Description
These no-bake mini peanut butter protein bars are a quick and easy healthy snack. They combine oats, crisp rice cereal, peanut butter, and protein powder, with an optional dark chocolate drizzle. Perfect for on-the-go, lunchboxes, or post-workout fuel.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup crisp rice cereal
- ¾ cup vanilla protein powder
- ⅓ cup flax meal
- Pinch of salt
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- ¾ cup honey
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the chocolate drizzle (optional): ¼ cup dark chocolate chips, 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Pulse the rolled oats in a food processor or blender 10-15 times until lightly broken down.
- In a large bowl, combine the pulsed oats, crisp rice cereal, protein powder, flax meal, and salt.
- Add the peanut butter, honey, melted coconut oil, and vanilla extract to the dry ingredients. Stir until a sticky dough forms.
- If the mixture is too dry, add 1-2 teaspoons of water until it holds together.
- Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Transfer the mixture to the pan and press it down very firmly and evenly.
- Place the pan in the freezer for at least 30 minutes to firm up.
- Melt the dark chocolate chips and coconut oil together until smooth.
- Remove the set bars from the pan using the parchment paper overhang.
- Drizzle the melted chocolate over the top. Let it set, then slice into 24 mini bars.
Notes
- Vegan Option: Substitute maple syrup or agave for honey and use plant-based protein powder.
- Gluten-Free Option: Ensure oats and crisp rice cereal are certified gluten-free.
- Nut-Free Option: Use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter.
- No Protein Powder: Increase oats slightly and adjust sweetener or nut butter for texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snacks
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mini bar
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: 17 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: N/A