Here is a perfect bar recipe where I am going to teach you how to make a delicious vegan chocolate peanut butter bar. Perfect bar recipe is delicious, and it is easy. Perfect bar recipe can be made with coconut butter, and the peanut butter makes these bars really delicious. Are you looking for a recipe which results in a bar that is soft, fluffy and chewy like that delicious store bought chocolate bar which you regularly consume? Then the below example is perfect for you.
HOMEMADE PERFECT BAR RECIPE
Save some cash and make your favorite peanut butter chocolate chip protein bar at home. This Copycat Perfect Bar Recipe is dairy and egg free but still fill of flavor and protein. You will end up liking the homemade version better than store bought!
HOMEMADE PERFECT BARS VERSUS STORE BOUGHT
There is nothing better than being able to make your favorite store bought or restaurant item at home. For one, it’s much more cost effective and you can have it whenever you like.
So you can imagine I was quite happy when I ventured out to make the ever popular Perfect Bar recipe at home and I liked them even better than the store bought!
Ok, so they aren’t exactly Perfect Bars–Perfect Bars contain egg, egg powder that is. Funny I don’t happen to just have egg powder hanging around in the kitchen, ha! Plus, I thought that it would be better for my vegan friends because they could enjoy a Perfect Bar-like treat as well!
Sometimes you gotta eat, and you gotta make it easy as possible. The Perfect Bar is perfect for that!
WHAT ARE PERFECT BARS?
This recipe is certainly not an exact replica of an actual Perfect Bar, but it is so similar and has plenty of protein and goodness, I find it to be a great homemade alternative.
Perfect Bars are protein bars you can find in the refrigerated section of many groceries and they include a combinations of nut butters, egg powder, milk powder, and other ingredients like seeds, nuts and more.
They also boast a long list of “whole food powders” which tend to come from fruits and veggies. They typically cost about $2-$3 per bar which can be pricey but they deliver a delicious bar to fuel you up so when in a pinch, I do enjoy them.
ARE THEY VEGAN?
Not all of them are. They have a couple versions that are vegan, but the peanut butter dark chocolate chip is not. Why aren’t they vegan? A lot of them include egg powder and milk powder.
This recipe can easily be made vegan–you just have to add a plant based protein powder and keep the milk dairy free. You should be all set then!
WHAT YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:
- Peanut Butter: For best results, I use natural creamy peanut butter, the kind you have to stir. It is nice and drippy and has plenty of moisture.
- I absolutely LOVE almond flour. It is so amazing and sometimes I make these bars with just almond flour. However, almond flour is pricey. To make this Perfect Bar recipe more cost effective, I opted to use a combination of oat flour and almond flour. Oat flour is super inexpensive and can easily be made by processing oats into a fine powder.
- If you select a vanilla protein powder that is foul and you have to hold your nose to drink a shake with it, then it will certainly not be delicious in this recipe. Make sure you enjoy the protein powder!
- Whatever milk you prefer will work–almond milk, whole milk, etc.
HOW TO MAKE THIS RECIPE:
I have made these two ways and there is really no wrong way. One way is to toss everything in the bowl and just dive in. This option is great, but by the end of it, I usually think, maybe it is better to take this step by step, ok?
Choose your own adventure, friends!
- Combine the flours and sea salt in a medium bowl and stir well. (steps 1 and 2)
- Add in peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla. Stir to fully incorporate all the ingredients. Pro-Tip: using clean hands during this part to sort of knead the ingredients together works quite well. Don’t knock it until you try it! (steps 3 and 4)
- If the mixture seems a bit dry or crumbly at this time, that is ok. That is where the milk comes in during the next step! (step 4)
- Add in the milk, slowly and stir or knead to incorporate into the mixture. I start by adding half of the milk at first. You do not want the mixture to be too wet, it should still hold up well and feel almost cookie dough like. If it still seems dry, add the rest of the milk and stir. (step 5)
- Toss in the chocolate chips and fold to mix in. (steps 6 and 7)
- Place the Perfect Bar mixture into a parchment lined 6x8in or 8×8 in pan. When it comes to the size of the pan, I prefer my 6x8in rectangular pyrex dishes. This allows the bars to be about the same thickness as a real Perfect Bar. When I use and 8x8in pan, I just don’t press them all the way to one end to keep them about the same thickness. (step 8)
- Press, and I mean PRESS the mixture into the pan. Use all your strength! If you want a thick, dense bar, you just have to work for it! Pop them in the freezer and chill for about 30 minutes (or more, that’s fine too) and then remove from the freezer, cut and enjoy! (steps 9 and 10)
NOTES:
- When I say press, I mean PRESS these babies into the pan. If you want a really sturdy, dense bar, then you gotta put all your weight into it, sit on it, whatever you have to do, bring the power. The bars will be too flimsy if you don’t so when you think you have pressed hard enough, keep going.
- Several readers who have made this Perfect Bar recipe, have said they prefer mini chocolate chips instead of full size, just as they use in real Perfect Bars.
- If you like the sweetness of Perfect Bars, add a bit more maple.
- Make sure the protein powder you use is one you would be okay drinking as a shake without holding your nose. Just sayin–consider yourself warned.
Copycat Homemade Perfect Bars
Everything tastes better when you know it’s good for you! These Copycat Homemade Perfect Bars are a great way to fill your body with extra protein and make your taste buds do the happy dance. Topped with chocolate chips, they’re the perfect treat.
How to make copycat perfect bars
Healthy protein bars right at home
There’s no denying it: granola-style bars are just better when they’re made at home! Maybe it’s the fresh ingredients, or maybe it’s the satisfaction of making your own, but something about them just tastes better.
For me, I’m all about grab-and-go style bars. Granola bars, protein bars, Perfect Bars, Clif Bars… I love them all. But when I started becoming more conscious of what I was eating and made the transition to a whole foods approach, I knew processed granola bars had to go.
Enter: My own copycat homemade perfect bars! If you’re unfamiliar, Perfect Bars are protein bars that come in a wide variety of flavors. The options are endless, and over time I’ve built up my stock pile of bar recipes to be pretty endless too!
On my website you’ll find all types of bars ranging from millionaire and s’mores bars to cookie dough and pumpkin oat bars. When you set your mind to it, you can make any recipe right at home!
So, let’s dive into creating copycat homemade perfect bars. It’s a no-bake recipe that won’t take much time at all!
Peanut butter protein bar ingredients
This recipe uses 8 different ingredients, many of which you probably already have at home. We’ll be using healthier ingredient options, which you can read more about down below!
- Oat flour (store bought is best for ultra fine texture)
- Vanilla protein powder
- Salt
- Natural peanut butter
- Honey
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut oil
- Mini chocolate chips
Tools used to create this recipe
This recipe couldn’t be simpler. And with that, we’ll only need three tools plus various measuring cups!
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing utensil
- Bread pan
- Measuring cups: 1/4 tsp, 1 tbsp, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup, and 3/4 cup.
How to make copycat homemade perfect bars
These bars are incredibly simple to make. You’ll start by mixing the ingredients together, and then you’ll throw them in the fridge! This is a no-bake recipe that requires less than 10 minutes of prep time.
To make your own homemade perfect bars, we’re going to start by mixing the oat flour, protein powder, and salt in a large mixing owl.
Then, add the peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp of the coconut oil.
Mix everything together. It will be very thick, so I suggest using your hands to ensure that everything incorporates well.
Eventually, the mix should come together like playdough. If it’s still too dry, add more coconut oil. However, don’t overdo the coconut oil as we want the bars to be firm and not too soft.
Next, mix in the chocolate chips using your hands or a spoon.
Once everything is mixed, press it into a bread pan and add more chocolate chips on top if desired. Press them into the top.
Let sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour before cutting into the batter. Enjoy!
A healthier granola bar option
Just because thees bars are homemade doesn’t mean they can’t be protein-rich! We’re revving up the protein in these bars by including Vanilla protein powder (as well as oat flour and peanut butter). Any brand will do!
Throughout this recipe we also made some ingredient swaps to make this bar overall more whole and nutrient-rich than the processed versions you’d find in the grocery store.
Oat flour
Oat flour is a wonderful alternative to white flour. It includes more protein and fiber and comes with a lower carbohydrate count.
Natural peanut butter
Whenever I use nut butters, I always go for the all-natural options. The chemicals and preservatives present in processed versions are simply not worth it. If your grocery store carries it, all-natural is the way to go!
Honey
Honey is used as the sweetener in this recipe because it’s an all-natural option that tastes delicious and doesn’t contribute any unnecessary sugars. It’s a wonderfully sweet option!
Coconut oil
I used coconut oil in this recipe in place of alternatives like canola and vegetable oil. Coconut oil is known to be more nutrient-rich and a healthier fat than the former.
Peanut butter chocolate chip perfect bar tips
When it comes time to make your bars, take these tips into account to make the process as smooth and simple as possible!
8×4 bread pan
I like to use an 8×4 sized pan for this recipe, but any size will work! Since it’s no-bake, switching up the pan size is perfectly fine.
Add-ons
In addition to chocolate chips, there are a number of ways that you can add on to these bars! You can use white chocolate chips, nuts (like pecans or walnuts!), dried fruit, or even sprinkles.
Swapping peanut butter
If you’re more a cashew or almond butter person, feel free to use them. The peanut butter can be swapped at a 1:1 ratio with any similar nut butter!
Storage
Keep perfect bars sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 4-5 days.
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
Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies
These 5-Ingredient Almond Flour Peanut Butter Cookies are the best healthy peanut butter cookies, 100% refined sugar-free, egg-free, and gluten-free. Bonus, this recipe takes less than 20 minutes to make for bringing a healthy snack to your table in no time.
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!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
CAN I FLAVOR THE PERFECT PROTEIN BARS?
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.
WHEN SHOULD YOU EAT PROTEIN BARS?
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.
WHAT IS THE NUTRITION OF THESE VEGAN PERFECT BARS?
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