Almost every single health, fitness or baking guru has released a recipe (or five) for homemade protein bars.
But with so many options available at the grocery store, is it really worth the effort?
The simple answer?
Yes! Here are a few reasons why we love making our own protein bars.
Control the ingredients
Have you read the ingredients list on the back of your protein bars?
Yep, there is a lot in there. Often they are full of artificial ingredients which don’t provide any health benefits and could even be detrimental to your health.
Many variations are also full of sugar or contain artificial sweeteners, which can affect your digestive system.
Save money
$3 protein bars??
Ouch!
Making them yourself will bring that cost well below the $1 mark for each protein bar.
Your wellbeing
Baking and cooking may seem like a chore, but it can be a great hobby, helping you relax and clear your mind after a busy day.
If you haven’t got much baking experience, protein bars are a great way to start because they are so easy to make. After just 10 minutes of work, you’ll often feel proud of having created something tasty and nutritious.
Use up what’s in your cupboard.
If your cupboard is full of random packets of nuts, half a bag of dates, or various unfinished nut butter… then making protein bars is a great way to use them up.
Simply search for a protein bar made up of the ingredients you have left over, and you are bound to find a recipe that contains them.
Encourages healthy snacking.
We are all guilty of grabbing a bag of chips or a chocolate bar when the mid-afternoon hunger pangs kick in. If that’s what your body really wants, don’t deny yourself! But if you know you have a yummy, sweet homemade protein bar sitting in your cupboard, you may just find you are craving that instead.
Protein bars are a great way to help you hit your macros and stick to a healthy diet while still eating something that you really enjoy.
Homemade protein bar recipes
Bake or no-bake?
Both methods of making your own protein bars can produce some delicious results, so it all depends on how much time you have and the ingredients in your kitchen. We suggest that you have a few different recipes on hand so you don’t get bored.
First, let’s try out a few no-bake recipes…
Oatmeal protein bars - vanilla protein powder
Only five ingredients, takes just 10 minutes and tastes amazing? We’re in! This Jar of Lemons recipe is perfect if you are limited on time and need a quick fix of protein to power up your day: check out this recipe.
All you need for this recipe is almond butter, rolled oats, honey, protein powder and mini chocolate chips.
The bars have 10 grams of protein per serving, although calories are on the higher end, coming in at 259 kcal. This makes them a good option if you are heading to the gym and it’s been a while since your last meal.
Peanut butter protein bars - unsweetened protein powder
Another super simple recipe that contains fewer calories (160 kcal per serving) and more protein with a whopping 12 grams per serving.
The perfect mid-morning snack! https://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/protein-bars-recipe/
The main recipe is made from a peanut butter mixture, but Kate offers some alternatives so you can keep things interesting. However, the protein and kcal content varies with the different flavors.
And now for the baked recipes…
Granola protein bars - vanilla protein powder
While you have probably been told many times to avoid high-sugar shop-bought granola bars, the ones you make at home can be much healthier.
If you have 30 minutes to spare, you can bake up some delicious chewy goodness with this recipe: https://www.chewoutloud.com/protein-granola-energy-bars/
Coming in at just over 200 kcal and 8 grams of protein per serving, plus containing plenty of fiber and superfood chia seeds, this recipe is a great all-rounder.
Sweet potato gluten-free protein bars - chocolate protein powder
A straightforward baked recipe that contains 13 grams of protein in every service with just 184 kcal.
Even though this is a baked recipe, it’s pretty quick: https://www.theleangreenbean.com/sweet-potato-protein-bars/
Did you know that sweet potatoes support your vision, good gut health and brain function? Lots of extra goodness with your protein bars.
Should I start making my own protein bars?
Homemade protein bars are vastly healthier than most store-bought protein bars. Store-bought protein bars are often packed full of sugar and preservatives that add no nutritional value to the product.
With your homemade recipes, you control the level of sugar and protein that goes into the bars, and you can use lots of healthy fresh ingredients to complement the benefits of the extra protein.
The foundation of any good protein bar is, of course, high-quality protein powder. The extra ingredients involved in protein bars reduce the protein content of the overall snack, so it’s important to start off with a protein powder that has a high concentration of hard-working protein.
Crazy Nutrition 100% TRI Protein Powder has 23-24 grams of protein per serving, and we use three different types of protein to deliver a three-phase release. This makes the protein easier to digest and gives your muscles a sustained energy source over a longer period of time.
Whey protein powder also has a smoother taste compared with plant proteins making it perfect for making protein bars.
So order yourself some of the best whey protein on the market, and get mixing!
