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Looking for a homemade granola bar with less sugar and more protein? My no-bake trail mix protein bars are exactly what you’re looking for! They are easy-to-make, vegan, oil-free and gluten-free, too.
Homemade Energy Bars: A Great Easy-to-Make Snack
In case any question remains, I love power bars: energy bars, granola bars, protein bars, you name it. They are such a convenient way to fuel up on the go (anytime, anywhere), so easy to make, and endlessly versatile. Making them at home is such a whopping savings, too, satisfying my inner cheapskate.
It should come as a no surprise, then, that I’m still working on new bar ideas; these no-bake, trail mix granola bars are the latest product of my bar-obsessed imagination. They are lower in added sugar (3 tablespoons of maple syrup for the entire recipe) and overall calories (145 per bar), but also higher in protein (more than 6 grams a serving) than most granola bars, but still scrumptious.
They even have chocolate chips.
My husband packs his lunch on most days, as well as post-workout snacks (he works out before heading to the office) and he expressly asked if I could make some bars with a healthy balance of carbs and protein that fit the latter category.
He also requested that they not be too weird. Shoot! And I was thinking of doing a spirulina bar (no, not really…but maybe. He knows me so well).
So I played around with ideas for a granola bar, and reformulated a no-bake granola bar, adding some great visuals, crunch and flavor with nuts, seeds, dried fruit and a smattering of chocolate chips. All with added protein and less sugar than most granola bars.
The result? My no-bake trail mix protein bars!
Recipe Benefits
- Vegan (egg-free, dairy-free)
- Gluten-free
- Oil-free
- 145 calories per bar
- 6.3 grams protein per bar
- 2.9 grams protein per bar
- No baking, no cooking
- Easy to make
To keep the calories and sugar from the dried fruit in check, I used one of my favorite homemade bar tricks: reserve some of the stir-ins for pressing into the top of bars. It gives the visuals and taste sensation of a bar that is loaded with stir-ins (every bite has goodies), when fact, they are kept to a minimum.
Doesn’t it look as though these bars have heaps of nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips?
Ingredients
The exact amounts of each ingredient are indicated in the recipe card at the end of the post. Toggle between US Customary (volume) and Metric (weights) for preferred measurement option.
- peanut butter powder, (e.g., PB2 or PBFit; see recipe card notes for using nut butter or seed butter alternatives)
- nondairy milk, (e.g., oat milk, soy milk, almond milk)
- pure maple syrup, (see recipe card notes for options)
- vanilla extract
- chopped nuts or seeds, (e.g., walnuts, pecans, sunflower seed kernels, pepitas, almonds, hemp hearts)
- chopped dried fruit, (e.g., dried cherries, dried cranberries, raisins, dried apricots, dried figs)
- quick-cooking oats, (see recipe card notes if using old-fashioned rolled oats; use certified GF oats, as needed)
- crisp rice cereal (see recipe card notes for options)
- miniature semisweet chocolate chips (see notes for options)
What is Peanut Butter Protein Powder?
Peanut butter protein powder is a type of protein powder comprising defatted peanuts (i.e., what remains after most of the peanut oil has been removed) that are then pulverized into a powder.
A small amount of sweetener and salt are often added, but completely plain versions are available, too (e.g., PBTrimmed, PB&Me and TrueNut). When the powder is mixed with water or milk, it is, essentially, peanut butter, with a fraction of the fat, yet all of the protein.
Step by Step Instructions
Note that the complete directions are also in the recipe card below.
- Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Lightly spray or grease exposed sides.
- In a large bowl, stir together the peanut butter powder, milk, maple syrup, vanilla and salt until blended and smooth.
- Set aside HALF of the nuts/seed and 2 TABLESPOONS of the dried fruit; add the remaining nuts/seeds and dried fruit, as well as the oats and crisp grain cereal to the bowl. Stir until well blended (mixture will be stiff). Scrape dough into prepared pan.
- Loosely press dough into an even layer in pan. Evenly sprinkle with top of the dough with the chocolate chips, reserved nuts/seeds, and reserved fruit. Very firmly tamp mixture into pan (use a second loaf pan or a measuring cup to do this).
- Loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Use paper liner to remove bars from pan. Cut crosswise into 7 equal bars.
Storage
Store the no-bake trail mix protein bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 6 months. Note: the bars will keep at room temperature for the day, but do not leave in an especially warm area or they will not hold together.
FAQ
- What can I use in place of peanut butter protein powder? You can substitute 1/2 cup (118 mL) of creamy peanut butter, or other nut/seed butter (e.g., sunflower seed butter, tahini, cashew butter, almond butter) in place of the peanut butter powder & milk.
- What is a good replacement for maple syrup? An equal amount of agave nectar or brown rice syrup can be used in place of the maple syrup. If not strictly vegan, feel free to use an equal amount of honey in place of the maple syrup.
- I only have old-fashioned oats. Can I use them in the recipe? Quick-cooking rolled oats work best in this recipe: they are the same as old fashioned oats, but they have been roughly chopped (that’s why they cook faster). If you have old-fashioned oats, simply place them in a food processor and pulse 1-3 times to coarsely chop the oats. Or spread the oats on a cutting board and give them a rough chop.
- What is a good substitute for miniature chocolate chips? Two tablespoons of regular chocolate chips, chopped, or chopped dark chocolate, can be used in place of the miniature chocolate chips.
- What can be used in place of crisp rice cereal? Other crisp grain cereals, such as crisp quinoa cereal or popped amaranth, can be used in place of the crisp rice cereal.
I hope you enjoy these no-bake trail mix protein bars as much as everyone at my humble abode! 🙂
Related Posts
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- Peanut Butter Coconut Flour Protein Balls {4 ingredients, grainfree, vegan}
- Keto Vegan Peanut Butter Blondies {4-ingredients, Oil-Free}
- Grain-Free Banana Granola {Oil-Free, No Added Sugar}
- 3-Ingredient Grain-Free Granola Bars {Vegan, Keto Option}
No-Bake Trail Mix Protein Bars (Gluten-free)
Equipment
- 9×5 inch loaf pan
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup peanut butter powder, (e.g., PB2 or PBFit; see notes for using alternatives)
- 1/2 cup nondairy milk, (e.g., oat milk, soy milk, almond milk)
- 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup, (see notes for options)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- large pinch salt
- 1/3 cup chopped nuts or seeds, (e.g., walnuts, pecans, sunflower seed kernels, pepitas, almonds, hemp hearts, divided)
- 1/3 cup chopped dried fruit, (e.g., dried cherries, raisins, dried apricots, figs, divided)
- 3/4 cup quick-cooking oats, (see note if using old-fashioned oats; use certified GF oats, as needed)
- 1/3 cup crisp rice cereal, (see notes for options)
- 2 tablespoons miniature semisweet chocolate chips, (see notes for options)
Instructions
- Line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper. Lightly spray or grease exposed sides.
- In a large bowl, stir together the peanut butter powder, milk, maple syrup, vanilla and salt until blended and smooth.
- Set aside HALF of the nuts/seed and 2 TABLESPOONS of the dried fruit; add the remaining nuts/seeds and dried fruit, as well as the oats and crisp grain cereal to the bowl. Stir until well blended (mixture will be stiff). Scrape dough into prepared pan.
- Loosely press dough into an even layer in pan. Evenly sprinkle with top of the dough with the chocolate chips, reserved nuts/seeds, and reserved fruit. Very firmly tamp mixture into pan (use a second loaf pan or a measuring cup to do this).
- Loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
- Use paper liner to remove bars from pan. Cut crosswise into 7 equal bars.
Notes
Nutrition
What are some substitutes for oats that you recommend? Oats contain gluten.
Hi DeAnna,
Oats do not contain gluten, but they can be contaminated with gluten during the growing or processing of the oats when they come into contact with glutenous grains. You can buy certified gluten-free oats, at least here in the United States and Canada (for example, Bobs Red Mill and Quaker both seek GF oats). If you do not have those available, you can use quinoa flakes, or one of my new favorites, millet flakes. Cheers.
I am allergic to peanuts. What else can I use ?
Hi Dianna! You can use another nut or seed butter (e.g., almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter). I have notes in the recipe card for how much to use to replace the peanut butter powder 🙂