Description

These Healthy Protein Bars combine the wholesome goodness of rolled oats, natural nut butter, and flaxseed with the natural sweetness of banana and honey. Packed with protein powder and your choice of mix-ins like dried fruits or nuts, these bars make an ideal nutritious snack or post-workout treat. Easy to prepare and no baking required, they are perfect for a quick energy boost on the go.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (135 g)
3/4 cup peanut butter (or favorite nut butter or sunflower butter) (180 g)
1 banana, mashed (120 g)
1/3 cup honey (or agave or real maple syrup) (110 g)
Pinch salt
½ cup ground flax seed (55 g)
1 cup protein powder (120 g)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (10 ml)

Mix-ins (Optional)

3/4 cup chopped dates, dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, or raisins), mini chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes, nuts

Instructions

Combine Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly mix rolled oats, peanut butter, mashed banana, honey, salt, ground flax seed, protein powder, vanilla extract, and your choice of mix-ins until well combined. The mixture should be soft and not dry or crumbly. If too dry, add a splash of water, milk, or extra honey to adjust the texture.
Press Into Pan: Line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it. Firmly press the mixture into the pan to ensure the bars hold together well and won’t crumble when set.
Chill and Set: Place the pan in the refrigerator and chill for at least 1 hour to allow the bars to set properly and firm up for easy slicing.
Slice and Store: After chilling, remove the bars from the pan and cut into desired sizes. Store the protein bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks to maintain freshness and texture.

Notes

If the mixture feels too sticky, refrigerate it for 10–15 minutes before pressing into the pan for easier handling.
You can substitute peanut butter with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for different flavors.
For a vegan version, use agave syrup or maple syrup instead of honey and verify that the protein powder is plant-based.
Add a pinch of cinnamon or a dash of cocoa powder for extra flavor variations.
Mix-ins can be customized to your preference but avoid large chunks to maintain bar stability.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Category: Snack
Method: No-Cook
Cuisine: American

Keywords: healthy protein bars, no bake protein bars, oat protein bars, vegan protein bars optional, homemade protein snack, flaxseed bars, nut butter bars