These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are made with just five ingredients and take minutes to make!

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I have a really hard time finding a protein bar where I love all of the ingredients. The convenience of having a high-protein snack or meal that’s easy to eat on the go is great, but I usually find myself compromising on one or more ingredients when I buy them in the store.

Since I have found a protein powder I love in the Just Ingredients brand, I decided I’d use it to make a simple, delicious protein bar that could take the place of the store bought ones. Meet my newest love: Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars!

I set out to make a well-balanced protein bar that would taste delicious, and I definitely did that, but I also ended up with a protein bar that tastes good enough to be a dessert! It’s like a healthy take on Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and I’m here for it!

My family loves these for a midday pick-me-up or a dessert that doesn’t weigh us down. These bars require just a few pantry essentials and a little prep time–these are seriously so quick and easy!

Why You’ll Love These Chocolate PB Bars

Here’s why you’ll love these natural peanut butter bars:

Satisfying Snacks: These bars will keep you satisfied since they have a balance of healthy fats and even when cut into smaller bars have almost 10 grams of protein. I also consider them a healthy and convenient snack for my family that fits into our daily routine.

Great Ingredinets: You use accessible items like peanut butter, and can sweeten them with honey or maple syrup. This adds a natural flavor without any refined sugar.

Rich Texture: These are made without flour and the texture is still amazing! They are not to dry, not too wet…they are just right!

Awesome Taste: What can I say? We love healthy peanut butter cups in our house and that’s what these taste like!

Easy to Customize: They work well for those who want to try vegan protein bars, since you can replace the protein powder with a vegan protein powder of your choice. You can still expect a sweet and filling bite that your family will request often.

Recipe Ingredients-What You Need

If you love Reese’s chocolate peanut butter cups but want their healthier version, I got you. These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are made with only 5 simple ingredients and you may have all of them in your pantry right now!

Peanut butter: PB brings a creamy taste and holds everything together. Make sure to use natural peanut butter with no added sugar.
Vanilla protein powder: It boosts protein content without making the bars too dense. I recommend this Just Ingredients Vanilla Bean Protein Powder.
Honey: Honey sweetens the bars naturally and helps them stick. You can use maple syrup if you prefer.
Stevia-sweetened chocolate chips: They melt smoothly for a sweet topping without more added sugar.
Coconut Oil: Coconut oil has anti-inflammatory properties, but for this recipe is keeps the chocolate from getting too hard as a topping and gives it a shiny finish.

How to Customize Your Homemade Protein Bars

If you want to add some other ingredient or remove one I have used in the original protein bar recipe, no stress. Here are some swaps you can make in this forgiving recipe and enjoy its delightful taste:

Go For A Fully Plant-Based Version

This will be vegan if you use a plant-based protein powder, maple syrup in place of the honey, and make sure your chocolate chips are dairy-free.

Swap Sweeteners

Like I mentioned, maple syrup can be used in place of the honey. You can try other liquid sweeteners if you prefer. You can also try leaving it out! My protein powder is sweetened with stevia, so that may be enough to make a more subtlety sweet bar!

Pick your Protein Flavor

Pick your favorite protein powder flavor and mix it in. I like classic vanilla because it doesn’t clash with the peanut notes, but you can try chocolate, cookies-and-cream, or even strawberry.

Try Different Flours Or Binders

I sometimes use almond flour or defatted peanut flour to thicken my batter—both bind the bars well and keep them light. Ground flaxseed will work well also.

Make them Nut-Free

To make these more allergy-friendly, swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter.

FAQs

How should I store these bars?

I like to store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They remain firm and fresh for about two weeks. If you need them for longer, wrap them individually and freeze them. Thaw at room temperature before eating so you can enjoy that soft yet sturdy bite.

Are these bars suitable for kids?

They work for most kids because they use simple ingredients and rely on healthier sweeteners. You can cut them into smaller squares for portion control or larger squares for a meal replacement.

Step By Step Instructions for Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

You’ll find these instructions in a printable version in the recipe card below.

Combine the peanut butter, protein powder and honey in a medium bowl.
Line an 8X8 inch pan with parchment paper that hangs over the sides.
Press the peanut butter mixture into the pan, manipulating it so it’s equally distributed and an even thickness.
Using a double broiler or microwave, melt the chocolate chips with coconut oil. Spread this on top of the peanut butter mixture.
Place these in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set.
Slice into 12 bars and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

I hope you love these Chocolate Peanut Butter protein bars recipe as much as we do! If you try it (or any of my healthy recipes), please leave a comment and star rating–it’s so helpful! Share a photo of these on Instagram so I can see and I’d love to feature you.

If you’re looking for more healthy snacks, scroll below the recipe card to see my top favorites!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

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Author: Maryea Flaherty of Happy Healthy Mama
Total Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 12 bars 1x
Diet: Gluten Free

Print Recipe

Description

These Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars are quick, easy, and a great snack for quick energy.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup (2 scoops) vanilla bean protein powder (see notes for brand used)
1/4 cup honey
1 cup no sugar chocolate chips (see notes for brand used)
1 tablespoon coconut oil

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Instructions

Combine the peanut butter, protein powder and honey in a medium bowl.
Line an 8X8 inch pan with parchment paper that hangs over the sides.
Press the peanut butter mixture into the pan, manipulating it so it’s equally distributed and an even thickness.
Using a double broiler or microwave, melt the chocolate chips with coconut oil. Spread this on top of the peanut butter mixture.
Place these in the refrigerator until the chocolate is set. Slice into 12 bars and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.