5-Ingredient Energy Bars
APPETIZERS & SNACKS | PUBLISHED MAR 25, 2020 | UPDATED SEP 11, 2020 | BY TAWNIE
One of the perks of making your own high-protein energy bars at home is that you’re in total control over the ingredients you add in.
This energy bar recipe was so easy and took me all of 20 minutes to put together. And the mix in’s are totally customizable.
You do need to keep the energy bars in the fridge after making to form and firm up for 2-3 hours (or overnight) so they are perfect for making before bed and enjoying with breakfast in the AM!
Energy bar ingredients
I couldn’t have made this energy bar recipe any easier! I wanted to create a healthy snack recipe that was super satisfying, tasted great, and kept you full. For this no-bake energy bar recipe, you’ll need:
- Quick 1-minute oats
- Almond butter or peanut butter
- Coconut oil
- Honey
- Almonds
- Optional mix ins: dried cranberries, chocolate chips, sliced dried apricots, coconut flakes, other nuts, etc.
Health benefits of nuts
It’s been proven time and time again from research the positive impact nut consumption has on our overall heart health. Nuts are tasty, convenient, and make for the perfect snack so you can easily incorporate them into your diet.
Peanuts are a good source of Vitamin E, Magnesium, Folate, Copper, and phosphorus. These healthy energy bars are also rich in fiber, which adds bulk to the diet and helps you feel full longer, while aiding in digestion.
If you have an allergy to nuts (like my hubby!), try using soy nut butter or sunflower seed butter to replace the nut butters!
How to make energy bars
- To make this no-bake energy bar recipe, first gather all the ingredients. Then, mix the pulsed almonds, oats and cranberries in a large bowl. Melt the honey and peanut butter in a saucepan over medium heat before mixing in with the oats.
- Press the homemade energy bar mixture into an 8×8-inch baking dish and store in the fridge for 2-3 hours (or overnight) and then cut into 8 bars! They can last up to 5 days in the fridge.
Are these energy bars gluten free?
If you purchase gluten-free oats or oats not processed in a facility with gluten, then yes!
Can I make these bars vegan?
Yes! To make this energy bar recipe vegan, use organic pure maple syrup instead of honey. Be sure to buy pure maple syrup and not pancake syrup (which is often made with corn syrup).
Can I freeze energy bars?
Yes, you can freeze these healthy energy bars! To do so, wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap and then place in a freezer baggie. Press out all of the air and then store in the freezer until ready to eat. They’ll stay fresh for up to 1 month in the freezer.
Tips for making energy bars
- Quick cook oats are a must for this energy bar recipe. Old-fashioned oats are slightly too large and chewy for no-bake energy bars, and steel cut oats aren’t tasty raw.
- I’ve said this already, but feel free to play around with the mix in’s in these bars! You can use any dried fruit in this recipe, but you’ll want to dice larger pieces of fruit like dried apples or apricots before stirring them into the energy bar mixture.
- I prefer using all-natural nut butters for these healthy energy bars because they don’t contain added oils and sugars. But use whatever you have on hand and play around with it!
