Protein bars are awesome. Portable, healthy and oh-so-tasty, they’re the ideal thing for a quick and nourishing snack for after your workout, between meals or when work is running late and you know you're not going to be home for dinner.
Commercial protein bars, however, can be expensive and full of things that aren’t so good for you. Preservative, additives and artificial flavourings and colourings aren’t things that you want to be eating every day - especially when it’s so easy to make delicious, healthy protein bars in your very own kitchen.
Cooking homemade protein bars yourself not only gives you complete control over the ingredients, the amount of protein and the portion size, it allows you to completely customise the flavour. Who doesn’t want a healthy protein snack which has exactly the amount of chocolate chips you like? We’ve assembled our favourite protein bar recipes for you to create at home.
Matcha green tea protein bars
Matcha green tea is a powerhouse of nutrients. It helps with fat loss and can help to protect against heart disease and improve your energy levels, focus and even your skin health. We included it in The Detox Booster for exactly those reasons. Include it in these protein bars for energy, detoxing ability and to support your immune system.
Ingredients
- 123g nut butter
- 250ml plant milk
- 2 tsp honey, maple syrup or agave
- 170g of The Detox Booster in vanilla
- 80g oat flour
- 2 tbsp matcha powder
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
Line a small brownie tin with baking paper, then set aside.
Put all of the ingredients into a bowl, and using either a hand mixer or a whisk, mix thoroughly until combined. The mixture should be fudgy and thick, with the same texture as cookie dough. Add a little more oat flour or plant milk if it’s too thin or too thick.
Scoop the mixture into a tin and flatten it with the back of a spoon, then cover tightly with cling film and chill overnight.
The next morning, lift the mixture out of the tin and slice it into bar-sized pieces, before wrapping them individually in baking paper or cling film. You can then store them in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze them to eat in the future.
Chocolate brownie bars
There’s nothing like a chocolate brownie - but when you don’t want to reach for an ooey-gooey real brownie because you’re looking for healthy snack ideas, our recipe for these homemade protein bars will hit the spot.
Ingredients
- 160g oat flour
- 2 tbsp chocolate protein powder
- 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp honey, maple syrup or agave
- 2 tbsp plain yogurt
- 2 tbsp plant milk
- A handful of your favourite mix-ins such as nuts or chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a small brownie tin with baking paper, then set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients, stirring thoroughly. Then in another bowl, combine all of the wet ingredients. Stir the wet mixture into the dry mixture, and whisk them together until there are no lumps.
Finally, stir though any add-ins such as chocolate chips, chopped nuts or dried fruit (we love using dried cherries here!).
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until a butter knife inserted into the centre comes out clean.
Cool completely in the pan and then cut into brownie-sized pieces. Keep in the fridge until you’re ready to eat.
Chewy ginger-vanilla protein bars
Sometimes you just want to eat something that tastes like a cookie, but that you know is doing you good. This protein bar recipe for these sweet and chewy homemade healthy snacks will hit the spot. And of course, the Innermost protein powder in these bars will set you up right with all the energy you need for your day.
Ingredients
- 130g rolled oats
- 65g crushed corn flakes
- 65g vanilla protein powder
- 65g chopped almonds
- 30g coconut flakes
- 30g crystallised ginger, chopped into small pieces
- 2 tbsp nut butter
- 2 tbsp honey, maple syrup or agave
- 2 tbsp plant milk
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a small brownie tin with baking paper, then set aside.
In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients except the protein powder and mix thoroughly together.
In a small saucepan, combine the nut butter, sweetener, nut milk and protein powder, stirring until everything melts and comes together.
Pour the contents of the saucepan over the dry ingredients, mixing them together until everything is combined.
Pour the mixture into the brownie tin and then use your hands to press down until it’s compacted into the pan and the top is even and flat. Bake for around 20 minutes, until the edges start to brown.
Cool in the tin before cutting into pieces, and then store in the fridge.
