Creating Delicious Diet Bars: Easy Steps For Healthy Treats

how to make diet bars

Diet bars are a convenient and tasty way to stay on track with your health goals. They are easy to make at home, allowing you to control the ingredients and experiment with flavours. You can make them chewy, crunchy, or a delightful combination of both. You can also make them vegan, gluten-free, keto, or nut-free, depending on your dietary preferences. They are highly customisable, with a base of rolled oats, nut butter, honey, and protein powder, and a variety of mix-ins such as chocolate chips, nuts, dried fruit, and coconut flakes.

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Healthy homemade protein bars

Homemade protein bars are a great healthy snack option and are easy to make. They are highly customisable, allowing you to play around with the ingredients to find the perfect recipe for your needs.

Ingredients:

  • 3/4 cup of your choice of mix-ins such as chopped dates, dried fruit (blueberries, cranberries, or raisins), mini chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut flakes, or nuts.
  • A splash of water, milk, or honey (optional)
  • 1 cup of rolled oats
  • 8 tablespoons of nut butter or a nut butter alternative
  • 2/3 container of Greek yoghurt (110 grams)
  • Your choice of protein powder

Instructions:

  • Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the rolled oats, nut butter, Greek yoghurt, and protein powder.
  • If the mixture is too dry, add a splash of water, milk, or honey.
  • Mix in your choice of additional ingredients such as nuts, seeds, or dried fruit.
  • Press the mixture firmly into the lined pan.
  • Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.
  • Store the bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

You can also try baking your protein bars. Simply shape the mixture into bars and place them on a lined baking sheet before baking. The baking time will depend on the thickness of the bars.

  • Use wholesome, natural ingredients to avoid the highly processed ingredients found in many store-bought bars.
  • Make your bars sugar-free by using sugar-free alternatives such as sugar-free maple syrup and sugar-free chocolate chips.
  • Experiment with different types of nut butter such as almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter.
  • Try using gluten-free and vegan ingredients to suit your dietary preferences or requirements.
  • Add extra toppings such as nuts or chocolate chips to your bars.

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Sugar-free cinnamon protein bars

Ingredients:

  • Cinnamon
  • Protein powder (vanilla whey protein powder is recommended)
  • Sugar and brown rice syrup (or maple syrup/honey)
  • Almond butter (or another nut butter)
  • Vanilla extract
  • Milk (almond milk is recommended)
  • Cinnamon topping (a mixture of cinnamon and sugar)

Optional ingredients:

  • Chopped nuts
  • Dried fruit
  • Sweetener of your choice
  • Jelly or vegan butter (for topping)

Instructions:

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F / 176 C.
  • 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.
  • Add the vanilla extract to the wet mixture.
  • Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and mix well—it should be crumbly.
  • Add milk one spoonful at a time until a thick, firm batter is formed.
  • Transfer the protein bar mixture to the lined baking dish and press firmly.
  • Rub the cinnamon bun topping onto the batter.
  • Bake for 20 minutes.
  • Let the bars cool completely before slicing into squares.

Storage:

These bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days or frozen for 2-3 months.

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No-bake granola bars

Ingredients:

  • Oats (quick-cooking or old-fashioned)
  • Nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew, etc.)
  • Nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, etc.)
  • Chocolate chips (or cacao nibs for a healthier option)
  • Honey or maple syrup
  • Dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, etc.)
  • Other optional ingredients: shredded coconut, flaxseed, chia seeds, hemp hearts, cinnamon, etc.

Method:

  • Line a square pan or baking dish with parchment paper. You can spray the parchment with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
  • In a bowl, mix all the ingredients together. You can use a heavy spoon or a food processor to mix, but be sure not to overmix, as this can affect the texture.
  • Press the mixture into the prepared pan. Use the back of a spatula to press it into a flat layer, or roll it out between two sheets of wax paper using a rolling pin.
  • Place the pan in the freezer for about an hour to allow the mixture to set and firm up.
  • Remove from the freezer and cut into bars or squares. For a sturdier shape, squares are recommended.
  • Wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper. Store them flat, covered, or place them in the refrigerator or freezer.

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Keto granola bars

Making keto granola bars is a simple process and is much cheaper than buying them in shops. These granola bars are sweet, salty, and delicious. They are also crunchy, chewy, and sugar-free.

To make keto granola bars, you will need a combination of coarsely ground coconut and nuts. You can use almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds (or sunflower seeds), and hemp hearts. Make sure to chop the nuts well in a food processor. If the nut pieces are too large, the bars can become crumbly. You can also add sugar-free chocolate chips and a sweetener of your choice.

The syrup is crucial to holding the bars together. To make the syrup, you can create a keto syrup by melting butter and adding keto-friendly sweeteners. You can also use sugar-free syrup, which behaves similarly to golden syrup. Press the mixture firmly into a lined dish, then bake until the edges are golden.

Let the keto granola bars cool completely before cutting them into squares or bars. Use a large, sharp knife and cut straight down rather than sawing back and forth. You can store these bars in an airtight container at room temperature for 4-5 days, in the fridge for about a week, or freeze them for up to 3 months.

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Vegan protein bars

Homemade vegan protein bars are a convenient snack option that can be easily customised to suit your taste. They are a healthier alternative to store-bought protein bars, which often contain unnecessary ingredients, insufficient protein, or high amounts of sugar.

Ingredients:

  • Oats (rolled oats are recommended for the best texture)
  • Protein powder (vanilla or unflavoured)
  • Nut butter (almond butter, peanut butter, or any nut/seed butter of your choice)
  • Sweetener (brown rice syrup, maple syrup, or a keto-friendly option like monk fruit sweetener)
  • Chocolate chips (stevia-sweetened to keep the sugar content low)
  • Milk (almond milk or any milk of your choice)
  • Dates (for natural sweetness and to help the mixture bind)
  • Vanilla extract (for extra sweetness)
  • Ground flaxseed (to help the bars bind)
  • Salt (to balance out the sweetness)

Optional ingredients for added flavour and texture:

  • Shredded coconut
  • Chopped nuts (walnuts, cashews, almonds, or pecans)
  • Spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice)

Instructions:

  • Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking pan with parchment paper and set it aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats and protein powder.
  • In a separate microwave-safe bowl or stovetop, melt the nut butter with the sweetener of your choice.
  • Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until fully incorporated.
  • If the batter is too dry, add a little milk to form a thick batter.
  • Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and flatten the top with your hands or a spoon.
  • If desired, melt some chocolate chips and drizzle them over the top of the bars.
  • Place the pan in the freezer until the mixture sets.
  • Once set, remove from the freezer and cut into bars.
  • Store the vegan protein bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Feel free to experiment with different protein powders, fold in extra ingredients, or swap ingredients to customise the recipe to your liking.

Frequently asked questions

This depends on the type of diet bar you want to make. For example, a keto granola bar may include nuts, seeds, sugar-free chocolate chips, and a sweetener. A protein bar may include protein powder, nut butter, honey, and dried fruit.

Homemade diet bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks. They can also be frozen for up to six months.

Making your own diet bars allows you to control the ingredients and ensure they align with your dietary preferences or requirements. They are also cost-effective and can be customised to your taste preferences.

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