Printable Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Bars Recipe Card
No bake healthy peanut butter oatmeal protein bars are easy to make, gluten-free and great for a grab and go breakfast or snack! Feel free to print or pin this recipe card for easy reference when shopping for ingredients or making these protein bars.
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories: 255kcal
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup lightly salted roasted peanuts , crushed
- 1 1/2 cups old fashioned rolled oats , gluten free if needed
- 1 cup dried dates , pitted
- 1/4 cup agave nectar
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons peanut butter powder
- 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cup pea protein powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Optional first step: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (176 degrees Celsius). Line an 8″ square baking pan with aluminum foil and spray lightly with cooking spray. Spread the oats and chopped peanuts in an even layer on the baking pan. Toast them in the oven for 10 minutes. This gives the peanuts and oats extra flavor.
- Add oats and chopped peanuts to a large mixing bowl.
- Process dates in a food processor until they become a ball.
- Add the date ball and cinnamon to the large mixing bowl with the oats and peanuts. Mix with a sturdy spoon until well-combined.
- Whisk together the vanilla, agave, applesauce, peanut butter powder, and pea protein powder in a small saucepan until smoothly combined. Heat through over low heat. Do not boil.
- Add the applesauce mixture to the mixing bowl and mix together until all ingredients are evenly incorporated. Don’t forget to reach to the bottom of the bowl to make sure none of the oats or peanuts settle out of the mixture while you’re mixing. This may take a few minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the pan and press it down with a spatula until it forms a flat, even layer about 1/4 inch thick. (It’s okay to estimate here – there have been a few times when I got it a bit thicker. But they should be about as thick as those protein or granola bars you might have gotten in the grocery store before you decided to make your own.)
- Put the pan with the protein bars in the refrigerator and let it chill for at least 2 hours.
- Cut the mix into eight evenly sized protein bars. It’s okay to hand one to your kids if they ask for one!
- I like to try one after I cut them just to make sure they turned out okay. (They usually do.) They can also be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. They can also survive being taken along in lunch boxes if you put them in a resealable plastic bag.
Nutrition
Calories: 255kcal