Honey Sea Salt Vanilla Protein Bars (Gluten Free, Low Sugar)

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These Honey Sea Salt Vanilla Protein Bars are gluten free, dairy free, and low in sugar. Packed with protein, healthy fats, and just the right amount of sweetness, these bars are perfect for busy morning, post-workout refuel, or any time you need a quick and nutritious snack!

I feel like it’s becoming harder and harder to find protein bars in grocery stores that actually have a decent amount of protein AND clean ingredients. Most are filled with weird preservatives and artificial sweeteners or they have a little protein but not enough that I’d call them a “protein bar.” There are a few that I love but honestly, it’s cheaper and way easier to just make my own!

Plus it’s so fun coming up with different flavors based on what sounds good, what I’m craving, or what’s in season. Some of my most popular are my Cosmic Brownie Protein Bars, Pumpkin Protein Bars, and Snickers Protein Bars. But these are the ones I make the most 😍 The honey and sea salt combo with vanilla gives them that perfect sweet and salty flavor that’s absolutely delicious.

See the full video tutorial HERE.

Why You’ll Love These

• Naturally sweetened – We’re using honey for natural sweetness, no processed sugars here! For a vegan option, you can use maple syrup or agave.
• Simple ingredients – Made with only eight simple, whole ingredients that will make you feel great!
• No-bake – SO easy to make with no baking necessary, just a little mixing and chilling.
• Dietary friendly – These bars are gluten free, dairy free, low in sugar, and can easily be made vegan with a simple swap listed below.

What You’ll Need

• Oats – You’ll be blending these into flour or you can use premade oat flour to make things easier. I just like making my own oat flour because I almost always have oats on hand. You can use gluten free or regular!
• Vanilla protein powder – Some of my favorites I’ve been loving are from Truvani and Flavcity plant based protein (dicsount code: CALLA).
• Peanut butter – I love the Kirkland Organic peanut butter from Costco because the ingredients are peanuts and salt. You can use any nut or seed butter, just make sure the ingredients are simple and it’s a runny consistency so it’s easier to mix.
• Coconut oil
• Honey – To make these vegan you could use agave or maple syrup instead, the flavor might be a little different than the original but just as delicious!
• Vanilla extract
• Sea salt – I always use a high-quality sea salt like this one from Redmond and I love topping these with Maldon thick flakey sea salt.
• Water – You’ll only need this to help mix things if the dough is still too dry. Every protein powder is different, some a drier than others so this helps!

How To Make

1. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. (Tip: Make sure some paper is overhanging on two sides so it’s easy to lift and take out of the pan when they’re set and ready to cut!)
2. If you’re making your own oat flour, use a high-speed blender to blend the oats until a flour forms.
3. In a large mixing bowl, add oat flour and vanilla protein powder. Mix to combine. (Tip: For the protein powders I mentioned above, one scoop is typically 30g or 2 tablespoons. Each protein scoop size can be different so start with 8 tablespoons of yours and increase after you mix in the other ingredients and start to form the dough if needed!)
4. Next, add the peanut butter (or nut/seed butter of choice), melted coconut oil, honey, sea salt, vanilla, and stir until a dough-like consistency forms. (Tip: If you need help mixing things, add one tablespoon of water at a time and stir. I usually start mixing with a silicone spatula and finish with my hands as the dough forms.)
5. Once you have the dough ready, press the mixture into the loaf pan and flatten the top so it’s nice and even.
6. Place the pan in the freezer for an hour or two until it’s fully set.
7. Once it’s done, top with flakey sea salt, slice, and enjoy!

Recommended Tools

• Loaf pan
• Parchment paper
• High-speed blender
• Glass mixing bowls
• Silicone spatula
• Stainless steel measuring cups and spoons
• Glass food storage container – I recommend storing these in the fridge or if you want them to last longer, you can store them in the freezer!

More High Protein Snacks

High Protein Healthier Buckeyes (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Low Sugar Protein Brownies (Gluten Free, Dairy Free)

Print Recipe

4.50 from 4 votes

Honey Sea Salt Vanilla Protein Bars (Gluten Free, Low Sugar)

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Keyword: dairy free, gluten free, gluten free flour, healthy meal prep, high protein, low sugar, meal prep, oat flour, plant based, protein bars, refined sugar free

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup oats (blended into flour)
• 4 scoops vanilla protein powder (about 8 tablespoons, add more if needed)
• 6 tbsp peanut butter (any nut/seed butter)
• 3 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
• 2 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp sea salt
• 1 splash vanilla
• 1-2 tbsp water (only if needed to mix)

Instructions

• Line a baking pan with parchment paper.
• In a large bowl, add the oat flour, protein powder, peanut butter, melted coconut oil, honey, salt, and vanilla. Stir until combined and a dough forms, add 1-2 tbsp of water if needed.
• Press the mixture into the loaf pan and even it out with a spatula.
• Place in the freezer for an hour or two, until fully set.
• Slice, top with sea salt, and enjoy!

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