These no-bake peanut butter protein bars are naturally gluten-free, easy to take on the go, and made with a fun secret ingredient!
Are you noticing a trend? It's kind of been peanut butter everything around here. I, for one, am l-o-v-i-n-g this trend! I'm like seriously obsessed with peanut butter lately.
For me, peanut butter is the ultimate snack food. It is quick, easy (hello, spoon in jar) and a great source of protein and healthy fats. I almost always turn to peanut butter for a snack, whether it is slathered on a rice cake with sliced apple or mixed into energy balls. Nut butter always hits the spot. And honestly, a scoop on my way out the door is often how I fuel up before a workout.
So today we are using peanut butter as the base for a no-bake power bar that is both snack worthy and dessert worthy.
How to make Homemade Power Bars
I'm calling this recipe a power bar because it's my spin on the classic protein bar. I'll admit, I'm not a fan of power bars. I think they're kind of stuck in the 80s and haven't advanced with the rest of the industry.
But the concept of power bars is on point. They are portable, higher in protein and a convenient option after a workout.
The only problem? Even though they use minimal ingredients, cane sugar is listed first. One peanut butter power bar contains 26 grams of sugar. 26!
We're obviously flipping this recipe inside out and reinventing it with SQ approved ingredients. Our base? Dates, nuts and seeds, some protein powder and quinoa.
And we're making it all in our food processor!
Our No-Bake Protein Butter Power Bars
There are so many things to love about this recipe, but I'll narrow it down to my top three faves. These bars are…
a) no-bake, meaning they're a cinch to throw together
b) cheaper than store-bought
c) amazingly delicious!
Homemade Protein Bars
You know those raw protein bars that cost nearly $2.00 a bar?
Well with this recipe, you can have a 12-bar stock of those treats on-hand all the time. Plus, you'll be saving a bunch of money! What's better than that?
I combined many of my all-time favorite ingredients (minus the chocolate, we’ll save that for next time) and whipped it into a simple, satisfying bar that's perfect for mornings or afternoons.
Enjoy!
More Easy Peanut Butter Recipes:
- Peanut Butter & Oatmeal Cookies
- Quinoa Pad Thai Salad
- PB&J Energy Bites
- Chocolate & Peanut Butter Vegan Rice Crispy Treats
No-Bake Peanut Butter Power Bars
Ingredients
- 7 – 8 Medjool dates pitted
- 1/2 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/2 cup unsalted smooth peanut butter
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
Instructions
- Add the dates to the bowl of a food processor fit with the steel blade and process until chopped. Remove the lid and add the nuts, quinoa and seeds and process until a meal has formed. Next, add the protein powder and process a few times until combined. Once you have a sandy text, add the peanut butter and honey and process until a thick dough forms.
- Transfer the dough to a parchment lined baking pan. I used a loaf pan for skinny, thick loaves, but you can also use a square baking dish for bars that thinner. Place the bars in the freezer until set, about 1 – 2 hours. Remove from the freezer and slice into bars. Store in freezer until you’re ready to eat them.
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Nutrition
