Peanut Butter Protein Bars

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These no bloat, healthy peanut butter protein bars are gluten free and low FODMAP. They are sure to satisfy you while keeping you bloat free. Do you ever find that protein bars upset your stomach? There can be some strange ingredients in them! Not with this simple recipe.

Why you will love this recipe:

Our homemade protein bars are so simple and delicious! It almost feels too good to be true. I literally do happy dances when I make them. They are so easy to whip up and have on hand for those moments you need something quick to hold you over until the next meal.

These healthy protein bars only contain 5 ingredients! And they are staples that I have on hand all of the time, making them a great healthy and satisfying snack you can make anytime.

I don’t know about you, but as a mom of two little children I feel like I am running around all day. Sometimes you just need some quick to grab. It can be easy to grab a packaged bar or treat.

The problem is, store bought protein bars tend to have a lot of weird ingredients that your body can’t digest easily. That can lead to painful bloating and cramping.

On top of that… store bought bars are expensive!! When you have these on hand to grab and go, you are sure to save money and feel better for it!

Tips:

• Have your ingredients measured out and ready before you start. This will make the prep process so much faster.
• I like to take time to grind a bunch of oats at one time so I always have oat flour ready to go.
• Heat up your peanut butter, it will make the mixing process so much easier. I like to use drippy natural peanut butter.
• Use parchment paper so your bars can easily be lifted out to cut after they freeze.
• If you have a high quality food processor, you can also just add all of your ingredients in there and let it do the mixing for you!
• If bars aren’t for you, you could also make these into rolled balls too.

Ingredients:

1. Oat flour (you can make your own by grinding dry oats)
2. Peanut butter (or allergy friendly substitute) like sunflower butter, almond butter, cashew butter, etc. They will all lend themselves to slightly different flavors.
3. Maple syrup – honey would also work (don’t use honey if you are low FODMAP)
4. Collagen powder
5. Oat Milk (or milk of choice)

Our peanut butter protein bars are great source of healthy carbs and fat too! Meaning they are well rounded- which will actually give you the fuel and energy you need to keep going.

When I look for a protein bar I want the ingredients to be simple, and I want quality protein and fiber. This recipe fits the bill!

I love doing recipes like this after having a baby! Nursing a baby calls for a whole lot of energy!! When I bring food families after a baby arrives, I like to make these no bake protein bars for the new mama.

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Tools you may need:

• Blender or food processor to grind oats if you don’t have oat flour on hand
• Two bowls
• Microwaveable bowl or small saucepan to warm up the peanut butter
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Spatula
• Small rectangle or square dish (I used a medium sized Pyrex rectangle dish)
• Optional: parchment paper

Watch The Tutorial

How To Make Peanut Butter Protein Bars:

Blend oats if needed in blender or food processor.

Mix collagen powder into oat flour.

Warm peanut butter in microwave safe dish or on the stove top in a pot.

Add maple syrup and milk to the warmed peanut butter. Stir all wet ingredients together.

Next add all of the wet ingredients into the oat flour mix.

Stir ingredients until you have a nice smooth dough. (You could also add all of the wet ingredients with the dry into a food processor to stir.)

Lay down parchment paper in 8×8 or 6×6 dish, pour mixture on top and spread evenly with a spatula. Add dark chocolate or other toppings on top if desired.

Place in freezer for at least 30 minutes.

Take dish out and cut into 10- 12 bars and add sea salt on top if desired.

Store in airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also store in the freezer if you would like to save these for a longer period of time.

Note: You can add more oat flour if they feel too moist, or you can add more milk if they are too dry.

How to Store and Freeze These Protein Bars

• Store these in an airtight container in your refrigerator up to one month!
• You can also store these in the freezer for about 3 months. This is a great option if you’d like to make a couple of batches to keep on hand.

Optional Add-Ins

• Chocolate chips on top
• Flakey sea salt
• Dried fruit or coconut

FAQ:

Are protein bars good for you?

I wouldn’t want to eat store bought protein bars all of the time. Like I stated earlier, if you look at the ingredient list, you might be scratching your head with what in the world is in there!

These simple healthy protein bars, on the other hand, are great for you! You get a wonderful balance of protein, carbs, and healthy fat to keep you satisfied. Of course, you need a wide variety of healthy protein, fat, and carbs, so I wouldn’t use these as your only source of protein. Check out our other recipes to give you a wide range of foods to keep you healthy and fueled.

Is it cheaper to make homemade protein bars?

Definitely! Store bought protein bars rarely are under $1.00. I usually see them listed for $2.00-$3.00. The healthier they are, the more expensive they are. And I’m just not willing to spend that much on a bar!!

I save money on collagen by purchasing it at Costco and buy my peanut butter and oats in bulk too. I use them often so I make sure to get them at a good cost.

Is it OK to eat a protein bar everyday?

You could eat these every day. I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it. Not because they aren’t healthy, but more so because it is good to get a wide variety of foods in your diet so you don’t get bored and you consume all sorts of nutrients for you health.

Protein bars are energy dense, meaning it can be easy to go overboard on them (these are delicious!).

I like to keep these on hand for when I need a quick grab and go pick me up on busy days or when we are out and about. Pair these with a piece of fruit and wa-la! You’ll be ready to roll!

Find more delicious healthy recipes:

• Sourdough Oatmeal Snack Cookies
• Strawberry Dole Whip
• Overnight Steel Cut Oats

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