or until firm. You may also place it in the freezer directly. Once set, cut into even squares and enjoy! Store in the fridge when you're not snacking on them.

🍽 Variations of Homemade Protein Bars

Peanut-free: Use almond or cashew butter.

Nut-free: Use a seed butter, such as sunflower seed butter. Just make sure it is a runny consistency. For the flour, use oat flour instead of almond flour.

Instead of homemade chocolate, you can use any store-bought dark chocolate and melt it.

Sugar-free: You can omit the maple syrup and add date paste to the bars and the chocolate. Since it may be a little drier, you can either make your date paste more liquid by adding water or add more peanut butter to the recipe (start with ¼ cup).

Storing Peanut Butter Protein Bars

These bars must remain refrigerated to maintain their firmness. You can store the bars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. These taste delicious out of the freezer as well (allow it to thaw for a few minutes), and you can freeze them for up to 2 months.

chocolate protein bars with layer of homemade chocolate on top

More No-Bake Desserts To Try

Baked Healthy Desserts

If you loved these Peanut Butter Protein Bars, let me know in the comments below! I’d love to connect with you on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest! Subscribe for my weekly emails at the bottom so you never miss a new recipe!

📖 Recipe

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5 from 1 vote

Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Prep Time: 20

Total Time: 20

Servings: Bars

Author: Shweta

Ingredients

For the Base

1 cup almond flour
½ cup protein powder
¼ cup maple syrup
1 cup natural peanut butter, I used salted, unsweetened
¼ teaspoon sea salt

For the Chocolate

¼ cup coconut oil
½ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ cup maple syrup

Instructions

In a small bowl, mix the almond flour, protein powder, maple syrup, peanut butter, and salt (if using). Mix until no lumps remain and well combined.
Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper. Press the dough into the pan until well spread.
In another small bowl, add coconut oil, cocoa powder, vanilla, and maple syrup. Give it a quick stir, then microwave it for 10-15 seconds. The consistency should be liquid-like.
Pour chocolate over the pressed dough in the baking pan.
Refrigerate for about 2 hours or until firm. You may also place in the freezer directly. Once set, cut into even squares and enjoy! Store in the fridge when you're not snacking on them.

Notes

Variations:

Peanut-free: Use almond or cashew butter.
Nut-free: Use any seed butter such as sunflower seed butter. Just make sure it is a runny consistency. For the flour, use oat flour instead of almond flour.
Without homemade chocolate: you can use any store bought dark chocolate and melt.
Sugar free: You can omit the maple syrup and add date paste to the bars and the chocolate. Since it may be a little drier, you can either make your date paste more liquid by adding water or add more peanut butter to the recipe (start with ¼ cup).

Storage:

These bars need to be refrigerated to stay firm. You can store the bars in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. These taste delicious out of the freezer as well (allow it thaw for a few minutes) and you can freeze them up to 2 months.

Nutrition Info

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