These oatmeal protein bars are the perfect grab-and-go option for a quick breakfast or snack. Made with just 5 simple ingredients, they’re no-bake, packed with protein and fiber, and come together in just 10 minutes!
Store-bought protein bars can be expensive, so I love making my own! It is not only budget-friendly, but I also get to customize it and switch up the flavor by changing up the protein powder and add-ins used.
Besides these protein bars, I also love making a batch of vegan protein balls and protein cinnamon rolls on weekends. Having these wholesome treats ready ensures I always have a quick, satisfying, and healthy snack for the week!
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💚Why you will love this recipe
- Chewy, delicious, and incredibly satisfying
- Healthy, packed with fiber + protein - a serving contains almost 10g of protein!
- A budget-friendly option that is much cheaper compared to store-bought protein bars
- Store well and are freezable, making them great for meal prep
🥜What you will need
📃Ingredient notes and substitutions
- Protein powder - Unflavored or vanilla-flavored plant-based protein powder works best. I am personally using Naked Pea’s unflavored protein powder.
- Oats - Both quick and rolled oats will work. Quick oats yield a softer texture, while rolled oats produce chewier bars. Use certified gluten-free oats if you are intolerant.
- Peanut butter - This can be substituted with other kinds of nut or seed butter. Use runny ones for easy mixing.
- Maple syrup - Other liquid sweeteners can be used in place, like agave syrup, brown rice syrup, sugar-free syrup, or honey. Reduce the amount used if your protein powder is on the sweeter side.
- Chocolate chips - I love using dark chocolate chips like the Enjoy’s Life chocolate morsels, but feel free to use any chocolate chips you like!
🔪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.
💡Tip
Adjust the amount of milk added. Gradually add a tablespoon of milk at a time if your dough looks crumbly.
Firmly press the dough mixture into a lined 8x8 baking pan using your hands. Optionally, drizzle on some melted chocolate.
Allow it to freeze for an hour to firm up before slicing. Your oatmeal protein bars are ready to be served.
✔️Helpful tips
- Wet hands before shaping protein bars - Do shape protein bars use damp hands as the dough will be slightly sticky.
- Allow time for bar to set - It is recommended to freeze the protein bars for at least an hour before slicing. This ensures that they are firm enough to be sliced cleanly.
- Turn them into energy balls - You can easily make energy balls by shaping a tablespoon of dough into a ball instead of molding them using a square pan.
- Make oatmeal raisin bars - Substitute chocolate chips with ½ cup of raisins.
- Switch up the add-ins - You can use shredded coconut or coconut flakes, chopped nuts, dried fruits (such as dried cranberries and sultanas), or spices (pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, etc.)
❄️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.
?Commonly asked questions
It is not recommended to exclude protein powder from this recipe. While you can use an equal amount of coconut flour as a substitute, it will alter the taste and texture of the bars slightly. Additionally, if coconut flour is used instead of protein powder, the bars will contain significantly less protein.
These oatmeal protein bars are naturally gluten-free, as all the ingredients used in this recipe are free from gluten.
However, it is important to note that oats may contain small amounts of gluten due to cross-contamination during processing. Therefore, if you are sensitive or intolerant to gluten, choosing a certified gluten-free brand is recommended.
You can easily turn these oatmeal protein bars into protein balls! Instead of shaping them in a square baking pan, simply roll 1-2 tablespoons of dough into a ball. Repeat until the dough is all used up, and allow them to set in the freezer for 30 minutes before enjoying.
🍽️More healthy high-protein 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 vanilla protein powder or unflavored (see notes)*
- 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.1 cup rolled oats, ½ cup vanilla protein powder, ⅓ cup chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Mix until everything is well combined. If the dough appears crumbly, add more milk, a tablespoon at a time, until a more cohesive dough forms.
- Using damp hands, firmly press the dough mixture into the baking pan. Pop it into the freezer to firm up for at least an hour.
- Once the dough has been set, slice them up and serve!
Notes
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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