One of my longest running AnneTheRD nutrition counseling clients and I usually meet at a bakery in Alexandria that sells these really delicious homemade protein granola bars. I’ve been wanting for months to try to recreate a variation of them so my client (and I) can make them at home, and I’m happy to say it finally happened. Introducing: Nutty Protein Granola Bars. Client and husband approved. :)
These were really easy to make, and I love the hearty crunch from all the nutritious nuts and seeds, and the sweet burst of flavor from the dried fruit. I brought some to my client last Friday and Matt and I have been enjoying the rest of them as snacks and easy on the go breakfasts!
One of the best things about this recipe is that it’s so versatile. The nuts/seeds are not set in stone, and neither is the dried fruit choice. My dietetic intern Jackie tested out a batch of these for me using apricots, pecans, and honey, and when I made them I mixed it up with some goji berries, cashews, and maple syrup, based on what I had on hand. So feel free to get creative!
The size of the pan you use can also vary – I used a 10 x 10 brownie pan, and Jackie used a 9 x 13 pan which made the bars a little thinner. Up to you!
I can’t wait to make these again – the variations are endless! I hope you enjoy them as much as we did. :)
Nutty Protein Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups rolled old fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup unflavored whey protein powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)
- 1 cup roughly chopped dry roasted, salted almonds
- 3/4 cup salted sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup roughly chopped pecans or cashews
- 3/4 cup dried fruit (dried cherries, diced apricots, or goji berries are great here)
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut, unsweetened
- 2/3 cup natural creamy peanut butter (salted or unsalted)
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Instructions
- 1. Spray a 10 x 10 or 9 x 13 pan with non-stick spray.
- 2. In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients (oats through coconut).
- 3. In a separate bowl, stir together the wet ingredients (peanut butter through vanilla).
- 4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir until completely incorporated.
- 5. Press the mixture into the prepared pan in an even layer.
- 6. Bake for 15 minutes, until the edges are browned and the center is firm to the touch.
- 7. Allow to cool, remove from the pan, and cut into bars. Enjoy!
Like the look of these? Check out some of my previous tasty and easy granola bar recipes:
- 5-Minute No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars (vegan, gluten free if you use GF certified oats) <— most popular recipe on my blog!
- Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bars (gluten free)
- Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Granola Bars
- Vegan & Gluten Free Granola Bars (vegan, gluten free)
Those look so good! Definitely want to try them this weekend. :)
I’m not a fan of dried fruits, can I omit them in the recipe?
Sure, they will still be tasty without the dried fruit!
Yum! And it seems so easy!
Thanks very much for sharing! I can’t wait to try my hand at making them — much cheaper than the similar prepared bars I normally buy.
Yummy! They sound amazing! Love how loaded they are with nuts! My favourite ones I’ve made are PB Banana and Chocolate…no sugar just dates! You’d love em! http://peachypalate.com/2013/10/22/what-did-i-ever-do-without-pb-banana/
I have the hardest time finding store-bought granola bars I like, so I love the option of making them at home. Still quick and easy to grab and go, but healthier and tastier too!
Holy yum these look great!
I just pinned to make them this weekend!
I’m looking forward to trying these. Your 5-Minute Granola Bars are my absolute favorite–hands down!
I’m happy to hear that! :)
So good looking! I can’t wait to try these out! I have been looking for a bar recipe for the mornings!
YUM! I wonder how they’d be with a plant-based protein powder instead of the whey?
Just as delicious I bet, just use an unflavored variety!
Homemade granola bars are so much tastier, healthier, and less expensive than the kind from a box. It’s really easy to make your own granola bars once you have a recipe and know the the tip and tricks of baking.
I’m on a huge homemade granola bar and granola kick… adding these to the list!
Yammy, I will definitely try these. Thanks for the recipe =o9
You should figure out how to market these! fANNEtastic food breakfast bars! They look awesome!
Do you have the nutrition breakdown on these? I’m looking for an easy recipe that is high protein to use for my wound care patients. They get so tired of the canned supplements.
I don’t, no — I recommend SparkRecipes.com if you would like to calculate it! That’s amazing that you’re looking to do something homemade for your patients!
I just pulled mine out of the oven and they smell fantastic! Great recipe Anne! I can’t wait to taste them once they cool.
Are these inspired by the bars at BUZZ Bakery?! A former coworker bought me a couple last year and I quickly became addicted :P Pinning this recipe!
No, Firehook! Will have to try the buzz ones!
Wow! I’m sure they taste as good as they look! Can’t wait to get my hands busy re-creating your nutty-protein granola bars. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I’m off to get the ingredients!
Boy oh boy! Those nutty-protein-granola-bars just look so crunchingly delicious and I’ll bet they are! I’ll ask my wife to rush to the supermarket to get me all the stuff for her to do your recipe. Just hope she gets it right! They really look great I want to grab a piece!
Hello Anne. I have been enjoying your blog for a few months now. I am returning to the DC Metro area (VA specifically :) ) so I love your integration of health, fitness and your love for the Capitol! I made these granola bars and they were so good I had to host them on my blog! Of course, I gave you the full credit and a raving shout out. I also took care to link back to your blog in several places for the actual recipe. Please do check it out…I truly loved these and a few of my fans made them to rave reviews. Hopefully, I have increased your readership along with strengthening mine. Much thanks!!
Thank you so much, Susan! I just saw your post and left you a comment. I appreciate the love – and the fact that you linked over here for the full recipe vs. reposting it! :) Thank you again — glad you loved the bars!
A friend of mine was looking for a granola bar with protein powder in them for her brothers to have after wrestling practice. These look like they would be a perfect fit. Thank you for such a flexible recipe!
I hope they like them!
Hey, couple questions. :)
1) Is it possible to substitute the unflavoured protein for Vanilla bean whey protein? I have an excess of it from a sale.
2) How big would I need to prepare these bars to provide about 25 grams of protein? Looking to use it as a post-workout energy booster.
Thanks! :)
Sure, you could do vanilla protein – would just make the bars more vanilla-y. :) Regarding your second question, it will totally depend based on the protein powder you use. I would recommend putting the recipe into SparkRecipes to calculate the nutritionals using the specific protein powder you use. Enjoy!