Vegan Peanut Butter Choc Chip Protein Bars

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Happy Monday, Bloggie Friends!  Are you back at work, school, or are you lucky enough to have the day off and you’re lounging around the house reading blogs?  What did you do over the weekend?  Saturday I went to yoga like I mentioned and hung out with the fam the rest of the day.  Sunday I went to yoga, and then ran around like a mad woman to 3 grocery stores: WF’s, TJ’s, and the regular grocery.  I know, you’re jealous you couldn’t come on the Sunday Morning Shuffle Mad Dash with me to 3 markets.  Kidding!  I came home and got to work on fun stuff like cleaning produce, folding the laundry, and working on my yoga & raw food retreat details, which will be announced this week.   Today I went and did some more yoga and have been busy making phone calls and organizing details, and just being crazy with the housework; laundry, dishes, veggie chopping, and taking care of my peanut.  Whew, I’ve been busy!

Close up of little girls face smiling

Thanks for your feedback, and if anyone wants to chime in more about why you can or cannot attend, let me know!  Obviously price is an issue, as is time of year/dates/scheduling, but we’re talking a week on the beach in San Diego in August.  Hello, this is gonna be fun!!!!

But moving along, I’m glad you enjoyed my Weekly Highlights & Recap post where I recapped everything from Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Cherry Balls

Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Cherry Balls
Close up of Raw Vegan Dark Chocolate Cherry Balls

to Raw Salads & Homemade Vegan Salad Dressings

Mixed salad with Homemade Vegan Salad DressingsGreen salad with Vegetables and Homemade Vegan Salad Dressings

to My Balls & Holes Compilation Post

Close up of one Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ball Raw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls on plate

to my Chocolate Recipes Compilation Post.

High Raw Vegan Chocolate MacaroonsRaw Vegan Dark Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegan Creme de Menthe Bars

Go check out the Highlight Reel from Last Week if you Missed It!

And if you missed the Chia Seeds Give Away Winner for the contest, please go Check That Out!

Large bag of Chia Seeds

And yesterday I made you slobber all over your screen teased you with Raw Vegan Cheesecake

Raw Vegan Cheesecake
Just a few ingredients, and it’s soy-free, gluten-free, vegan…
Vegan Cheesecake in container with slice cut out

But Really, It’s just Plain Awesome!

Cheesecake Topping spread over crustCheesecake topping dolloped on crust in container

But let’s Move On to Today’s Recipe…
There are so many ways to create homemade protein, energy, or snack bars.  Whatever you call them, I call ’em good!  I know Susan made some, Sheri has made some, Pam just made some, Julie Lynn made some, Kris just made some, and countless others have made their own homemade energy & protein bars.  Heck, I even made homemade LaraBars ….
Homemade Lara Bars…Before I started just making Balls and Holes

Close up of one aw Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough BallRaw Vegan Peanut Butter Vanilla BallsRaw Vegan Chocolate Donut Holes

But although the Balls and Holes are awesome, for something with a little added value protein, try these on for size:

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Averie’s Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars

Ingredients

1 Ripe Banana (mashed)

1.5 c Oats
1/2 c Shredded Coconut (I used sweetened)
1/2 c Raisins (or date chunks, cranberries, craisins, dried cherries/mangoes/apricots/etc. Any dried fruit will work)
1/2 c Chocolate Chips (or carob, butterscotch, white chocolate chips, etc.)
1/2 c Maple Syrup (or agave, yacon syrup)
1/2 c Peanut Butter (or any nut butter, i.e. almond, pecan, cashew, etc.)

The Following Ingredients are Optional but I used them all:

2 to 4 scoops of Protein Powder (I used 2 heaping scoops of Sun Warrior Brown Rice Raw Vegan Protein Powder in Vanilla flavor.  And if you don’t care about the protein aspect or don’t have on hand, just omit the Protein Powder all together)
2 Tbsp Flax Seeds
2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
1.5 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract
Yields: Approximately 10 decent sized bars
Note: The above are rough measurements and you can use the kitchen sink mentality on this recipe: a dash of this, a dab of that, don’t have this but have tons of that, throw everything in but the kitchen sink strategy and they will “work”.  I promise.

Storage: I store mine in the freezer, individually wrapped, so I can grab and go as needed.  They soften up quickly at room temp, and will keep for a month or more in the freezer.

Also see my  Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Coconut Oil Protein Bars which is this recipe plus 1/4 c coconut oil

Optional Add-In’s, Extras, Tweaks, Variations:

  • Use Christmas Cookie Cutters and make Stars, Reindeer, Gingerbread men, etc.
  • Shape into logs, bars, biggerballs, squares, hearts
  • Decorate with Sprinkles!!!
  • Frosting or Icing (see my Raw Vegan Icing Recipe Here)
  • Roll finished product in: Cinnamon-Sugar, Brown or White Sugar, Carob, Coconut, Cocoa Nibs, Cocoa Powder, Powdered Sugar, Shredded Coconut
  • Dip in Maple Syrup or Agave
  • Add in Carob, Coconut, Cocoa Nibs into the “dough” mixture.
  • 2 to 4 Tbsp of Cocoa Powder or PB2 would be awesome!
  • Use raisins instead of dates, gogi berries instead of raisins, dried cranberries instead of dried cherries, etc.
  • Use or combine multiple types of dried fruit rather than solely using raisins: gogi berries, dates, cranberries, craisins, apricots
  • Dash of agave or coconut oil if mixture is too dry
  • Dehydrate for a more “cooked tasting” version.
  • Flatten or mold into larger cookie/bar shapes
  • Double the recipe to share with others.   I like to make dessert recipes that don’t make a ridiculous quantity so you’re not tempted to eat the whole thing in a sitting!  But also, smaller batches are nice because that way you get to try it, but then move onto something new & different.  Variety is the spice of life, I tell ya!

Have you seen my Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Coconut Oil Protein Bars?
If you want to make those seen here, simply add 1/4 c coconut oil to the previously mentioned list of ingredients.

Read the post below for the step-by-step Directions

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Overhead of one Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
Cut Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

The Steps for the No-Bake Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
First Mash the Banana

Mashed banana in bowl

The add the Oats, Coconut…

Oats and coconut added to bowl

…Flax & Chia Seeds.  And the Protein Powder’s buried under there somewhere.

Flax seed, chia seed and protein powder added to bowl

…Raisins, Chocolate Chips

Raisins and Chocolate Chips added to bowl

Did someone say Chocolate Energy?

Close up of ingredients in bowl

Add the Peanut Butter.  I promise, I didn’t plan it to look that pretty.  It looks like a musical note rolling backwards.  Yes, this is how my brain operates.

Peanut Butter added to other ingredients

Flood With Add the Maple Syrup, Vanilla Extract, Cinnamon

Maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon added to bowl

Stir it all Together

Protein Bars mixed up
Close up of mixed up ingredients

Sweet! Raisins and Chocolate Chips with Coconut Flakes all stick-ified together with maple syrup!

Protein Bar ingredients mixed together up close

Press into a tupperware-style Container or 8×8 Pan (or use whatever you want, even a cookie sheet with a raised edge will work)

Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars pressed into container

I used plastic wrap underneath as to create less messy dishes for myself.

Close up of Protein Bars in container

Popped it in the freezer for a few hours.
After the Big Freeze:

Container of Protein Bars before going in freezer

It got hard. (TWSS)

Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars out of freezer

And I cut the semi-hard slab into 10 bars.

Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

Some I made Square like ProBars
Commercial Grade: ProBar

Pro Bar

Homemade: Averie Bar

Square cut Protein Bar

Some were Thinner and Longer…

Side view of Protein Bar

….like Balance Bars

Cookie Dough Balance Bar
Commercial Grade: Balance Bar
Cookie Dough Balance bar cut in half showing inside

Homemade: Averie Bar

Overhead of Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
Close up of Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar on plate

I Wrapped them up in plastic wrap for Lunches and On-The-Go-Snacks

Protein Bars individually wrapped up
One individually wrapped Protein Bar

And I have to say that These…

Unwrapped Protein Bar

Look Taste alot better than These.

Various Luna and Clif Bars

The active work time on these is about 10 minutes, not including freezer time.   Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, Vegan, High Raw (No-Bake), and they taste great!  The rest doesn’t matter if they don’t taste good, right?!

Make Them.
End of Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar showing oats and coconut

 

Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars on cutting board
Cut Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
Side view of Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

 Can see the Peanut Butter woven into the inside of the bar here?  oh yeah, baby!

View of Peanut Butter in Protein Bar
Close up of Protein Bar with peanut butter swirls

And the flavors of coconut, chia & flax seeds, mashed banana, oats, maple syrup, cinnamon, chocolate chips, well…they are really tasty in combination together!

Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar on plastic wrap
Overhead close up of Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

**The coconut oil will help the bar solidify a bit more and make it less soft, but is not an essential ingredient if you don’t have or like coconut oil.

Since woman cannot live on Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bars alone, I try to eat my weight in Greenery, daily.

Green salad with mixed Vegetables

This meal was Kale, Brock, Cukes, Sugar Snap Peas, Cauli, and Homemade Vegan Slaw Dressing.

Mixed Salad with Vegetables topped with Vegan Slaw Dressing
Close up of salad with Slaw Dressing

This one was raw kale, mixed greens, tomatoes, red peppers, carrots, cauli, brock, cukes and Vegan Holiday-Spice Orange Vinaigrette

Salad topped with Vegan Holiday-Spice Orange Vinaigrette

With a baked potato on the side

Salad with Baked Potato on the sideClose up of salad topped with Vegan Holiday-Spice Orange Vinaigrette

And snack time/dessert time was, of course, a Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar!

Vegan No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Bar

 

Young girl sitting in room smiling
Parenthood = The Best Gift Ever

 

Young girl dancing in room
This lil one loves her downward dogs, just like her mama does!
Young girl practicing Downward Dog yoga pose

 

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

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Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. Can honey be substituted for for the maple syrup? also would these stay together at room temperature as i live in a humid tropical climate and would like to have a bar to take on long car trips that won’t fall apart or end up a pile of melted goo, but so far even the commercial ones end in crumbles.

  2. Has anybody put in the work for a nutrition label on these? :-) cause I don’t want to. Ha!! It won’t stop me from making them but might help me minimize how many I eat at once ?these are by far the best homemade bars I’ve tried. I make them for every postpartum mama friend for a quick grab and go snack. Thank you for the recipe!!

  3. I’m allergic to bananas could I leave it out ? And my peanut butter already has coconut oil in it will that make a diffrent s

    1. If you’re allergic to bananas make these instead http://www.loveveggiesandyoga.com/2012/10/peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-granola-bars.html (use regular PB)

      And yes, of course it would make a difference if you’re using PB with coconut oil already in it for EITHER recipe…this one or the one I just linked to. Same goes for ‘just leaving bananas out’ – yes, that changes things.

      Feel free to experiment on your own and come up with something that suits your needs and the ingredients you have on hand!

  4. These are literally amazing. When I’m craving something sweet, I break one out of the freezer and take a bite. Instantly satisfied. Thank-you so much for sharing this recipe! I am obsessed with them :)

    1. Thanks for coming back to LMK you’re obsessed. I love them too and haven’t made them in ages…it’s an older post and nice to see it still gets some lovin’ and attention :)

  5. Any suggestions for those of us who can’t do the PB? I’m thinking Sunflower butter, or maybe more coconut oil? Would love other suggestions or recommendations!

  6. I made a double batch of these today, but they turned out too gooey, even after several hours in the freezer! I didn’t use coconut or protein powder … do you think one of those makes such a difference? Any idea for something else to add in place of them to fix the consistency? Otherwise, the flavor is great, but they are a mess to eat and the texture isn’t very appealing. Thanks for ideas!

    1. Yes I do think the protein powder definitely makes a huge difference – it’s a binder (like flour) so it will help the bars solidify and hold together. Use another binder if you don’t want to use that, i.e. almond flour, oat flour, OR next time use less banana. Or add the coconut. Basically you need to play around with your ratios based on your ingredients so you get them to hold together based on what you used.

      1. Thanks for such a quick response! I’m going to try mashing them all together again, adding another binder, and refreezing. Wish me luck!

  7. You’re daughter is freakin adorable!!!!!!! I just made the protein bars from your website and they are delicious! I’m very excited to try more of your recipes. I think my next one will be the vegan gluten free raw cheese cake :) Thanks for all the wonderful tips and recipes!

    1. Thanks for the compliments and glad you made the bars and are pleased! Keep in touch and LMK what else you make!