Delicious and nutritious, these banana protein bars are the ultimate best no-bake snack for when you need a little pick-me-up before or after your workouts, in between your meals, and on days when you need to eat something on the go.
Buying protein bars is certainly a lot easier. However, many protein bars on the market contain unwanted additives.
We always make our own, including cinnamon protein bars, paleo protein bars, and these banana-flavored ones!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Less than 10 minutes to make. Healthy treats shouldn’t take a lot of time to prepare. You will need less than 10 minutes to whip up these protein bars.
- A no-bake recipe. Despite the fact that you don’t need to bake these protein bars, they turn out to have the perfect texture. They are irresistibly soft!
- Highly nutritious. These banana bars provide you with a good amount of protein and fiber. They don’t contain any added sugar and are completely vegan and gluten-free.
If you are looking for a new pre- or post-workout snack, give these banana protein bars a go. They are incredibly easy to make and provide you with enough protein to fuel your body when needed.
Ingredients needed
- Coconut flour. Works perfectly for no-bake recipes and gives the bars a cake-like texture.
- Oat flour. Similar to coconut flour, it is completely safe to use oat flour in no-bake recipes. Y
- Protein powder. Use vanilla-flavored protein powder as it adds sweetness, along with a lovely subtle vanilla flavor.
- Brown rice syrup. To sweeten the bars and help all ingredients stick together.
- Cinnamon. To add extra flavor to these banana protein bars.
- Almond butter. Homemade or store-bought. If you don’t have almond butter, use any other nut butter.
- Banana. Mashed.
- Nuts. Chopped nuts of your choice.
- Milk. Any milk will work.
- Granulated sweetener (optional). Use it if you want the protein bars to be sweeter.
How to make banana protein bars
These no-bake banana protein bars are so easy to make that you will never get back to store-bought protein bars again.
Step 1 – Mix the dry ingredients
In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, protein powder, and cinnamon, and mix well. Add the granulated sweetener too if you are using any.
Step 2 – Add the wet ingredients
Microwave the nut butter and brown rice syrup until fully melted. Add this mixture and the mashed banana to the dry ingredients and mix well until fully combined. At this point, the mixture should have a crumbly texture. Stir in the chopped nuts.
Add the milk tablespoon by tablespoon and keep mixing until a firm batter is formed.
Step 3 – Press the mixture into the pan and allow it to set
Transfer the mixture to a greased baking dish and press firmly. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set. Slice into bars and enjoy.
Tips to make the best recipe
- Depending on the size of the bananas, the final mixture may turn out too thin to form bars. If this happens, simply add more flour to thicken it.
- If you don’t have brown rice syrup, use pure maple syrup instead. Pure brown rice syrup is a good option for chewier bars.
- In case you are not using any chopped nuts, use chunky nut butter instead for some crunch.
- Top the bars with dark chocolate chips or drizzle them with melted dark chocolate to make these snack bars even better.
- Mix plain Greek yogurt with vanilla protein powder to make the perfect icing for these no-bake protein bars.
Storage instructions
Store these no-bake banana protein bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Wrap the bars in parchment paper for an easy grab-and-go treat.
More protein bar recipes to try
- Chocolate protein bars
- Coconut protein bars
- Snickers protein bars
- Keto protein bars
- Chocolate protein bars
Frequently asked questions
If you don’t have fresh bananas, feel free to substitute them with banana-flavored baby food.
Freeze leftover protein bars in a ziplock bag. They will keep well for up to 6 months.
There are 198 calories in each protein bar.
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Banana Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups oat flour
- ½ cup coconut flour Can sub for almond or more oat flour
- ½ cup vanilla protein powder
- 2 tablespoon sugar optional*
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup almond butter can sub for any nut butter
- ½ cup brown rice syrup or maple syrup
- 1 small banana mashed
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts optional
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch baking dish with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, protein powder, sugar and cinnamon, and mix well.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the almond butter and brown rice syrup and heat until melted. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix well. Add the banana and mix until combined. Stir through nuts if desired. Using a spoon, add the milk one spoonful at a time until a thick, firm batter is formed.
- Transfer to the lined baking dish and press down firmly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, before slicing into 12 bars.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
I hear you on the bananas! I buy the ripest ones I can find when I want them for a recipe and then stick them in the sun and pray 🙂
Haha, it is so inconvenient sometimes!
Do I have the carb, protein and fat grams for this?
I don’t, but feel free to calculate it using an online calculator 🙂
I would like to see (and hear) you singing to those bananas, Arman. The bars are still lovely. And I wish I had that delicious stack for breakfast!
It was amazing, like Mariah Carey screeching. 🙂
I’ll be super annoying and suggest that you should have waited to share this recipe until you have access to riper bananas in California – just saying 😉
I love the sound of these. The best about it is that I won’t have to share with Stefan. He despises bananas. Making those tomorrow!
Hahahahahaha I’m sorry! WHAT?! He doesn’t like bananas? Well, neither did I until recently 🙂
I never let my bananas get ripe! The second I see spots on them I freeze them haha. That being said, I would’ve thought singing to them would work…
You totally should. If you screech like Mariah Carey, they ripen even faster!
LOL. It’s a running joke in our family about what you read on the internet…just because you read it on the internet doesn’t make it true. Whoever is doubting whatever is being said pulls that out. There are times it is annoying. But obviously it is true. 🙁 Your Pinterest fail makes for a funny story though! Regardless, your banana bars look absolutely wonderful!
That could not be any more true- Thanks so much, Michelle. I think there is even a site dedicated to these fails!
Love this unique twist, despite the Pinterest fail 😉
Thanks so much, Cate! 🙂
So much love for bananas going on today!
There is always love for bananas- Except my silly fruit basket right now!
Haha! I’ve totally seen that Pinterest hack about bananas, too. And now I won’t try it thanks to you! I appreciate the little things you do, mate…like checking these Pinterest hacks out to see whether they are legit or not. You should try some more!
Dude, seriously, it was like a banana explosion!
Banana bread is my absolute favorite!! And thanks for the tip on the bananas in the oven lol I can’t imagine the mess!!!
Haha for sure! Thank you!
Banana + apple + plastic bag = speedy ripening. Let the fruit get cozy in the bag and you’ll laugh at your evil oven. I used to do that regularly when supermarkets around seemed to be out of ripe bananas every time I stopped by.
Oh thanks for that!
I love the color of these bars! Plus, as long as they taste good, I’m not too picky when it comes to the looks. 😉
I like your style! 🙂
These look awesome Arman and I love the fact that it’s not like 50% nut butter that so many of these DIY bars are…. You know how expensive nut butter is here! Ha!
I don’t think there is a hack…. Unless you want to move back to the sunshine. I popped my bananas by the window for a couple of hours and boom ripe nanars for the win!
Right? So expensive!
Oh wow, these look amazing! What a genius idea! 🙂
Thanks so much, Sina!
ahhh need to make these asap!
Please do, Susel 🙂
Who cares what color these are, they’d still taste amaaaaazing.
🙂 Thanks, J!