Healthy Protein Granola Bars {Low Cal, GF}

Healthy Protein Granola Bars are Healthy Protein Granola Bars are low calorie, gluten free and delicious! An easy protein snack that's chewy and healthy. Gluten Free + Low Calorie

One of my most popular recipes are my healthy chocolate protein bars! That recipe was published only a few months ago and has quickly become a popular one and for a good reason. It's delicious!

This Healthy Protein Granola Bar recipe is equally delicious. It's also easy to make with simple ingredients, low calorie, higher protein and gluten free!

I know you'll enjoy baking this homemade granola bar recipe for a lower calorie snack!

Healthy Protein Granola Bars

Granola bars are a healthy snack, but often lack protein (remember peanut butter is a fat not a protein!). We always want meals and snacks to be balanced with protein.

This is a common mistake my clients make before working with me. They always notice a big difference when they begin adding protein. Here's a few more reasons why these low calorie granola bars are better for you!

• Low Calorie - Each bar is 184 calories. The number of calories isn't as important as the balance of protein, fat and carbs. That balance really has a significant impact on the hormones that control hunger. Having a lower calorie snack is great, but the balance is really most important!
• Higher Protein - This recipe adds protein powder to give the homemade granola bars a protein boost. Each bar has 8 grams of protein!
• Healthy Fat - Each bar has been 7 grams of fat, 2 of which are from saturated (less ideal fat) and the remaining 5 are from healthy fats from the flax and nut butter.
• Gluten Free - This recipe is gluten free.

Protein Granola Bars Ingredients

Here's what you need to make protein granola bars. You will also need an 8-inch by 8-inch baking dish along with a mixing bowl.

• Gluten Free Quick Oats
• Vanilla Protein Powder
• Ground Flax Meal
• Cinnamon
• Salt
• Nut Butter
• Vanilla Extract
• Honey
• Almond Milk
• Mini Chocolate Chips

How To Make Homemade Granola Bars with Protein

Making gluten free granola bars with protein is easy! You'll enjoy baking this recipe and it's not complicated at all. Here's the step to making homemade granola bars with protein.

Step 1 - Preheat the oven to 350 F. Prepare an 8-inch by 8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

Step 2 - In a large mixing bowl, combine the quick oats, protein powder, ground flax, cinnamon and salt.

Step 3 - In a separate mixing bowl, combine the nut butter, honey, milk and vanilla extract. Mix until fully combined then add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold in the chocolate chips.

Step 4 - Transfer the batter into the prepared baking pan. Spread the mixture evenly in the pan, pressing it firmly down into the pan.

Step 5 - Bake for 18 minutes or until the bars turn golden brown.

Step 6 - Remove the pan from the oven and cool at room temperature for 20 minutes. While the bars cool, melt 2-3 tablespoons of chocolate in the microwave. Once the bars are cooled, drizzle the top with the chocolate then slice into 10 bars.

What Protein To Use In Granola Bars

You may be wondering what protein to use when making homemade granola bars. I used vegan and gluten free vanilla protein powder for this recipe.

You can use a dairy based protein powder like whey if that agrees with you. You can also use a flavorless protein powder or even a chocolate protein powder.

I always recommend you use a protein powder you enjoy. If you don't enjoy a the flavor of a protein powder mixed with water and milk, chances are you won't enjoy it in a recipe. So choose something you've had before and know you like!

Protein powders I recommend are: Garden of Life Plant-Based, Garden of Life Whey, Orgain, Active Stacks, Collagen, Legion Whey, Legion Plant-Based, Nuzest Clean Lean

It's really about finding what works best for you. You may need to experiment to find the right protein powder!

I do not recommend using yogurt or another protein in place of the protein powder in this recipe as the bars will not have the same consistency or hold together well.

How To Store Homemade Granola Bars

You may be wondering how to store these healthy protein granola bars. I do recommend storing your homemade granola bars in the refrigerator in a container or plastic storage bag.

The granola bars will get moist sitting out at room temperature and will not hold together as well. Depending on the climate where you live, you may be able to get away with this.

Even so, I recommend keeping them in the refrigerator then taking them out for a snack. The bars will stay fine packing them in a lunchbox with an icepack.

You can also freeze these healthy granola bars up to 60 days. To eat, remove them from the freezer and thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

Substitutions For Protein Granola Bars

Here's the substitutions I recommend for this recipe. Remember when you make substitutions and swaps, it will alter the nutritional values from what you see in the recipe card at the bottom of the blog post.

• Gluten Free Quick Oats - You can use regular quick oats if gluten is not something you need to avoid. You can substitute rolled oats, however, I found they didn't work as well with this recipe.
• Honey - You can use a honey flavored allulose for a lower carb option like this one. Agave could be substituted. Maple syrup will not work with this granola bar recipe.
• Protein Powder - See the section above where I talk about protein powder options and what I recommend.
• Ground Flax - Make sure you use flax meal and not flax seeds. The ground flax holds the bars together in this recipe and cannot be replaced.
• Peanut Butter - Almond butter, sunflower butter, cashew butter or any nut butter you enjoy can be used.
• Almond Milk - Any milk you like may be used.
• Chocolate Chips - You can use dairy free if you need to.

More Bar and Snack Recipes

Here's more healthy snack and bar recipes to try!

• Healthy Protein Bars
• Chocolate Protein Donuts
• Banana Mug Cake
• Chocolate Almond Energy Balls

About Megan

Megan is a certified nutrition practitioner, author, freelance food photographer and fitness instructor living in Phoenix, Arizona. On her blog, Skinny Fitalicious she shares EASY, gluten free recipes for weight loss. Follow Megan on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates.