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If you’re a mom who has a secret stash of chocolate and peanut butter goodness stashed away in your secret hiding place, this one is for you. Once you taste these, I can (almost) guarantee you that you’ll never need a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup again!

My kids  (including teenagers!) have commented on how Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups now taste “gross” because the processed chocolate and peanut butter goodness now tastes so fake compared to these homemade ones.

My girls make a pan or two a week, chop them up into bars or squares, and then put them in baggies or plastic wrap so that we have our snacks ready to go for the busy school and sports schedule in the week ahead.

Not quite convinced that I’ve created something that will help pry the Reese’s Cups from your hand? Try these out for yourself and tell me below how you like them! Or try these Dark Chocolate Protein Truffles for that chocolate fix!

Basic Reese’s Cup Protein Bar Recipe: 

  • 1 cup favorite vanilla protein (I use Shaklee or doTERRA vanilla protein)
  • 1 cup oats, + more oats as needed
  • 1/2 cup chopped nuts or cereal
  • 1 cup almond butter or peanut butter
  • 2/3 cup honey or agave
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips

 

Optional Mix-Ins to Change Things Up: 

  • 3 Tbsp. sunflower seeds
  • 3 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds
  • ½ cup unsweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup dried fruit
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup more almonds, walnuts, or other nut, chopped

 


Instructions:

1.  Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside.

2. Add honey, peanut butter, and vanilla and stir into the dry ingredients.

This may take a little brute force to get all the ingredients to stick together! If the mixture seems too wet add in more oats and continue to combine until mixture forms a ball.  If it is too dry, add a bit more peanut butter or honey.

NOTE:  If using all-natural peanut butter and it is not as soft and pliable, heat your honey in a small saucepan on the stove on high until bubbles break the surface; remove immediately. Don’t allow to boil.  Immediately add peanut butter and vanilla to the hot honey in the pan; stir until well combined and smooth. DO NOT heat the peanut butter…ONLY heat the honey, then add the peanut butter to the hot honey or your mixture will thicken too much or taste burnt.

*Omit heating the honey if your peanut butter is already fairly runny.  These steps are to melt the peanut butter and make it pliable in the mixture.  It’s not necessary if your nut butter is already smooth.

3.  Press down into ungreased 9 x 13 in. glass dish or onto a cookie sheet

4. Sprinkle dark chocolate chips across the top of the bars (will not cover entire top).

5. Place bars in oven on “Broil” for 45 seconds-60 seconds only.

6. Remove and spread melted chocolate chips evenly across the top of the bars.

7.  Refrigerate till chocolate is hardened; remove and cut into squares.

 


Tips from My Kitchen to Yours:

  • Omit step 4 if you don’t want chocolate on top. Sometimes if we are on a road trip we will omit melting chocolate on top and will opt for putting mini chocolate chips inside our mixture before pressing down into the pan. This makes for a mess-free trip!
  • Double the recipe and freeze the additional pan for the following week.
  • Freeze half the pan if you’re worried about eating them all (not that this would ever happen!)
  • Cut into 1-3 inch bars and wrap each bar individually with plastic wrap.  Smaller squares count as a treat. Larger bars would be a protein bar or granola bar replacement snack.
  • These are great in kids lunches or as an afterschool snack!
  • If using peanut butter, try to avoid PB with added sugar or preservatives. Get Natural or Organic PB. The really smooth kind works well or follow my heating tip above if you have a more firm peanut butter.

 

What is Your Favorite Way to Make These?

If you are trying to conquer your sweet tooth these bars will “RESET” your taste buds! Start by tossing the junk candy, make these “Reese’s Cup Protein Bars” instead, and then be patient with yourself! All changes take time!

I would love to hear what you think of these bars! Leave me a comment below and even snap a picture of your creation to show me your favorite ways to tweak this and make it your own.

 


5 ALIVE-ebook Jenni Oates

If you like this recipe, or are looking for other easy recipes for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, or Snacks, check out my other recipes or my new book 5 ALIVE.  It has nearly 125 quick recipes divided up into 5 meals for the day.  It’s a simple eating plan that will help you get in shape and master food cravings.