Despite trying many brands of store-bought protein bars, they never seem to hit the spot for me. That's when I started making my own bars at home, so that I can control exactly what I put into them. These No-Bake Chocolate Protein Oat Bars are so easy to make, and trust me when I say - their taste is unmatched when it comes to protein bars.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

I'm a huge fan of making my own protein bars and granola bars at home, as opposed to buying the pre-packaged ones from the store. I can customize them to my tastes with natural and nutritious ingredients, without the artificial additives and refined sugars of many store-bought bars. Why do I love these so much?

• Wholesome and nutritious - crafted with nutrient-packed whole foods, these homemade protein oat bars outshine their store-bought counterparts.
• Easily customize the flavours and textures of these bars. The recipe is entirely adaptable to suit your preferences and whatever you have on hand!
• Easily caters to various dietary needs with simple ingredient swaps, whether you're vegan, nut-free, or gluten-free.
• Skip the oven – these bars require no baking, making preparation quick and keeping your kitchen cool.
• Despite their simplicity, these bars pack a punch of flavour that might just surprise you. Consider this fair warning: they're addictive!

Ingredients

Please see recipe card below for exact quantities.

• Protein powder - I like using unsweetened and unflavoured protein powder so that I can flavour and sweeten my bars myself, but chocolate and vanilla flavoured can work here as well.
• Oats - I prefer using old-fashioned rolled oats for its chewier texture, although quick oats can work here too. Avoid steel-cut oats as they're not suitable for this recipe.
• Seeds - my blend features chia seeds and hemp hearts, but feel free to personalize with your favourite varieties!
• Chocolate chips - double up on the chocolatey goodness by adding mini chocolate chips.
• Coconut flakes - using this as a topping, for that delicious coconut flavour and texture.
• Unsweetened cocoa powder - this will give us our rich, chocolatey flavour. If using chocolate protein powder, you may want to scale this back depending on how rich you like your chocolate flavour to be.
• Salt - to help bring the flavours out and make them pop.
• Honey - I prefer using honey for its natural sweetness and to help bind the ingredients together. But you can use other sweeteners such as maple syrup or agave nectar as well.
• Natural peanut butter - while I prefer natural peanut butter, almond or cashew butter are also great substitutes. For nut-free options, consider sunflower seed butter for a similar creaminess. Just make sure it has a runny consistency for ease of mixing.
• Melted coconut oil - as a great binding agent, coconut oil ensures all ingredients adhere together while infusing a delightful coconut flavour. If you're not a fan, you can also use unsalted butter (if opting for salted butter, you can exclude the additional salt from this recipe).
• Unsweetened almond milk - just a splash to help offset the dryness from the protein powder. Any other milk of your choice works here as well.
• Vanilla extract - adds a touch of delicious vanilla flavour, enhancing the overall taste profile of the bars. If using vanilla protein powder, you can exclude this.

Instructions

STEP 1: Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and give it a mix.

STEP 2: Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients (making sure to melt the coconut oil first). Mix thoroughly until well combined.

STEP 7: Cut it up into squares or rectangular bars, in whatever size you like (I usually slice it into 12 square bars). Enjoy!

Storage

These bars are fantastic for meal prep. Just store them in the refrigerator for up to one week or freeze them for up to three months. Use an airtight container with a sealable lid to extend shelf life and freshness, and protect against freezer burn. My personal favourite are these freezer-safe Rubbermaid containers - their sealable and stackable lids make storing these bars (and all my other meal prep) simple and easy.

FAQ

I'm finding it too difficult to mix by hand - it seems too dry. What should I do?

If the mixture becomes too thick and hard to mix manually, especially when adding additional dry ingredients like extra protein powder or oats, you may need to adjust the consistency. Simply add a splash of milk, honey, or nut butter - making sure to mix small amounts in gradually, and mixing thoroughly until you reach a mouldable and mixable texture.

Do I really need to refrigerate these before cutting into them? I don't want to wait!

To achieve the best results, let the mixture chill in the fridge for a minimum of 2-3 hours before cutting them up. Letting the mixture solidify and harden in the fridge is where the magic happens, otherwise you'll end up with crumbly dough that falls apart. It's a vital step, so hang tight for just a little while longer to let it to its thing!

My peanut butter and honey aren't drippy anymore. What do I do?

I suggest using a fresh jar of natural nut/seed butter and honey for a runny, drippy texture that's easy to stir by hand. It's important to note that they may solidify or crystallize after a long period of time, especially after they've been opened. If you run into this, you can gently heat them before mixing with the other ingredients. This will ensure a smoother consistency for easier mixing.

Other No-Bake Oat Bar Flavours to Try

Check out these other easy and delicious No-Bake Oat Bar recipes:

📖 Recipe

No-Bake Chocolate Protein Oat Bars

Toasty Apron

Despite trying many brands of store-bought protein bars, they never seem to hit the spot for me. That's when I started making my own bars at home, so that I can control exactly what I put into them. These No-Bake Chocolate Protein Oat Bars are so easy to make, and trust me when I say - their taste is unmatched when it comes to protein bars.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Chilling Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 20 minutes mins

Category Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12 bars

Calories 326 kcal

Suggested Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Spatula
• Cake pan (8x8)
• Silicone turner
• Meal prep containers

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

1x2x3x

Dry ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups rolled oats
• ▢ 1 cup protein powder
• ▢ ¼ cup chocolate chips
• ▢ 2 tablespoon chia seeds
• ▢ 2 tablespoon hemp hearts
• ▢ ¼ cup coconut flakes
• ▢ ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt

Wet ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup natural peanut butter
• ▢ ½ cup honey
• ▢ 2 tablespoon unsweetened almond milk
• ▢ 2 tablespoon coconut oil - melted
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Combine dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and give it a mix.
• Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients (making sure to melt the coconut oil first). Mix thoroughly until well combined.
• Line the bottom and sides of an 8x8 or 9x9 baking tray with parchment paper. Secure it in place by clipping the edges with binder clips to prevent any shifting during prep.
• Pour the mixture into the baking tray, then use a spatula to spread it evenly. Press it down firmly to eliminate any air gaps.
• Sprinkle coconut flakes on top of the mixture, and then flatten it again with the back of a flat spatula. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
• When it's ready, remove the hardened mixture from the baking tray and place it onto a cutting board.
• Cut it up into squares or rectangular bars, in whatever size you like (I usually slice it into 12 square bars). Enjoy!

Notes

1. Video: Watch the step-by-step video tutorial here.
2. Storage: You can store this away in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Use an airtight container with a sealable lid for freshness.
3. Make sure to firmly press the mixture into the baking tray to get rid of any air pockets - this will ensure you end up with densely packed bars that don't fall apart. I like placing a strip of parchment paper over the mixture, and pressing it down with the base of a mason jar.
4. To prevent shifting while pouring and pressing, secure the parchment paper to the edges of the baking tray using binder clips.
5. Combine and mix the dry ingredients first before adding the wet ones. This will ensure the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
6. Boost the nutritional value by incorporating your favourite superfoods like hemp hearts or ground flaxseed, or consider adding additional supplements for an extra health boost.
7. For dietary preferences, such as gluten-free, vegan, or nut-free, make easy substitutions like gluten-free oats, maple syrup instead of honey for vegan, or seed butter for a nut-free alternative. This recipe is incredibly versatile and adaptable.
8. I prefer unflavoured protein powder, but if using chocolate flavoured protein, you may want to scale down (or remove) the cocoa powder, depending on how rich you like your chocolate flavour to be. Similarly, if using vanilla flavoured protein, you can exclude the vanilla extract.

STEP-BY-STEP VIDEO

You can find step-by-step video tutorials for all of my recipes on my YouTube Channel. There you'll find many more tips and tricks to help you along!

Visit the YouTube Channel

Nutrition

Serving: 1 barCalories: 326kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 17gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 5mgSodium: 63mgPotassium: 246mgFiber: 4gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 46mgIron: 2mg

Note: Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Keyword breakfast, easy, granola bars, healthy, oat bars, protein bar, snacks

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!