If you are looking for a healthy quick breakfast or snack, give these oatmeal protein bars a try! They are incredibly chewy and decadent yet are packed with protein and fiber. These protein bars are also no-bake, easy to make, and only call for simple ingredients.
If you are tired of having the same old protein shake, try these oatmeal protein bars! They make a great post-workout snack packed with slow-digesting carbs and tons of protein. I also love grabbing one during hectic mornings as my breakfast on the go.
If you are looking for more high-protein sweet treats, I highly recommend giving my protein cinnamon rolls and protein mug brownie a try!
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💚Why you will love this recipe
- Chewy, hearty, and incredibly delicious
- Healthy and packed with fiber and protein - A serving contains almost 10g of protein!
- Great as a grab-and-go breakfast or snack
- Stores and freeze well - great for meal prep!
🥜What you will need
📃Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Protein powder - I recommend using unsweetened and unflavored protein powder of choice. I am using pea protein powder to keep this recipe vegan, but you can also use other plant-based protein powder or even whey protein.
- Oats - both quick and rolled oats will work. Quick oats will yield a softer texture, while rolled oats produce chewier bars. Use certified gluten-free oats if you are sensitive to gluten.
- Peanut butter - Can be substituted with other kinds of nut butter. Just make sure to use natural ones that only contain nuts and salts. You can also use sunflower seed butter or tahini to make this recipe nut-free.
- Maple syrup - Other liquid sweeteners, like agave syrup, brown rice syrup, and honey, can be used in place. You can use sugar-free syrup to keep these oatmeal protein bars low in sugar.
🔪How to make
Mix all wet ingredients (peanut butter, maple syrup, plant milk, and vanilla extract) in a bowl.
Then, add oats, protein powder, chocolate chips, and cinnamon powder to the bowl. Stir until a dough forms. You might need to use your hands at the end as the dough is quite dry.
Using your hands, press the dough mixture into a lined 8x8 baking pan. Pop it into the freezer to firm up for at least 30 minutes.
Once the dough has been set, slice into 10 equal portions. They are ready to be served!
✔️Helpful tips
- Allow enough time for the bars to set before slicing, at least 30 minutes. If not, they might be ruined when sliced!
- Different protein powders have different absorbancies. Hence, add more oats if the mixture appears wet or more milk if the mixture seems dry, a tablespoon at a time.
- You can also turn these oatmeal protein bars into energy balls. To do so, scoop up a tablespoon of mixture at a time, and roll them into balls. Let them firm up in the freezer before enjoying them.
- To cleanly slice your protein bars:
- Run a sharp knife under hot water.
- Wipe it dry.
- Use it to slice the bars immediately, wiping the knife clean with a kitchen towel between each cut.
✨Fun additions and variations
These oatmeal protein bars are incredibly versatile, so feel free to add your spin to them! Here are some ideas -
Nuts - Chopped pecans, cashews, peanuts, walnuts
Seeds - Chia seeds, flaxseeds, toasted sunflower seeds
Dried fruits - Raisin, sultanas, chopped dates
Spices - Pumpkin spice, allspice, nutmeg
Chocolate protein bars - Use a chocolate-flavored protein powder, and add a few teaspoons of cocoa powder if you like them extra chocolatey.
❄️Storing suggestions
Fridge - These oatmeal protein bars will last in the refrigerator for a week. Store them in an airtight container before keeping them.
Freezer - Protein bars can be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer bag or storage container. I recommend placing a piece of parchment paper between each layer to prevent them from sticking together.
When ready to enjoy, let them thaw for a few minutes at room temperature to allow them to soften.
🍽️More healthy vegan snacks
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📖 Recipe
Oatmeal Protein Bars
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup maple syrup or another liquid sweetener
- ½ cup peanut butter or another nut butter
- 2-3 tablespoons plant milk or regular milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup rolled oats or quick oats
- ½ cup protein powder unflavored and unsweetened preferred*
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper, or grease it with cooking spray.
- Mix all wet ingredients in a bowl.½ cup maple syrup, ½ cup peanut butter, 2-3 tablespoons plant milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Then, add the rest of the ingredients to the bowl. Stir until a dough forms. You might need to use your hands at the end as the dough is quite dry.1 cup rolled oats, ½ cup protein powder, ⅓ cup chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Using your hands, press the dough mixture into the baking pan. Pop it into the freezer to firm up for at least 30 minutes.
- Once the dough has been set, slice them up and serve!
Notes
- Allow enough time for the bars to set before slicing, at least 30 minutes. If not, they might be ruined when sliced!
- Different protein powders have different absorbancies. Hence, add more oats if the mixture appears wet or more milk if the mixture seems dry, a tablespoon at a time.
- You can also turn these oatmeal protein bars into energy balls. To do so, scoop up a tablespoon of mixture at a time, and roll them into balls. Let them firm up in the freezer before enjoying them.
Nutrition
Nutrition info calculated is just a rough estimate and is provided as a courtesy. Bear in mind that value will vary based on variables like specific brand or type of product used. To obtain the most accurate representation, it is highly recommended that you calculate it on your own with the actual amount and type of ingredient used.
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