Member-only story
A Quick, Tasty, Super-Easy DIY Protein Bar Recipe
Because Your Favorite Protein Bar is Probably Loaded with Junk!

I’m obsessed with protein bars because I’m not a big breakfast eater, yet I’d like to get in 20–40 grams of protein before my gym session.
I’ve tried to find the perfect protein bar but they’re always gummed up with ingredients that allow them to sit on a shelf for weeks or months at a time. And don’t get me started on all the added sugar — what’s with the obsession flavoring everything so it tastes like birthday cake!?! I’d found a couple bars that were decent in the refrigerated section but they were too expensive. Finally, I threw in the towel and faced the facts *sigh* the perfect protein bar didn’t exist.
The adage if you want something done right, do it yourself seemed to apply…
First, I looked online for recipes. None of them came close to the amount of protein I needed and they all had loads of added sugar. So, I began toying with my own protein bar recipe. I tried a lot of different ingredients to boost the protein as much as possible without solely relying on protein powder. I experimented with various ingredients so the bars would be sweet enough without adding any sugar. I’m not afraid of fat but I wanted there to be a sensible balance between fat, carbs, and protein. My protein bars also had to be affordable and easy to make.
After many iterations, I concocted a recipe that was sweet, not birthday cake sweet, but a couple of ripe bananas and some raisins gave me enough sweetness. The sugars in bananas and raisins are pretty high per serving, but the oats and nuts add enough fiber to mitigate a sugar rush. Plus, oats and nuts have a decent amount of protein too. I used peanut butter as my fat for flavor and to give them a nice mouth feel, not too dry. Since I was adding other nuts and seeds, I didn’t want to add too much peanut butter because the fats add up quickly. But I wanted more of the peanut butter flavor and protein so I added peanut butter powder. I included 2 complete proteins: hemp hearts and whey protein isolate. Bonus, walnuts and hemp hearts are rich in omega 3 fatty acids which are great for optimal heart and brain function.