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    Home » Whey Protein Recipes

    Monster Cookie Protein Bars

    Published: Nov 7, 2023 by Dorothy Bigelow · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    A stack of homemade protein bars.
    Homemade protein bars on a sheet of unbleached parchment paper.
    Sliced protein bars dotted with M&M candies.

    This easy recipe for homemade Monster Cookie Protein Bars is made with simple ingredients like natural peanut butter, protein powder, and oat flour. Perfect for meal prep, and can be frozen for later if needed! 

    6 protein bars on a sheet of unbleached parchment paper.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Storing and Freezing
    • Expert Tips
    • Variations
    • Recipe FAQ's
    • Monster Cookie Protein Bars

    ​One of my favorite things to do is find ways to make the things we normally buy at home. Not only does this save money, but it gives you completely control over the quality of ingredients.

    My husband has been buying protein bars for several years now, as they are easy to grab and help him hit his protein goals for the day. I've tried most of the brands available in stores, but I always found them too dry and chalky.

    These Monster Cookie Protein Bars are a homemade solution to packaged protein bars, and they taste SO much better than anything you would buy at the store.

    Made with oat flour, protein powder, and maple syrup, these no bake bars are our new favorite grab-and-go snack.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe:

    1. Easy to make. No special skills or equipment are needed to make these chewy monster cookie bars. Just mix everything together, press into a pan, and chill for an hour or so.
    2. Perfect for meal prep. Make a big batch of these early in the week and you'll have them on hand for a quick snack. They also freeze really well!
    3. A sweet treat. Just because you're trying to increase your protein, doesn't mean you don't want food that tastes delicious! This recipe has all of flavor of your favorite cookies, plus 15-20g of satisfying protein per serving.
    4. Simple ingredients. This recipe is naturally gluten-free and made with whole food ingredients like natural nut butter, maple syrup, and oats.

    Ingredients

    An overhead view of different bowls with different ingredients, including: nut butter, protein powder, mini M&m's, chocolate chips, maple syrup, etc.
    • Nut butter: I recommend using natural creamy peanut butter, as that's the most common flavor used in the classic monster cookie. If desired, you could use natural almond butter or cashew butter instead.
    • Protein powder: I recommend using a good quality vanilla whey protein powder that you enjoy the taste of. You'll need 60 grams, which may vary in volume depending on the brand. For me, that was about ½ cup + 2 tablespoons.
    • Oat flour: This can be purchased at the store, OR you could make your own in a blender or food processor. Use gluten-free oats if you need the recipe to be gluten-free.
    • Maple syrup: Definitely make sure to use real maple syrup! If you can't find any, you could use agave instead (but honey is a bit too strong of a taste).
    • Vanilla extract: All monster cookie recipes call for vanilla, so we'll be using here too for added flavor.
    • Mini M&M's: These can be found in the candy aisle, or in the section with ice cream toppings. About ¼ cup is used for 6-8 bars.
    • Mini chocolate chips: Adding a few mini semi-sweet chocolate chips to Monster cookie dough is a classic move. You'll need just 1 tablespoon for the whole batch.

    Equipment

    • Small baking dish (or meal prep container): This is for pressing the dough into, which provides shape for your bars. I used a regular-sized meal prep containers, but a small baking pan or loaf pan would work well.
    • Parchment paper: For lining your baking dish. It prevents sticking and makes removing the bars easy peasy.

    Instructions

    A bowl with oat flour, peanut butter, and protein powder.
    Stirring together a protein cookie dough.

    Step one: Add the protein powder, oat flour, and nut butter to a medium-sized bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer).

    Step two: Pour in the maple syrup and vanilla extract.

    Adding the M&M's

    Mixing together a protein cookie dough in a bowl.
    Adding candies and chocolate to a protein cookie dough.

    Step three: Use a silicone spatula to mix everything together until smooth and well combined.

    Step four: Add in the mini M&M candies and mini chocolate chips and fold them in until well distributed.

    Forming into Bars

    Spreading a protein bar dough into a parchment lined baking dish.
    Protein dough pressed into a parchment lined baking dish.

    Step five: Line a small baking dish or loaf pan with parchment paper (or wax paper) and add the Monster cookie dough into the middle.

    Step six: Press the dough into an even layer and top with additional M&M's (if desired),

    Cover and place in the freezer to chill for 1 hour.

    Slicing into Bars

    6 homemade protein bars on a sheet of parchment paper.

    Step seven: After the chilling time is up carefully lift the bars out using the parchment paper and slice into 6 or 8 individual bars.

    Wrap and place in an airtight container, and/or serve immediately.

    Two protein bars stacked on top of each other.

    Storing and Freezing

    1. After the bars have been sliced, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and then place in an airtight container or a freezer bag.
    2. Keep in the refrigerator (tightly wrapped) for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    Top tip: If taking these Monster Cookie Protein Bars for a quick work snack, I like to toss them in the lunch bag frozen - they will be completely thawed by the afternoon!

    Expert Tips

    • Protein powder. Some brands are more dense than others, so the best way to get an accurate measurement is to use a kitchen scale to weigh out 60 grams. That works out to ½ cup + 2 tablespoons for the brand that I use.
    • Experiment. You don't have to make this recipe only in a bar form. They also work well to make scooped protein cookie dough, or protein balls.
    • Mix well. If you want a smooth consistency, first mix together the dry ingredients, then add in the wet ingredients. Either way things mix together fairly easily, but separate additions makes it just that much easier to get chewy bars.
    Protein bars layered on a sheet of parchment paper.

    Variations

    • Birthday Cake: Use cashew butter as your nut butter, and add ½ teaspoon of butter extract and ¼ teaspoon of almond extract. Stir in some sprinkles according to your liking, and top with additional sprinkles.
    • Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: Use cashew butter as your nut butter, and add ½ teaspoon of butter extract. Use ¼ cup of mini chocolate chips as your mix-in.
    • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars: Make the recipe as is, but leave out the mini chocolate chips and mini M&M's. Leave 1-2 tablespoons of the oatmeal whole, and add chopped peanuts or Reese's pieces as your mix-ins.

    I have also shared some different takes on this base recipe, including Protein Cookie Dough and Protein Cookie Dough Balls.

    Protein bars stacked on top of each other, showing the center.

    Recipe FAQ's

    Can you store homemade protein bars at room temperature?

    It's not recommended to store homemade protein bars at room temperature. They often have a high moisture content and keep their texture better in the refrigerator or freezer, and spoil less quickly that way.

    Can you make your own oat flour?

    Yes, you can absolutely make your own oat flour if you don't have any on hand! Add quick oats or old-fashioned oats to a blender or food processor and pulse until it resembles a fine flour.

    If you loved this recipe for Monster Cookie Protein Bars, let me know by leaving a 5-star review in the recipe card or comment below! You can also tag me on Instagram @dashfordinner.

    6 protein bars on a piece of parchment paper, topped with m&m candies.

    Monster Cookie Protein Bars

    This easy recipe for homemade Monster Cookie Protein Bars is made with simple ingredients like nut butter, protein powder, and oat flour.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snacks
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cooling time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 bars
    Calories: 330kcal
    Author: Dorothy Bigelow

    Equipment

    • Small baking dish or meal prep container
    • Parchment paper

    Ingredients

    • 1 cup creamy natural peanut butter *must be natural, the kind with oil separating out
    • 5 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup oat flour **see notes
    • 60 grams vanilla whey protein powder about ½ cup + 2 tablespoons
    • 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips
    • ¼ cup mini M&M’s

    Instructions

    • Add the peanut butter, maple syrup, vanilla extract, oat flour, and protein powder to a large bowl.
      Stirring together a protein cookie dough.
    • Mix everything together with an electric mixer – or by hand with a silicone spatula – until well combined.
      Mixing together a protein cookie dough in a bowl.
    • Add the mini chocolate chips and the mini M&M’s and fold them into the mixture until evenly distributed.
      Adding candies and chocolate to a protein cookie dough.
    • Line a loaf pan or meal prep container with parchment paper and press the dough into the container. Use your hands or a spoon to firmly press it into the edges, forming a thick base.
      Protein dough pressed into a parchment lined baking dish.
    • Cover the container or loaf pan with plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for 1 hour, or until firm.
    • Lift the parchment paper out of the container and use a knife to cut it into 6-8 bars.
      6 protein bars on a sheet of unbleached parchment paper.
    • Wrap the bars individually and store them in the fridge for up to 1 week, or placed in freezer bags and kept in the freezer for up to 2 months.
    Did you try this recipe?Tag me at @dashfordinner and share your photos!

    Notes

    Adapted from: Clean Peanut Butter Protein Bars - The Clean Eating Couple
    *Nut butter: It’s really important that you use natural peanut butter (the kind that separates with an oily layer on top). This thinner, oily texture is what holds the protein bars together. Do not substitute a commercial peanut butter like Kraft or Jif.
    **Oat flour: If you don’t have oat flour you can easily make your own by processing old-fashioned (or quick) oats in a blender until they resemble a fine powder. 
    Gluten free: If you need this recipe to be gluten-free, use gluten-free oat flour (or gluten-free oats to make your own flour). 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 14mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 39IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 1mg

    Please note that some of my blog posts here at Dash for Dinner may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. Please see my Disclaimer for more information.

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    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Dorothy!

    Dash for Dinner was started when I had my first child, as an effort to help other families who were struggling with cooking delicious meals while balancing it all. 

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