Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars {gluten-free, refined sugar-free}

Ditch the pre-packaged bars and make your own with this easy peanut butter protein bar recipe. These bars are soft and chewy with a rich peanut butter flavor, topped with dark chocolate and a sprinkle of sea salt. With about 16g of protein per bar, they're high in nutrients but taste like a sweet treat!

This post is sponsored by Naked Nutrition. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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I love an indulgent dessert as much as the next gal, but you know what I love almost as much? A healthy recipe that tastes indulgent. Whether it's a chocolate tart, sweet coconut bites, or these chocolate peanut butter protein bars, you can absolutely have the best of both worlds!

These bars are made in about 15 minutes with just 10 simple ingredients, and there's absolutely no baking required.

this recipe

In case you haven't checked the label on your favorite protein bars lately, let me give you a little heads up: most of them are filled with unrecognizable ingredients, and even if they aren't, they likely cost an arm and a leg. But these? They're chewy, taste like pure peanut butter and chocolate, and fill you up with a healthy does or protein and fiber, minus the excessive amounts of sugar.

Make these once and I can almost guarantee they'll become your new favorite on-the-go breakfast/midday pick-me-up/post-gym snack. Still need convincing? Let's take a little look at what makes these bars so (deliciously) healthy:

Jump to:

• Ingredients (& Substitutions)
• How to make these peanut butter protein bars
• Can I make these without a food processor?
• Variations
• More healthy snack bar recipes
• Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments and Reviews

Ingredients (& Substitutions)

Vanilla Protein Powder: I used Naked Nutrition's Less Naked Vanilla Whey. It's grass-fed and made with just 3 ingredients: whey protein, vanilla, and organic coconut sugar. The vanilla flavor acts as the perfect base for the added peanut butter and chocolate in this recipe, but you could also try chocolate whey to mix things up. And if you want to avoid dairy, Naked Nutrition also makes vegan protein powder, which is what I use in my almond butter protein balls.

Almond Flour: This helps add some bulk to these bars, along with healthy fats, fiber, and protein. If you don't have any on hand, you could also use sliced almonds; just process them in a food processor until they've reached the consistency of almond flour. Alternatively, any other nut flour should work here.

Gluten-Free Oats: Oats also add bulk, fiber, and protein to these bars, along with extra texture. Use certified gluten-free oats to ensure these bars are gluten-free.

Natural (Unsweetened) Peanut Butter: Aside from being the major flavor-contributor in this recipe, peanut butter also helps the ingredients in these bars stick together, and adds to the fiber and protein content. To keep these bars low in sugar it's important to use all-natural, unsweetened peanut butter. To substitute, use almond butter or any other nut butter.

Pure Maple Syrup: Just a small amount of maple syrup helps sweeten these bars and hold them together. You can also substitute honey, or even a sugar-free liquid sweetener like allulose syrup.

Water: Along with the maple syrup, this helps all of the ingredients in these bars stick together.

Vanilla extract & salt: For added flavor!

Dark Chocolate: I recommend using one sweetened with erythritol, stevia, or another natural sweetener that won't raise the sugar content in these bars. If you want to switch up the flavor, try white chocolate! A handful of brands make it without added sugar.

Coconut Oil: A couple teaspoons of coconut oil will help your chocolate melt smoothly, and keep it just soft enough to slice into once set.

How to make these peanut butter protein bars

Making these bars is truly easier than going to the grocery store to buy some, and I don't say that lightly. There are 3 basic steps:

Pulse together the ingredients in a food processor. Start with the dry ingredients to ensure they're mixed well. Next, add the liquid ingredients and pulse in just until everything comes together.

Press mixture into a square baking pan. Let this chill in the refrigerator for about an hour to help the bars take shape.

Top with melted chocolate & coconut oil. Chill until set, and then slice into individual bars.

Can I make these without a food processor?

Yes! I like making these in a food processor because it's easy to combine everything evenly, but you can also use a simple bowl, whisk, and spatula. Whisk together the dry ingredients first, and then use a spatula to mix in the liquid ingredients, being sure the peanut butter and maple syrup get evenly incorporated. You may need to use your hands at the end to finish bringing all of the ingredients together. I would also recommend using quick-cooking oats in this case, as they have a finer texture, closer to what you get by pulsing the oats in a food processor.

Variations

As mentioned above, you can switch up this recipe with a different flavor of protein powder, different nut butters, or even white chocolate in place of dark chocolate. Think chocolate almond butter protein bars, white chocolate peanut butter protein bars, or even double chocolate peanut butter protein bars! Feel free to get creative.

More healthy snack bar recipes

Here are a few other grab-and-go bar recipes you can try:

5-Ingredient Strawberry Almond Cereal Bars: These crunchy bars are filled with tangy bits of freeze-dried strawberries. They're gluten-free, vegan, and no-bake.

Apple Cinnamon Energy Bars: Readers love this recipe! These bars are studded with chunks of fresh apples and pecans, and naturally sweetened with dates. {Gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free}

Dark Chocolate No-Bake Bars: This is the ultimate choice for chocolate lovers. Oats, almonds, and pecans make up the bulk of these bars, along with chocolate and dates for flavor and sweetness. {Gluten-free, vegan, and refined sugar-free}

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