These homemade vegan protein bars with 3 ingredients are the healthiest bars you can make at home in less than 20 minutes!
It’s a copycat of the popular Perfect Bar recipe but 100% egg-free using plant-based pea protein powder.
What Are Perfect Bars?
Perfect Bars are popular healthy protein bars, but unfortunately, they are not vegan.
While the brand uses a combination of healthy ingredients, it includes egg protein powder and honey, both animal products that are not vegan-friendly.
So here we are sharing a copycat perfect bar recipe 100% vegan!
How To Make Healthy Homemade Protein Bars
Ingredients
To make high-protein vegan bars that are healthy and gluten-free at home, you need to focus on wholesome ingredients.
- Peanut Butter
- Protein Powder
- Brown Rice Syrup
Let me explain how to choose your three main ingredients to make this copycat perfect bar recipe vegan and gluten-free!
Peanut Butter Or Almond Butter
Choose a nut butter with no added sugar, no added vegetable oil. Check the ingredient list of your peanut butter jar. You should only see peanuts and eventually salt.
Protein Powder
There are many plant-based protein powders on the market.
First, choose a clean protein powder low in sugar and carbs. The most popular plant-based protein powders are made of these vegan protein sources:
- Pea Protein
- Hemp Protein
- Brown Rice Protein
- Soy Protein
- Any combination of the above
There are also raw vegan protein powders that are sprouted for better absorption. These are amazing but a bit more expensive.
I like to use NuZest Vanilla Protein powder for these plant-based protein bars. It is a high-quality pea protein mix made of real food rich in nutrients and vitamins.
It will bring you vegan proteins, iron, and vitamin B12 essential for a vegan lifestyle.
Liquid Sweetener
A low-GI liquid sweetener is the best to keep your energy level steady and to make low-sugar vegan protein bars.
However, any unrefined liquid sweetener below is a healthier liquid sweetener option to make protein bar recipes.
They contain plenty of nutrients like magnesium or potassium that refined sweetener doesn’t have. I recommend one of the below options to make this homemade perfect bars recipe.
- Date Syrup
- Brown Rice Syrup
- Maple Syrup
Combining The Ingredients
First, combine the liquid ingredients: peanut butter and sweetener, until creamy and smooth.
It’s crucial that you use a fresh jar of natural peanut butter with oil on top of the bar will be dry.
Then, weigh your protein powder and add it to the liquid ingredients. Feel free to use your food processor to make this recipe, but it will work as well with a bowl and a bit of kneading!
Flavoring Options
While you only need 3 ingredients to make these peanut butter protein bars, I highly recommend adding one or a few more ingredients to create a range of protein bar flavors that mimic the Perfect Bar original recipes!
Below are some ingredients I recommend adding to your dough to create the same flavors like the popular perfect bar product range.
- Dark Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter – add 1/4 cup of vegan chocolate chips.
- Coconut Peanut Butter – add 1/4 cup unsweetened desiccated coconut.
- Chocolate Mint – add 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips and 3-4 drops of mint stevia drops.
- Salted Caramel – add 3-4 drops of salted caramel stevia drops.
- Dark Chocolate Almond – add 1/4 cup of vegan dark chocolate chips and replace peanut butter with almond butter.
- Blueberry Cashews – replace peanut butter with cashew butter in the recipe and add 1/4 cup freeze-dried blueberry.
Best Tips To Make Perfect Vegan Perfect Bars Every Time
If it is your first time using protein powder in a recipe, let me share some tips with you.
- Weigh Your Powder For Precision – protein powder is very liquid absorbent. A tiny extra amount can dry up these vegan, gluten-free protein bars. So weigh the powder rather than using measuring cups.
- Adjust The Dough – if your dough is too dry and it becomes difficult to bring the ingredients together, add a splash of almond milk, 2 or 3 tablespoons adding gradually. Usually, one tablespoon is enough to help the dough come together.
I really think they are the best vegan protein bars! But, be aware that depending on the plant-based protein powder blend and sweetener you choose, the texture can vary a lot. They are mainly dense, crumbly, not sticky or chewy.
Frequently Asked Questions
These Vegan Protein Bars are a great pre- or post-workout fuel.
They reload your muscles with quality protein, and they are very fulfilling.
It’s a delicious post-workout snack to pair with an almond milk chocolate banana smoothie for a complete reboot after a long session.
These homemade vegan protein bars are made with three natural, wholesome ingredients. They are very fulfilling, low in sugar, and contain only:
– 6 grams of sugar per bar are coming from the protein powder and sweetener.
– 11 grams of plant-based protein
– 170 calories
More Vegan Protein Recipes
If you love high-protein vegan food as a post work out, check out my other recipes below:
Did You Like This Recipe?
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Perfect Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup Peanut Butter (Unsalted)
- ¾ cup Vegan Vanilla Pea Protein Powder - I used NuZest
- ¼ cup Brown Rice Syrup - or maple syrup
Optional
- ¼ cup Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Chips - or freeze-dried blueberries
- 2-3 tablespoons Almond Milk - or melted coconut oil if dough is too dry
Instructions
- Before you start the recipe, I recommend weighing the ingredients rather than using cups. In fact, protein powder is very volatile, and it is easy to add too much, making the bar too dry.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine natural peanut butter with brown rice syrup until smooth.
- Stir in vanilla pea protein powder and chocolate chips. It will become difficult to stir with a spoon. Use your hands to squeeze the batter and form a consistent dough.
- If too dry or crumbly, fix it by adding 1 tablespoon at a time of either almond milk (makes the bar softer) or melted coconut oil (not too hot, or it will melt your chocolate chips). The dough has enough liquid when it stick together when squeezed in your hand.
- Press the dough into a square 8-inch x 8-inch pan, smoothen the top with the back of a spoon or spatula. Freeze 10 minutes to set.
- Remove from the freezer and cut into 12 protein bars.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
We used homemade peanut butter
Monk fruit sweetener and Orgain Vanilla protein powder. We had to add 3-4tbsp on oat milk. They turned out really good. Same consistency and texture as a Perfect Bar.
Question: will honey work in place of the sweetener or syrup?
Going to try Almond Butter this week!!
Thanks, I am glad you love them. Any liquid sweetener will work well and using different kind of nut butter is a great idea to create a range of protein bar flavor too!
Would this still be good with salted natural peanut butter? That is all I have!
Yes, it still works! I prefer unsalted, but as long as it’s natural peanut butter, it’ll work fine and taste good!
Do you think almond butter would work?
Absolutely, as soon as your almond butter is fresh and drippy. the same amount will work.
do you have any recommendations other than maple syrup and brown rice syrup? trying to avoid too many sugars
Usually liquid sugar-free monk fruit sweetener works but the result is a bit dry
These sound great. Can I freeze them? I don’t think I’ll eat the entire batch within a week.
Yes sure!
If I wanted to add some Organic Raw Cocoa powder, would I need to adjust the amount of liquid?
Thanks!
I didn’t try that option but by experience I can tell that adding high-fiber ingredient like cocoa dry out texture of food. Here it can make the dough crumbly and difficult to keep it shape even if you add liquid. May be try a cocoa protein powder instead for a chocolate flavor, enjoy!
Hello, this recipe looks SO GOOD! I don’t currently have pea protein powder but have hempseed protein powder. Would that alter the flavor or will it work just as fine?
It should work very well but I always found hemp protein powder slightly bitter so I prefer pea protein in my recipes. Then, it’s up to our taste! or try half/half!
I’ve been struggling to use up a huge jar of plain pea protein powder because I don’t like the taste and texture it imparts to everything I put it in. I wasn’t sure it would work in these either, but to my great delight they are delicious. I need a post gym protein snack and these are just the ticket. I’ll be making a lot of these. Great work! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the lovely feedback1 I am glad you love them too!
Used teddie’s flaxseed PB, nuzest vanilla protein, maple syrup and enjoy life chips.. delicious. Love the minimal ingredients! Thank you for the recipe 🙂
Thanks for the lovely feedback.
I would love to try this out! If I used peanut butter powder instead, would this work too? Or would it not be creamy enough? I typically use peanut butter powder to make spread to save on fat. 🙂
I don’t think it will work in this particular recipe sorry