Soft and chewy Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Protein Bars but healthy, sugar free and gluten free! These lunch lady peanut butter squares have a peanut butter oatmeal cookie base, peanut butter and chocolate frosting – all high protein.
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Hands down the best lunch lady peanut butter bars here; Actually healthy and good treat for that lunch box.
All clean ingredients here and guilt with the good nutrition label.
Ingredients for Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Protein Bars Recipe:
These lunch lady peanut butter protein bars are made with simple healthy ingredients, have no sugar or milk, making them the perfect homemade gluten free, low carb and Vegan protein bar!
- Rolled Oats
- Oat Flour
- Vanilla Protein Powder for healthy homemade protein bars that’s also sugar free
I used HTLT Supps Vanilla Whey-Casein here.
Quest Nutrition Vanilla Milkshake is another option. - Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe for a slightly lower carb high protein. I use the Multi-purpose mix protein powder from Quest Nutrition.
- Peanut Butter Powder also known as Powdered Peanut Butter. I recommend Lakanto for a sugar free version (the code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount). Or you could use the one from PbFit too.
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt
- Unsweetened Applesauce
- Unsweetened Almond Milk
The Protein Peanut Butter
- Peanut Butter Powder, also known as Powdered Peanut Butter. I recommend Lakanto for a sugar free version (the code HAYLSKITCHEN gives you a discount). Or you could use the one from PbFit too.
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Vanilla Protein Powder for high protein caramel bar, and also replace the sweetener.
I recommend Whey-Casein from HTLT Supps or Quest Nutrition for this recipe to keep it sugar free. - Sugar free Maple Syrup for low calorie protein bar with no sugar!
I use the sugar free monk fruit maple syrup from Lakanto (code HAYLSKITCHEN gets you a discount) - Some Water
The Chocolate Protein Frosting Layer
- Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt
- Chocolate Protein Powder – I used whey-casein from Quest.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Tips to make Lunch Box Peanut Butter Bars
These healthy lunch box peanut butter bars are extremely easy to make, with just making one layer at a time. Here’s some tips to get them right!
- Use rolled oats for the base o these lunch box pb bars; Instant oats will get too soggy.
- Use whey-caesin protein powder as specified. It works well with the ratio of ingredients here.
Whey-caesin absorbs more liquid, and whey absorbs less, so you need to adjust the liquid accordingly.
- Let the base cool before adding the protein peanut butter layer on these lunch lady bars, or it will melt away.
- Add milk or water little at a time when preparing mixtures; Even a little extra will make them too runny.
- Mix the dry ingredients well before adding in the wet so you have a smooth mix.
- Don’t add too much yogurt in the topping; It will come together; Just continue to mix.
To store High Protein Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Squares
These homemade lunch lady peanut butter squares need to be stored in the fridge since they have Greek yogurt in the chocolate frosting.
To store homemade lunch box peanut butter bars, place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a 1 week.
To freeze, place lunch lady peanut butter squares in airtight sealed container, or individually wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in zipper bag; They should keep for 2 or 3 months. Be sure to let them thaw on the counter before eating!
Alternatives for Healthy Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars with Oatmeal!
I made these sugar free and gluten free and low fat lunch lady peanut butter bars with oatmeal and this particular ingredient list, but here’s some healthy options to choose from.
For the protein base:
- Oat Flour: Almond Flour
- Unflavored protein powder: Almond flour or Oat flour (also reduce milk to 2 Tbsp)
- Peanut Butter Powder: ¼ cup Peanut Butter (also reduce milk to 1-2 Tbsp)
- Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
- Applesauce: Mashed Banana or Pumpkin Puree
- Almond Milk: Regular milk or other non dairy milk
For the Protein Peanut Butter:
- Peanut Butter Powder: 2 tablespoon + 2 teaspoon regular peanut butterbutter (add water 1 teaspoon at a time if needed)
- Sugar free Maple Syrup: Regular maple syrup or Honey, but they won’t be Vegan or a no sugar recipe anymore.
Chocolate Frosting Options:
- Greek Yogurt: Coconut Yogurt
More Homemade Protein Peanut Butter Bars to try!
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Protein Fudge
- PB Protein Rice Krispy Treats
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Collagen Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Twix Bars
Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Servings: 12 bars
Calories: 142kcal
Soft and chewy Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Protein Bars but healthy, sugar free and gluten free! These lunch lady peanut butter squares have a peanut butter oatmeal cookie base, peanut butter and chocolate frosting – all high protein.
Ingredients
Base:
- ½ cup Rolled Oats, 45g
- ½ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 45g
- ¼ cup Unflavored Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 22g, see post for subs
- ¼ cup Oat Flour, 22g
- 6 tablespoon Peanut Butter Powder, 42g
- 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
- 2 tablespoon Peanut Butter, 32g
- ½ cup Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt, 112g
- ½ cup Unsweetened Applesauce, 120g
- ¼ cup Unsweetened Almond Milk, 60ml
Protein Peanut Butter:
- ¼ cup Peanut Butter Powder, 24g
- ¼ cup Vanilla Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 22g
- ¼ cup Maple Syrup, Sugar-free recommended below, 60ml
- 2½ tablespoon Peanut Butter, 40g
- 2 tablespoon Water
Chocolate Topping:
- ¾ cup Non-fat Plain Greek Yogurt, 168g
- ⅓ cup Chocolate Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 30g
- 3 tablespoon Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 15g
Instructions
- Grease an 8 x 8” pan or line with parchment paper; leave an overhang to lift out later.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
Base:
- In a bowl, combine rolled oats, vanilla protein powder, unflavored protein powder, oat flour, peanut butter powder and baking powder.
- Add in peanut butter, yogurt, applesauce and almond milk (little at a time) and mix.Mixture should be thick but spreadable.
- Transfer to prepared pan and press down.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes, then let cool about 10 minutes:
Protein Peanut Butter:
- In same bowl, stir together peanut butter powder, protein powder.Add maple syrup, peanut butter and water (1 teaspoon at a time) and mix.
- Spread on top of base layer and use back of spoon to smoothen.
Chocolate Frosting:
- In a bowl, combine yogurt, protein powder and cocoa powder.Spread over base.
- Slice into 12 bars.
Notes
- Nutrition value is calculated using products recommended below.
- See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
- Quest Nutrition Vanilla Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Multi-purpose Mix (Unflavored) Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Quest Nutrition Chocolate Whey-Casein Protein Powder
- Lakanto Peanut Butter Powder
- Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 15% off your order
- Lakanto Maple Flavored Syrup
- Use code HAYLSKITCHEN for 15% off your order
- Servings: 12 bars | Serving size: 1
- Calories: 142kcal
- Fat: 4.5g | Saturated fat: 0.7g
- Carbohydrates: 12.1g | Fiber: 3.1g | Sugar: 2.2g
- Protein: 15.2g
Janet Sannipoli says
This came out pretty good, but my base was not at all “pressable.”. it was almost runny, and I didn’t put in as much almond milk as the recipe said. And the baked bars were too soft to cut into neat squares. I’m sure it all has to do with the differences in protein powders etc. I will try it again with a few tweaks using my particular ingredients, maybe adding a little more oat flour next time around. Flavors are great though. Looking forward to trying again.
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
Hi Janet, I’m glad the flavors turned out great! For the base are you using a whey-casein blend? Whey only tends to be less absorbent and so I think adding less milk and more oat-flour will definitely make them more “pressable”.
Gabija says
Turned out great, the base came out super moist, and the chocolate part was an amazing addition, definitely a make again !
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
The flavors on this really are what got me! So happy you liked these Gabija
Hilary Guinn says
Holy wow! I made these for myself- I got ONE bdfore the family demolished the rest! you are a genius!
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
Omg hahahahaha
That’s always a good sign! I guess its time for batch #2, haha
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
I guess it’s time we large batch these lunch lady protein bars! So excited that the family liked them too 🙂
Tarrah W. says
I finally made these Friday night, and OMG!!!! *chef’s kiss* I have been following you on IG and this looked amazing in your stories. My biggest regret is not getting a photo to post on my story, but the upside is I’ll have to make them again to take one! Lol! I’m post op RNY and this was delish and full of flavor!
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
Oh Tarrah I am SO SO happy you went for these Lunch Lady Bars after seeing them on my stories. The flavor really was amazing, and I can’t wait for you to make them again to share, haha,
Kaitlyn says
Absolutely loved these the bars! The consistency was spot on and had just enough pb flavor! They didn’t taste or feel like they were high protein! Will be making again!
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
Yes yes yes yes yes! I’m so happy you loved these Kaitlyn! The can’t-tell-they’re-high-protein part is really key to that guilt-free part, haha.
Glad you enjoyed!
Ginger says
Thank you sooo much for developing this Yumminess! They are perfect, no crazy ingredients and I could eat the whole pan! For extra peanut butter flavor I used pb flavored protein powder. ;])
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
Of course! Happy to fulfill all those popular requests.
This introduced me to one of my new fav protein bars too!
Enjoy!
P.S. that PB flavored protein powder is what I did on round 2 here too, haha.
Stephanie says
I cannot believe all the protein in these! They actually taste great as well. The bottom layer has some texture with the oats. The middle layer is seriously dreamy with the creamy peanut butter! And the top chocolate layer is light and fluffy! Perfect texture! I had seen a regular recipe for something similar, but never made it given how bad they were for you, haha. These are everything! So excited to have a version that I can eat daily!
Haylee Jane Monteiro says
You made my day Stephanie!
I get very hesitant to try recipes I find online too, and this was definitely a good way to satisfy those cravings!
All the good textures and flavors in one beauty here.