No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars with Dark Chocolate Recipe
These No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bars are a quick and easy snack made with just five simple ingredients. Packed with creamy peanut butter, protein powder, oats, and topped with melted dark chocolate, they offer a deliciously satisfying combination of flavors and textures. Perfect for a post-workout snack or an energy boost throughout the day, these bars require no baking and can be prepared in under 20 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12-16 bars 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups creamy no-stir peanut butter
- ¾ cup protein powder (vanilla or chocolate)
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 cup rolled oats
Topping
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chips
- Optional: Sea salt for topping
Instructions
- Make the Peanut Butter Base: In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, protein powder, honey (or maple syrup), and oats. Stir until everything is well combined. The mixture will be thick, but it should hold together easily.
- Press into the Pan: Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper. Press the peanut butter mixture into the bottom of the dish, making sure it’s evenly spread out.
- Melt the Chocolate: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the dark chocolate chips in 30-second increments, stirring after each until smooth. Then pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer, spreading it out evenly with a spatula.
- Chill: Place the dish in the fridge for at least 1 hour to allow the chocolate to set and the bars to firm up.
- Slice & Serve: Once the chocolate is completely set, slice the bars into 12-16 pieces. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.
Notes
- You can substitute honey with maple syrup to make these bars vegan.
- Use your preferred flavor of protein powder for different taste variations.
- For added crunch, consider stirring in chopped nuts or seeds into the base mixture before pressing it into the pan.
- Optional sea salt sprinkled on top of the chocolate adds a nice contrast to the sweetness.
- Store bars in the refrigerator to maintain firmness and freshness.
Keywords: no-bake, peanut butter, protein bars, healthy snack, easy recipe, high protein, energy bars
