Protein bars can be made on your own. By doing this, you can control the ingredients and make them to fit your own taste buds. According to findings by Consumer Labs and cited by "Reader's Digest," 60 percent of the protein bars they tested did not have the nutritional content that their label claimed. The main sources of protein in your protein bars will come from nuts, seeds, nut butters, milk and protein powder and you can adjust the amount of protein in your bars by make adjustments to these ingredients.
Step 1
Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
Step 2
Pick the nuts or seeds you will use. Nuts and seeds that you might use include almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds. In addition to being high in protein, nuts contain high amounts of healthy unsaturated fats, omega-3, plant sterols and l-arginine, all of which can help improve your heart health, reports the MayoClinic.com. Combine the nuts and seeds until you have a cup to a cup and a half. Set theses aside for later use.
Step 3
Decide what type of nut butter you want to use. Pick from nut butters such as peanut butter, soy butter or almond butter. Generally, peanut butter will offer you the highest amount of protein. Set aside 1 cup of the nut butter of your choice for later use.
Step 4
Determine if you want to increase the protein contents of the bar by adding a protein power. Protein power options include soy protein power, hemp protein powder or whey protein powder. If you decide to use protein powder, set aside a 1/2 of a cup of the protein power of your choosing, otherwise skip the step.
Step 5
Gather the remaining ingredients. Measure out 3 cups of oatmeal, 1 cup dried fruit, 1 cup agave nectar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ a cup milk of your choice and ¼ of a cup molasses.
Step 6
Mix the pre-measured ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. Add in the peanut butter, milk, molasses, agave nectar, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, protein powder, oatmeal, and vanilla extract. Stir the ingredients together until they are all evenly coated in peanut butter and are sticking together well.
Step 7
Grease a baking pan that is 9 by 13 inches.
Step 8
Spread the protein bar mixture evening into the greased baking pan. Push the mixture into the pan so that it spreads out evenly and is flat on top.
Step 9
Drizzle the protein bar with a 1/2 cup of melted dark chocolate chips. This is an optional step. Adding the chocolate will only increase the flavor and calories of the bar it will not change the amount of protein.
Step 10
Place the baking pan the preheated. Set your timer for 20 minutes and let the protein bars bake.
Step 11
Remove the protein bar from the oven after 20 minutes and let it cool for about 10 minutes before serving.
Step 12
Cut cooled protein bars into bar forms and serve.
Tips and Warnings
- The nutritional value of your protein bar will vary depending on the specific individual ingredients your choose.
Things You'll Need
- 1 cup nuts and seeds
- 1 cup nut butter
- 1/2 cup protein powder
- 3 cups of oatmeal
- 1 cup dried fruit
- 1 cup agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup molasses
- Large mixing bowl
- 9 x 13 inch baking pan
- 1/2 dark chocolate chips
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