Homemade Protein Bars

Two recipes for protein bars. Homemade protein bars with hemp and chia seeds are a tasty, healthy, and frugal alternative to store bought protein bars.

He had asked me to pick up some protein bars he could take on his long rides or to have right after. I always try to have a green protein smoothie within 30 minutes of my own workouts to build muscle, but that’s not always convenient. I usually avoid protein bars because they often have added junky ingredients, excessive sugar, and are very processed. Not to mention the cost! At $1 to $3 per bar, I noticed my grocery bill increasing with Mr. Yummy Mummy’s protein bar consumption. So it was time to make them myself. I’ve made these homemade protein bars several times this week because they went so quickly. I grabbed a couple of protein balls for myself as I ran out the door with the girls for school, not having time for breakfast. They are great for active kids who need energy for sports too.
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Continue reading for the recipes!
The pumpkins in our mini patch are almost ready, and getting me into the fall spirit. So I made some pumpkin protein balls with hemp and chia seeds in addition to our a peanut butter version.
The peanut butter protein bars were the winner of our taste test. But we did like the pumpkin as well, and they are a fun seasonal variation. Plus they are much lower-cal if that matters to you. Personally I’m fine with fat/calories from nuts.
Protein Bar Recipes
Pumpkin Protein Balls with Dark Chocolate and Pecans
printer friendly recipe
printer friendly recipe
Yield: 16 balls
Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups rolled oats (gluten free if needed)
- 3 scoops vanilla protein powder (gluten free if needed)
- 1-2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup pumpkin puree (not sweetened)
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 2 tablespoons chopped dark chocolate (gluten free chocolate if needed)
- ¼ cup chopped toasted pecans
- 1/4 cup additional chopped chocolate for drizzle (optional)
Instructions:
- Place oats, protein powder, chia seeds, hemp seeds, salt, and pumpkin pie spice into the bowl of a mixer. Whisk to combine.
- Add pumpkin puree and syrup and beat on low just to combine. Add chocolate and pecans and again stir to combine. Roll heaping tablespoonfuls into balls and set on a cookie sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. If adding a chocolate drizzle on top, melt additional chocolate chunks in a microwave safe bowl at 20 second intervals, stirring between, until melted. Use a fork to drizzle chocolate over the tops of the balls. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition Information: *as calculated by My Fitness Pal. Facts are approximate.
Serving size: 1 ball without chocolate drizzle
Calories: 86
Fat: 3.6 grams
Sodium: 5.9 mg
Total Carbs: 10.9 g
Dietary Fiber: 2 g
Sugars: 3.6 g
Protein: 4.5 g
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Peanut Butter Protein Bars
printer friendly recipe
printer friendly recipe
Yield: 25 squares
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups oats (gluten free if needed)
- 3 scoops vanilla protein powder (gluten free if needed)
- 1 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2 tablespoons hemp seeds
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (if using unsalted peanut butter)
- 3/4 cup peanut or almond butter (sun butter should work as well)
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons chopped dark chocolate (gluten free chocolate if needed)
- ¼ cup toasted pecans
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions:
- Line an 8-inch square baking dish with waxed paper.
- Place oats, protein powder, seeds, and salt in the bowl of a mixer. Whisk to combine. Add peanut or almond butter, honey, chocolate, and pecans and beat on medium-low to combine.
- Add water until mixtures is still slightly crumbly, but holds together well when pressed. Press dough evenly into the prepared baking dish. Refrigerate until firm and chilled, about 1 hour. Using the wax paper liner, pull the entire dish of oat mixture out and set on a cutting board. With a very sharp chefs knife, cut into squares. I like to cut mine into small bite-sized pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information: *as calculated by My Fitness Pal. Facts are approximate.
Calories: 97.1
Fat: 5.7
Sodium: 3.4 mg
Total Carbs: 7.5 g
Dietary Fiber: 1.4 g
Sugars: 2.9 g
Protein: 4.5 g
Vegan Option: use a vegan protein powder like PlantFusion, vegan chocolate, and maple instead of honey.
Gluten Free Option: Make sure your oats, protein powder, and chocolate are gf.
Nut-Free Option: Omit the pecans and use sunflower seed butter instead of nut butter.
There is so much deliciousness in these! Yum!
Very true statement, if you make it, you control what is in your food. Of course, time is always the issue.
Love these protein bars. This would be ideal for me as a morning grab n' go breakfast with my coffee.
Thanks for sharing.
Velva
Oh, don't these sound good! You always come up with such tasty recipes. I signed up for a hardcore workout program today so I might have to make these to introduce some extra protein into my diet 🙂
These look absolutely delicious!! 🙂
Those pumpkin protein balls are calling my name – yum!
So smart to make your own bars, love the PB ones especially!
Good idea!!! If I wanted to send some of these protein bars to my child in school (this, have to be nut-free), is there a substitute for the 1/4 cup chopped pecans in the pumpkin protein balls? Can I just drop that or is it better to replace with a non-nut alternative? Thanks!
Hi Jen! Yes, you can just leave the nuts out. Enjoy! And if you want to try the peanut butter ones, you can use sunflower seed butter and omit the nuts and it will also be nut-free!
these are darling and such a wonderful way to incorporate fiber and protein-especially for the kids!
Not sure my comment went thru but I said it was a wonderful way to incorporate fiber and protein and great for kids! love it
Finally; I've been trying to find a good homemade protein bar! Store-bought ones often have some weird ingredients. These both look great, but I'm really in love with the pumpkin ones. Awesome!
YUM! I'm actually thinking of combining your wonderful recipes for SunButter Pumpkin Protein Bars. Thanks for the inspiration!
Great idea, Elizabeth! Love it!
love these! I am sharing on my Facebook page
Oh my! These look great! I use hemp and chia in all my vegan, raw protein bars too. I just made some with acai, maca and cacao with hemp and they are the best thing! I love your recipe and will have to add it to my favorites collection! PS- Your photos are so lovely and I'm so jealous that you're growing your own pumpkins! Pumpkin is one of my favorite foods<3 Thanks for the yummy recipes!
Is there a substitution for protein powder?
So trying these-thanks for the idea! My sons will love 🙂
Hi Rachel, it should be fine if you simply omit the powder, though I haven't tried it and can't say for sure. You could also try this recipe: https://www.yummymummykitchen.com/2013/04/easy-no-bake-granola-bars-vegan-gluten.html
And add the chia and hemp seeds if you like them 🙂
Great idea! What about geen protein smoothie? Where I can find recepie?:)
Thanks Kasia, and stay tuned, I'm planning to post my favorite green protein smoothie soon!
This Looks so fascinating, anything that’s a protein bar is excellent in my book. Thank you.