Peanut Butter & Jelly Protein Bars

Peanut butter and jelly protein bars are a delicious high protein snack that tastes like dessert! It’s a fun twist on the classic PB&J sandwich we all grew up on. The easy recipe is vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, and grain-free. It’s made with healthy ingredients, like peanut butter, protein powder, maple syrup, and freeze-dried fruit. Everyone will love these PB&J protein bars, adults and kids included!

Everyone loves a nostalgic PB&J sandwich, right? The creamy, salty-sweet peanut butter pairs so perfectly with the tart, fruity jelly. If you grew up enjoying this combo, you will adore these peanut butter and jelly protein bars! They’re packed with the same delicious flavor, but in a healthier protein-packed way.

If you’ve never created homemade protein bars before, prepare to be mind blown. From start to finish, they take just 10 minutes to make. Plus, they’re always so much tastier than store bought bars. You only need 7 ingredients, and there’s no oven and no baking required.

These bars begin with a melt-in-your-mouth, creamy peanut butter dough. Then, melted white chocolate is drizzled on top. Lastly, crispy bits of freeze-dried berries are sprinkled over the white chocolate. It’s a high protein snack that doubles as a high protein dessert! You won’t believe how addictive they are.

PS: If you love PB&J snacks, you must try my PB&J Stuffed Dates and No-Bake Peanut Butter & Jelly Cheesecake Bars too!

What are pb&j protein bars made of?

• Peanut butter: This flavor cannot be complete without creamy peanut butter, of course! If you want to use another type of nut butter instead, like almond or cashew, that works too.
• Protein powder: I absolutely love using peanut butter blueberry protein powder for this recipe. However, it will work with any berry flavored protein powder.
• White chocolate chips: White chocolate is needed for a couple reasons. Not only does it add a delicious white chocolate flavor, it also acts as “glue” to hold the freeze-dried fruit on top. If you are vegan or dairy-free, make sure you use a brand that does not contain dairy.
• Freeze-dried fruit: This is just fruit that has undergone lyophilization, which means the water has been removed. It results in a crispy, crunchy, flavor-packed version of the original fruit! I highly recommend using a combination of freeze-dried blueberries and strawberries.
• Maple syrup: These protein bars are naturally sweetened with real maple syrup. Alternatively, you can use honey.
• Vanilla extract: Vanilla adds sweeter flavor.
• Salt: A pinch of salt enhances the other ingredients.

How to make peanut butter and jelly protein bars

First, add peanut butter, protein powder, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl. Mix together until a dough forms.

Then, line a loaf pan OR an 8×8-inch square pan with parchment paper. Firmly press the dough across the bottom of the pan. A loaf pan will create thick bars, while an 8×8-inch pan will create thin bars.

After, add white chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl. Melt in 30 second intervals until the chocolate is fully melted. Drizzle the melted white chocolate over the dough, then sprinkle the freeze dried berries on top.

Chill protein bars in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Then, gently slice them into 8-12 bars, depending on your preferred size. Enjoy!

Recipe variations