Easy No Bake Protein Bars with Chocolate & Peanut Butter
These no bake protein bars are quick, easy, and made with peanut butter, dates, collagen peptides, seeds, oats, and dark chocolate. Each bar has about [X] grams of protein, making them a great meal prep snack with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup raw pumpkin seeds also called pepitas
- ⅓ cup gluten-free old-fashioned oats
- 3 tablespoons hemp hearts
- 6 medjool dates pitted
- 1 cup unflavored collagen peptides
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 2 to 4 tablespoons water
- 1.5 ounces dark chocolate such as Hu Kitchen
- 2 tablespoons chopped nuts (coconut flakes, bee pollen, or cacao nibs) optional
Instructions
- Add the pumpkin seeds, oats, and hemp hearts to a food processor. Blend until coarse and mealy.
- Add the pitted medjool dates and blend until broken down into small pieces.
- Add the collagen peptides and peanut butter. Blend until fully combined.
- Drizzle in 2 tablespoons of water and blend again. Add more water as needed until the mixture starts to clump together.
- Transfer the mixture to parchment paper and press into a rectangle about 4.25 x 10 inches.
- Melt the dark chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a small pot of simmering water. Stir until smooth.
- Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the bars. Add optional toppings if using.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes, or until set.
- Slice into 8 bars with a sharp knife.
Video
Notes
- The oats will continue to absorb moisture as the bars are stored, so it’s better to err on the side of a mixture which is sticky (I found 3 tbsp of water perfect for my bars).
- Use dates which are nice and moist as they’ll break down more easily and help the bars stick together.
- The mixture should hold together when pressed between your fingers before shaping.