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These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars only take 20 minutes to prepare and are packed with 11 grams of protein per bar! These protein bars are also made with simple ingredients and are vegan and gluten-free friendly. Try these Peanut Butter Protein Oatmeal Balls next!
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When the afternoon slump hits, there’s nothing better than having a sweet snack like some Chocolate Date Balls, Muesli Granola Bars or protein bars on hand.
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are low-carb, vegan-friendly and of course homemade, making them a cheaper, healthier and tastier option than buying store-bought bars.
What makes these bars unique is the combo of almond flour and protein powder for a nourishing base, plus rice puffs for crunch! These bars are easy to make, customizable, and great for the whole family. Feel free to use your favourite nut butter and protein powder to make them your own!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Protein-packed: These peanut butter protein bars are packed with 11 grams of protein per bar! Make sure to also start your day with a high-protein breakfast like High-Protein Overnight Oats or Protein Powder Pancakes.
- Vegan and gluten-free: They’re naturally vegan, gluten-free and can be made grain-free if needed by removing the rice crisps.
- Peanut buttery heaven: If you’re a fan of peanut butter treats like these Snickers Stuffed Dates, you will LOVE these protein bars.
- No-bake: No baking needed here! These protein bars are made entirely in a bowl and come together in just 20 minutes.
Key Ingredients
- Almond flour: This is the base of the bar. Almond flour is packed with protein and perfect for a gluten-free or grain-free option. Almond flour is also great to make Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies and Almond Flour Waffles!
- Protein Powder: I recommend using vanilla, peanut butter or unflavoured protein powder for these protein bars. I personally use vanilla protein powder in these bars and other recipes like my Berry Protein Smoothie and Protein Overnight Oats.
- Peanut butter: Peanut butter is loaded with protein and will also help to bind these bars together. If you love peanut butter also try making some Peanut Butter Overnight Oats or Peanut Butter Chia Pudding for breakfast.
*This is an ingredient overview. The full recipe with measurements is below in the recipe card.
Recipe Variations
- Keto: Replace the maple syrup with stevia or your favourite keto sweetener. Since stevia isn’t liquid, add an extra 1/4 cup of peanut butter to help the bars bind properly.
- Peanut-free: Swap the peanut butter for almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
- Paleo-friendly: Skip the rice crisps and use paleo-approved dark chocolate.
- Almond-free: Swap the almond flour for oat flour.
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Step 1: Mix the almond flour, protein powder, rice crisps and salt together in a bowl.
Step 2: Mix the peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla extract.
Step 3: Mix the wet and dry ingredients together in a bowl until combined.
Step 4: Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper and press the dough into the pan.
Step 5: Melt the chocolate in the microwave, then pour the chocolate mixture over the protein bars and spread evenly.
Step 6: Refrigerate for 2 hours, then cut into bars.
How To Store
Store these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Jess’s Tips
- Adjust the texture as needed: If the mixture feels too dry or crumbly, add 1–2 teaspoons of almond milk at a time until it sticks together.
- Substitute protein powder: You can easily swap the protein powder for more almond flour if needed. Use any extra almond flour to make a batch of Almond Flour Pancakes!
- Store in the fridge: These bars need to be kept in the fridge or freezer to hold their shape. They’ll get too soft at room temperature.
- Press the dough firmly into the pan: Use a spatula or the bottom of a glass to pack the mixture tightly so the bars hold together when cut.
- Let chill: Refrigerate the bars for at least 1 hour before cutting to get clean, even squares.
Frequently asked questions
You can use any brand of protein powder you love. My personal favourite is the unflavoured or vanilla epic protein from Sprout Living . It blends well, tastes great, and is easier to digest than whey protein. (You can use the code “choosingchia” for 20% off!
Yes! These bars freeze really well. Just slice them, layer with parchment in an airtight container or freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Let them thaw at room temp for a few minutes before enjoying.
Absolutely! These bars or my no-bake chocolate protein bars are perfect to enjoy every day in moderation.
Try These High-Protein Recipes Next!
If you tried these Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars or any other recipe on the blog let me know how you liked it by leaving a comment/rating below! Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more deliciousness!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 15 bars
- Category: Snack
- Method: Mix
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Description
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars come together in 20 minutes and are packed with 11 grams of protein per bar!
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup almond flour
- 1/4 cup protein powder
- 1/3 cup rice crisps
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2-3 tsp of almond milk if needed to help bind.
- 200 grams 70% dark chocolate
Instructions
- Mix the almond flour, protein powder, rice crisps and salt together in a large bowl.
- Mix the peanut butter, maple syurp and vanilla together then pour into the bowl and mix until everything is combined. If the mixture feels a bit dry, add 2-3 tsp of almond milk. (Don’t add too much!)
- Line an 8×8 inch pan with parchment paper then add the dough to the pan, pressing down evenly.
- Melt the chocolate in the microwave on medium-low then pour on top of the bars. Place in the fridge for 1 hours to set before slicing.
- Store in the fridge.
Notes
- Unflavoured, vanilla or peanut butter protein powder work best.
- Add a splash of almond milk if the dough is too dry.
- Swap protein powder for almond flour if needed.
- Press dough firmly into pan.
- Chill before cutting.
- Store in the fridge or freezer.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 10g
- Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 2.5g
- Protein: 11g
Hey Jess! These look amaaazing and I will def be making them! Which protein powder did you use? I’ve never even heard of unflavoured. 🙂
Hi Silvia! My favourite Protein Powder is from a brand called Sprout Living! There are many brands that carry “unflavored” or “natural” protein powder (meaning they just don’t have added vanilla flavour to them which I like best for baking 🙂 ) you can also definitely use vanilla or even peanut butter flavoured protein powder too!
Ok, great! And if I want to hit the grams of protein per bar that you give, I should look for a protein powder that has how many grams of protein per what serving? 🙂
Approximately 20-25 grams of protein per serving!
Is there a brand of rice Crisps you recommend?
Hi Pat, you can use any brand but I like the ones from One Degree Organics!
These look amazing! If I didn’t want to use protein powder how would you recommend I change the measurements?
Thanks so much
Hi keeva! You can substitute the protein powder with a little bit more almond flour 🙂
Hi! Can’t wait to make these! How do I correctly measure the 200 grams of 70% dark chocolate for the top?
Hi Nikki! Dark chocolate will often be sold stating the number of grams on the package so you can easily tell that way if needed, otherwise, you can definitely use a kitchen scale! I’d also estimate if you want to use chocolate chips, about 1/2 cup should work!
Can I use agave instead of maple sugar. Will it work in this recipe ?
Hi Nancy, yup! Agave will work just fine!
I am surely banking on these for my daily workouts. They look healthy and delicious too. Thank you for sharing this amazing recipe. Can I include smores in this recipe?
So happy you liked the recipe! By smores do you mean adding marshmallows? I think if you added a few mini ones chopped up it would work
I love this!!
My question is, how to you measure how much protein is in each bar? If you make this recipe with the 1x scale on here, and you use an 8×8 pan and cut them into 15 squares, they’re pretty much bite sized. Right?
Hi Jennifer, the nutrition information is gathered through a nutrition calculator we use!
What’s the purpose of the coconut oil?
Hi Ashley, the coconut oil is important for the chocolate topping to get a smooth top that will cut easily and not crack
Uhm these are amazing!!!
My husband likes things frozen so we keep them in the freezer. I make them very often! Sometimes I’ll add more of some ingredients to make them thicker. So good, you have to try them if you are considering making them.
Thank you Tara! Glad you and your husband both enjoyed the recipe! These are so great to keep i the freezer and will keep well for months frozen.
Can you suggest something that can be substituted for the rice crisps?
Hi Dawn, you can simply leave them out or just add more almond flour. Though the rice crisps give the bars a nicer texture!