Homemade Protein Bars Recipe [without protein powder] 🌱 (2024)

Published: Jan 6, 2018 · Modified: Aug 2, 2023 by Helene Dsouza

Helene Dsouza

My homemade baked protein bars are prepared without protein powder but include instead seeds, nuts, dried fruits and milk powder. The consistency is smooth and non-chunky.

Total Time: 42 minutes minutes

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes minutes

10 Bars

4.8 from 9 votes

RECIPE

I came up with these homemade protein bars without protein powder because I couldn't get what I was looking for in stores.

My homemade protein bar recipe has a smooth non-chunky consistency, is made from scratch without protein powder and includes whole real ingredients.

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📜 Ingredients

I aimed for the protein bars to have a smooth texture, not chunky. It's important to prevent the bars from crumbling when you bite into them.

I chose ingredients that work well together. As a result, the taste is great, and the texture is just right.

Most importantly, I didn't want to include protein powder in my homemade protein bars.

That way, you can make these without having to purchase artificial protein powder. In fact, most ingredients are natural and shouldn't be all too difficult to find in stores.

Here is an overview of what you will need, US and metric measurements are in the recipe card below.

Oats — Instant, quick cooking rolled oats.
Flax Seeds — can be skipped if you can't get this ingredient, or you can use chia seeds instead.
Walnuts
Peanuts — Unsalted
Coconut — Shredded fresh or dried coconut, whichever you can get.
Coconut Oil — or as an alternative a neutral flavored oil such as vegetable oil or sunflower oil.
Almond Flour — brown (unpeeled) or white (peeled) almond flour.
Milk Powder — if you want to make this vegan, get vegan “milk” powder.
Raisins or Sultanas
Dates — semi sticky and not too dry
Honey — to make this vegan, use sugar syrup as an alternative.
Warm Water

📖 Recipe

Homemade Protein Bars without Protein Powder Recipe

My homemade baked protein bars are prepared without protein powder but include instead seeds, nuts, dried fruits and milk powder. The consistency is smooth and non-chunky.

4.78 from 9 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Diet: Low Salt, Vegetarian

Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 17 minutes minutes

Total Time: 42 minutes minutes

Servings: 10 Bars

Calories: 334kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

For the Protein Bar Mass

▢ 8.8 ounces Oats quick cooking
▢ 1.4 ounces Flax Seeds
▢ 1.8 ounces Walnuts
▢ 2.5 ounces Roasted Peanuts
▢ 1.8 ounces Coconut Raw Freshly Shredded OR dried shredded
▢ 1 Tbs Coconut Oil or other neutral vegetable oil
▢ 2.5 ounces Almond Flour brown or white
▢ 1 Tablespoon Milk Powder or Vegan Milk Powder
▢ 1.8 ounces Raisins
▢ 2.1 ounces Dates
▢ 5 Tablespoons Honey organic
▢ ¾ cup + 1 Tbsp Lukewarm Water

To Grease

▢ 1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil for greasing the mold

US - Metric

Instructions

Grind your oats, flax seeds, walnuts, and peanuts to a fine consistence.
8.8 ounces Oats, 1.4 ounces Flax Seeds, 1.8 ounces Walnuts, 2.5 ounces Roasted Peanuts
Place the ground ingredients together into a mixing bowl.
Grind the shredded coconut with the coconut oil and add it to the dried ingredients.
1.8 ounces Coconut Raw Freshly Shredded, 1 Tbs Coconut Oil
Add the almond flour and milk powder to the mixture.
2.5 ounces Almond Flour, 1 Tablespoon Milk Powder
Grind the raisins. It will turn into a sticky mass. Keep aside.
1.8 ounces Raisins
See Also
Gluten-Free Buckwheat Waffle Recipe - TeriLyn Adams
Remove the seed core from the dates and grind those as well.
2.1 ounces Dates
Add the ground raisin and dates to the other mixed ingredients, and crumble the dried fruits with your hands into the other dry ingredients so that they get properly incorporated.
To finish the mass, mix your honey into the warm water and pour it all over the whole mass. Mix it properly!
5 Tablespoons Honey, ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon Lukewarm Water
Preheat your oven to 320 Fahrenheit/ 160 Celsius.
Now grab your baking dish, preferably a square or rectangular one (I didn't have a square one at the time as you can see) to make your life easier, and grease it with the Coconut Oil.
1 Tablespoon Coconut Oil
Spread your mass equally into the mold and flatten it at the top by pressing down. The mass should be pressed down and without any air pockets.
Bake at 320 Fahrenheit/ 160 Celsius for about 20 minutes uncovered. The protein bar mass is done when it is still soft and not too dry. *see Notes
Keep it to cool and then cut your bars into your desired size. Store in an airtight container.

Notes

I haven't provided cup measurements for this recipe because it's a baking recipe, and you need to measure out the ingredients properly to get the consistency right. Cups hardly ever result in a consistent texture in this recipe. I have tried it out for you a few times, so that you don't have to.

*If you bake your protein bar mass as per my instructions, your bars will result in a soft semi chewy and not too dry consistency. You can bake them longer and your bars will turn out much drier, but they will also store for much longer that way. In conclusion, the longer you bake them, the longer your homemade protein bars will remain good, but they will also be much drier and they will crumble.

Equipment

▢
Blender
▢
Silicone Spatula
▢
9 x 9 Baking Dish or 23x15 cm

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Homemade Protein Bars without Protein Powder Recipe

Amount Per Serving (558 g)

Calories 334Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 6g30%

Polyunsaturated Fat 5g

Monounsaturated Fat 3g

Cholesterol 1mg0%

Sodium 53mg2%

Potassium 297mg8%

Carbohydrates 39g13%

Fiber 6g24%

Sugar 15g17%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 9IU0%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 61mg6%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

💡 Tips

Use a powerful blender to blend whole ingredients small and smooth.

The dates, raisins, and honey help in sticking the other ground ingredients together. That way, your protein bars hold better together.

Milk powder in this recipe was my solution to not having to use protein powder and still adding a considerable quantity of protein to the bars.

The protein bars are better digested in smaller sizes, and that is why I am making mine smaller.

The weight of my homemade protein bars is 2.5 ounces/70 grams, which is a nice smaller portion for anyone.

However, you can cut them up as you like and then store them in an airtight container, away from humidity.

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💭 FAQs

How long do these last?

Left in room temperature and stored in an airtight container, your homemade protein bars will be good for at least 7 days. If you live in a humid, warm climate, store them in your fridge in an airtight container.

Can I freeze a batch for later?

Yes, you can freeze a batch of cut up and prepped protein bars in a suitable freezer-friendly container. Keep them 2 months at most in your freezer (just to be safe). Thaw them overnight in your fridge.

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