Unbelievably easy homemade protein bars with only four ingredients! Chewy and loaded with almond butter and honey flavors – gluten free and dairy free. Add them to your stock of snacks, like my strawberry cashew energy bites, almond butter pretzel bites, apple pie energy bites, coconut lemon poppy seed energy bites, and chocolate pecan pie energy bites.
So, we’re fully moved in to the new house and surrounded by boxes (but we’re reducing those a little day by day). And as I write this, I’m smack in the middle of an awful cold.
A few days ago I woke up with a sore throat, and thought it was just from the fact that the air was dry and that I’d slept for all of, oh, I don’t know… three hours over the last few days.
The cats have been having a rough time with the move, and apparently the way they deal with it is by crawling all over us when we’re trying to sleep, clawing their new rug, and trying to climb the walls. Literally.
We decided to try locking them out of the bedroom at night (which they’ve never had done in their approximately 11 years of life), and let me tell you.. that went SO well.
One of the cats just slept on a perch downstairs, upside down, snoring. The other dealt with it by screaming at the top of his lungs for five straight hours.
So… no sleep for Leslie. And that is why I assumed I had a sore throat. I was very wrong, because over the next 24 hours it got so bad I couldn’t swallow without tears welling up in my eyes. And with the next 24 hours, a cough, itchy eyes, and constant sneezing.
Now I’m so congested I’ve become a total mouth-breathing barbarian. I can’t taste anything, I can’t smell anything, and hearing things is 50/50 because the congestion has moved to my ears.
Lucky for you, you’re probably not sick (at least I hope not – if you are, feel free to come over and be gross with me while I watch Supernatural reruns turned up to 11) and you can taste these wonderful copycat Rise almond honey protein bars (affiliate link).
These homemade protein bars are so easy to whip up and keep in the fridge, you’re going to have a hard time not making them in gigantic batches. The recipe below makes 8 bars, so if you want to make more, just double up!
You can wrap them individually in parchment paper and plastic wrap and stack them in a container in the fridge so that you can grab and go during the week.
I decided to make a copycat recipe for these after I’d tried them at Bill’s aunt and uncle’s house when we evacuated in March during the storms. They were kind enough to let us stay with them and made us delicious meals every night.
In between, I was so stressed about the condition of the house that I didn’t have much of an appetite, so in between meals I snacked on the Rise bars they had in the pantry. I was hooked. But to save money (because, you know, mortgage), I wanted to know I could make them myself.
Annnnnd… success! Homemade protein bars don’t have to be intimidating, sometimes it just takes a little trial and error to find the right combination of ingredients where it’s tasty, and not reminiscent of eating chalk.
Making almond honey protein bars
Here’s what I use for these homemade protein bars (affiliate links):
- Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour: It’s all I use!
- Vega Vanilla Protein Powder: I always use Vega Protein & Greens because it’s gluten free and soy free.
- Barney Butter Smooth Almond Butter: I’m still trying to find my favorite brand, but I’ve had success with Barney Butter and MaraNatha.
- Raw honey: As always, I used Boston Honey Company honey, but if you don’t have access to that you can use any raw honey you want.
- And to mix it all together, I use my trusty KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Mixer
And that’s it!
After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!
Almond Honey Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 2 scoops of vanilla protein powder - about ½ cup, or 60g
- ½ cup almond flour
- ½ cup almond butter, stirred well
- ½ cup organic honey, can substitute real maple syrup if strictly vegan
Instructions
- In a medium bowl with a hand mixer, combine all ingredients until well combined and smooth.
- Roll out dough onto a piece of parchment paper into a square or rectangle about ½" thick.
- Slice into 8 equally sized bars (or 12, if you'd like them to be smaller).
- Wrap each bar in plastic wrap for an easy grab-and-go snack, or stack between layers of parchment paper. Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- If left at room temperature, they become a bit oily and melty, so make sure you keep them in the fridge until ready to consume.
- Keep in mind that different kinds of protein powder have different flavors and sweetness profiles, so I can only speak to the results using the Vega Vanilla Protein Powder I have linked in this post.
Natalie
My first attempt had the bars floppy. I added half the syrup. Bars held their shape and not as sweet
Carmen
Taste great. I added plain whey isolate. But my bars do not hold their shape. Rise bars are still. I added extra almond flower but it still is not stiff like Rise bars. I guess I can keep adding the flower. Has anyone found a way to make these bars stiff?
Kaitlin
It’s really great! Though as noted above, when they get warm they get melty. Any tips for keeping them more solid?
Leslie Kiszka
So glad you think so – thanks for leaving a comment and rating! Just keep them stored in the fridge as instructed to keep them in the best shape.
Michelle
I hated to rate this recipe so low, because I feel it is a good base, but it was WAY too sweet. Not at all like the Rise bars that I love. I used a plain whey protein, I did not want my bar to have a vanilla taste. I even added about an 1/8 tsp salt, but it was still overpowering. I know I don’t like a lot of sugar, so I had my son taste it. He could not eat it. So I added more of everything but the honey, doubled up on all of it. It is really good now, but crumbly. I have to be careful when I eat it, but I love it. I am thinking of adding 3/4 cups of the almond butter, almond flour and protein powder, maybe a 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 cup of honey next time. I am not giving up, and I love what I ended up with. I think a few more tweaks and it will be perfect for me. Thank you for sharing the recipe!!!!
Leslie Kiszka
Sorry that you felt they were too sweet, as that certainly hasn’t been my experience! I will say that it could be because of the type of protein powder and/or type of honey used, as some are certainly more sweet than others. Clover honey tends to have a pretty mild sweet flavor, whereas others are more robust and heavier on the sweetness scale. I also don’t use unflavored whey protein powder and only use Vega Clean Protein Powder, so I can’t speak to how that affected the flavor as the vanilla flavor is intended to complement the honey flavor.
Glad you were able to make it work for your personal preference, but sorry you didn’t enjoy it as written.
Linda D Wright
Thanks! I forged ahead and used a little over 1/2 cup. They are really sweet….but I’m not someone who uses “protein powder” of any kind. I threw in some salted sunflower seeds as well. Looking forward to having one-a-day as my lunch replacement and see how I feel. 71 and pudgy here and trying to do a better job of eating healthy. Thanks for your help.
Linda D Wright
Like most of the comments I’ve read, I haven’t TRIED them yet but just came home with the expensive Vega protein powder (vanilla). Your recipe calls for “2 scoops – about 1/2 cup”. The little scoop inside the tub of powder holds almost 1/2 cup! Do I use 2 scoops OR 1/2 cup? Please advise ASAP – I want to make these TODAY!
Thanks,
Linda
Leslie Kiszka
Hi Linda – luckily I’m online right now to see your comment and help! Maybe they’ve changed the scoop size in the containers since I last made these, as I just double checked mine and each scoop is ~1/4 cup for me. Either way, just measure out 1/2 cup and you should be all set. Enjoy!
Julia
Is it possible to add banana to these or any other fruit?
Leslie Haasch
I’m not sure how that would work out, as it would add a lot of moisture to the mix. You could probably add some dried fruit though and it would work out well!
Elizabeth A
I used the Vega Protein powder but it was the chocolate flavored one. I think the taste of the protein powder kinda ruined my bars because they came out way to sweet! I would definitely try this using a vanilla protein or even just a simple protein powder and add vanilla extract. I think this recipe is a great start to making the perfect homemade protein bar. Thank you
Leslie Haasch
Yikes! Yeah, I wouldn’t advise using the chocolate flavor for this particular recipe, that’s why I only recommended the vanilla :) Live and learn! Hope you can give it a shot with the vanilla flavor next time.
Monica
These sound fantastic – I love almonds and honey together, and how well these keep in the fridge! And I really hope you feel better soon so you can enjoy your new home!
Leslie Haasch
I’m about 90% better at this point, thank you for the kind words!
A Forks Tale
I am always looking for healthy snacks to make my husband for after his Crossfit work outs. This recipe is perfect. The ingredient combination looks delicious and they are guilt free. I can’t wait to make these for him.
Leslie Haasch
I hope he loves them!
Rachel
I’m always looking for a new protein bar. The store bought ones always taste stale to me. I’m willing to bet that these don’e
Leslie Haasch
I’ve always had trouble pinpointing what I don’t like about the store bought ones, and that’s totally what it is – they taste stale!
Jessica (swanky recipes)
I have been on a total protein bar kick lately and need more ideas! I have a ton of protein power to use up and this is just the recipe for us! Love the simple ingredients for extra energy!
Leslie Haasch
I hope you love them!
Femi. O
Hoping you feel better! I am currently dealing with serious hay fever over here on the east coast but last winter I had some pretty nasty colds. Those were brutal! The good thing is that it always provides the perfect excuse to indulge but with healthy protein bars as tasty looking as these, I won’t feel guilty about devouring a bunch of them!
Leslie Haasch
Ugh, hay fever is the WORST. We’ve been convinced that the animals in the house are suffering from it, too!
Claudia
I didn’t rate the recipe as I have not tried it can you please remove!
Amy Treasure
I’m always on the hunt for something healthy like these and love peanut butter. Great recipe, they look incredible!
Leslie Haasch
Peanut butter is at the top of my list of favorite ingredients!
Michelle
Oh gosh! I hope you are feeling better. We moved house just before Christmas and we all came down with really bad colds soon after, it’s a stressful time I think! These bars sound delicious x
Leslie Haasch
I’m about 80% back to normal – it definitely could have been the move that contributed to it!
alifeofhappenstance
We moved last year with a 20 month old and a 3 month old…I feel your pain! It was so incredibly stressful. On another note, these bars look incredible. My husband has been on the lookout for some protein bars and I think he’s going to have to give these a try!
Leslie Haasch
Oh god, that sounds like a ball of stress to me!
Kim @ Berly's Kitchen
I can’t believe how simple these are to make. They look perfectly creamy and perfect for a quick breakfast or snack.
mildlymeandering
What an awesome snack idea! I need to make a batch!
Kelli
I’m always on the hunt for grab and go foods… especially handy in the morning! Thanks for the recipe.
Anne Murphy
Oh, we moved a few months ago, and I had a sinus infection through the whole process – and that was No Fun at All. I really hope you’re feeling better by now! I have to confess I was wondering if these had been easy enough to make and eat during the move (we seemed to eat a lot of cheese and crackers as I packed my kitchen… LOL) If there is ever a time you need grab and go food, it’s during a move…
Leslie Haasch
I’m about 80% back to normal! These were a total lifesaver on moving day because the movers were supposed to come bright and early, and I needed something to eat but we’d packed all the kitchen stuff!