Healthy Protein Bar Recipe (Gluten-Free & Vegan)

This Healthy Protein Bar Recipe is soft, chewy, and packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep you full. Made with simple ingredients and no baking required, it’s the perfect easy snack for busy days. Way better than store-bought—and you can customize it however you like.

Healthy Protein Bar Recipe

Store-bought protein bars are either crazy expensive, full of weird ingredients… or just don’t taste that good. These? Completely different story.

They’re soft, chewy, naturally sweet, packed with texture, and actually keep you full—aka everything you want in a protein bar without the nonsense.

Simple Ingredients You Need For The Healthy Protein Bar Recipe

You will need the following ingredients listed below to make the homemade granola bars (the exact measurements and full recipe are in the recipe card at the bottom of the post):

• Peanut butter – or any nut butter of choice such as almond butter, cashew butter, etc.
• Honey – use maple syrup, agave or tapioca syrup if vegan.
• Coconut oil 
• Vanilla extract – real vanilla is always the best choice 
• Vegan protein powder – I like using vanilla protein powder in these.You can substitute for whey protein powder, brown rice protein, or pea protein if you don’t require them to be vegan.
• Certified gluten-free oats
• Rice crispy cereal for that perfect light crunchy texture – popped amaranth or quinoa would also work 
• Ground flaxseed – ground chia seeds would also work
• Pinch of salt – helps bring out the sweetness
• Ground cinnamon – add a seasonal twist by adding pumpkin pie spice or chai spice instead
• Nuts – I did 1/4 cup almonds and approximately 1/8 cup cashews and 1/8 cup pumpkin seeds but you can use whatever you like. Sunflower seeds
• Dried fruit – I used 1/4 cup cranberries and 1/4 cup raisins
• Chocolate chips – your favourite brand, or vegan chocolate chips if you want to keep this energy bars recipe vegan. Unsweetened chocolate also works.

How To Make

Line a bread loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on two of the sides like handles. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil. Heat till completely melted then add vanilla extract.

In a large bowl combine the protein powder, gluten free oats, rice crispy cereal, flaxseed, salt and cinnamon. Mix then add the nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips.

Once fully combined, add in peanut butter mixture and stir till combined.

Add to prepared bread loaf pan, press down firmly, then add more nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips to top if desired.

Add bars to refrigerator for minimum 4 hours or overnight. Cut into 4-8 bars and enjoy!

Tips And Tricks For Best Results

• Press the mixture down firmly so the bars don’t crumble
• If your mixture feels too dry, add a little more peanut butter or honey
• If it’s too wet, toss in a bit more oats or protein powder
• Chill fully before slicing for clean perfect bars

Storing Leftover Healthy Protein Bars

Keep these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze them for longer—just grab one when you need a quick snack.

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4.53 from 17 votes

Protein Energy Bars (Healthy Recipe)

These vegan protein energy bars aren't like your average clif bars or any other vegan energy bar, these are SO much better and easy to make as well!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Set Time4 hours hrs

Total Time4 hours hrs 15 minutes mins

Course: High Protein

Cuisine: American

Servings: 8 bars

Calories: 317kcal

Author: Bailey Campbell

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going to sleep

Ingredients 

1x2x3x4x

• ¼ cup natural peanut butter
• ⅓ cup honey or maple syrup if vegan
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 scoop vanilla protein powder I used PEScience vegan vanilla but you can also use whey (use code BAILEY at checkout for $$ off all products)
• ¾ cup certified gluten free oats
• ¾ cup rice crispy cereal
• ¼ cup ground flaxseed
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ cup nuts I did 1/4 cup almonds and approx 1/8 cup cashews and 1/8 cup pumpkin seeds but you can use whatever you like
• ½ cup dried fruit I used 1/4 cup cranberries and 1/4 cup raisins
• ⅓ cup chocolate chips vegan if desired

Instructions

• Line a bread loaf pan with parchment paper, leaving a few inches of overhang on two of the sides like handles. Set aside.
• In a medium size microwave safe bowl, combine the peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil. Heat till completely melted then add vanilla.
• In a large bowl combine the protein powder, gluten free oats, rice crispy cereal, flaxseed, salt and cinnamon. Mix then add the nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips. Once fully combined, add in peanut butter mixture and stir till combined.
• Add to prepared bread loaf pan, press down firmly, then add more nuts, dried fruit and chocolate chips to top if desired.
• Add bars to fridge for minimum 4 hours or overnight. Cut into 4-8 bars and enjoy!

Nutrition

Serving: 1grams | Calories: 317kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 98mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 24g

The nutrition information provided is calculated based on industry-standard software and should be used as a general guide only. The information may vary depending on ingredient substitutions, cooking techniques, and individual serving sizes. It is the responsibility of the reader to ensure the accuracy and appropriateness of the nutritional information provided. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized medical or nutritional advice.

Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on @basicswithbails

Other Delicious Peanut Butter Recipes You May Like To Try

• 4 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Fudge
• Gluten Free Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
• Peanut Butter and Jam Overnight Oats
• No Bake Peanut Butter Balls
• Homemade Snickers Chocolate Bars (Vegan & Gluten Free)
• Peanut Butter Marshmallow Squares
• Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Mug Cakes

IF YOU TRIED THIS GLUTEN FREE VEGAN PROTEIN BARS RECIPE PLEASE LEAVE IT A COMMENT AND STAR RATING. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN PIN THESE HEALTHY SNACKS ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING @basicswithbails and #basicswithbails