Keto Protein Bars

Sweet and salty peanut bars with roasted peanuts and peanut butter chips are the healthy snack you have been looking for! These are the best keto protein bars I have ever tried and are easier to make than you think!

Homemade protein bars that are inexpensive to make and taste amazing?! YES! I’m always excited about any kind of bar because they are easy to grab, eat in the car, or wherever you are!

This year our school started a golf team and my 15-year-old joined. They would go right from school to the course and wouldn’t finish some nights until 7:30 or 8. He needed some easy snacks, so I bought him some Nature Valley sweet and salty peanut chewy granola bars. Those nut bars sounded so good that I wanted to make low carb protein bars for myself.

And, to be honest, I have not yet met store-bought keto-friendly protein bars I actually like. And I have tried dozens through my work. These homemade low carb protein bars really changed my opinion of snack bars entirely. If you’re following a keto diet, making your own snacks is often the best option. You can control the ingredients and make something you actually enjoy eating!

Make sure to try my other protein-packed recipes. How about a Protein Milkshake Recipe? And then try my Protein Overnight Oats or Baked Protein Oatmeal for a fulfilling breakfast.

What You’ll Need

Keto protein bars only require a few pantry staples and about 10 minutes of prep time!

• Hemp Hearts – The nutty flavor of hemp hearts is the perfect addition to these keto protein bars and a great sub for oats. I use them in my keto oatmeal. Plus, they are naturally gluten-free and contain protein, omega-6, and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Sweetener – You’ll need a little bit of sweetener to enhance the flavor. I prefer a 1:1 sweetener in this recipe. Xylitol, erythritol, or allulose would all work well. Concentrated sweeteners with stevia may make them too sweet. You can choose whichever keto-friendly sweetener you prefer, including options without artificial sweeteners.
• Heavy Cream – Combined with the other ingredients, the heavy cream gives the protein bars a great texture. For a dairy-free bar, sub in coconut cream and use dairy-free peanut butter chips.
• Peanut Butter Chips – The key ingredient! I used ChocZero Peanut Butter Chips, but you can use your favorite sugar-free peanut butter baking chips. Just check the nutrition label since the carbs and sweeteners can vary between brands. Check the ingredient list for sweeteners and additives like sunflower lecithin if those are things you prefer to avoid.
• Peanuts – For best results, use roasted salted peanuts. They will give you the most bang for your buck in the flavor department!
• Salt – A pinch of sea salt really finishes these well. We love the sweet and salty granola bar combination. If you’d like, you can even sprinkle the tops with coarse salt for a bit more crunch.

How To Make Keto Protein Bars

Step One: Place parchment paper in a 9×9 square baking pan. Use coconut oil to grease the parchment paper.

Step Two: Mix the sweetener and heavy cream together in a pan over medium-high heat. Simmer rapidly and stir frequently until it has thickened.

Step Three: Add half of the peanut butter chips, hemp hearts, chopped peanuts, and salt to the pan and stir. Pour into the baking pan and use a spatula to flatten evenly. Sprinkle the top with extra peanuts and peanut butter chips.

Step Four: Let the protein bars cool to room temperature, then place them in the fridge for a minimum of 2 hours. Gently lift the parchment paper and remove the bars from the pan. Use a sharp knife to cut into bars.

Storage

After cutting the keto protein bars, wrap each one in a piece of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Then keep them in a larger bag or airtight food container. This will keep them fresh longer and make it easier when you need one on the go. You can even pack a few individually wrapped bars to grab throughout the week.

The sweet and salty peanut bars should be kept cold when you aren’t serving them, and they will last up to 2 weeks in the fridge.

I even took one to our community pool on a 90-degree day to see how it would hold up. The chips on top got a little melty, but the bar itself was perfect! If you are planning to take low carb protein bars out in the heat, you can just skip the extra chips on top.

Variations

Eat the no bake peanut butter protein bars just the way the recipe is written or make them extra special with these variations.

• Nuts – Almonds or cashews also make a nice touch. Chop them up fairly small and swap half of the peanuts or exchange them completely.
• Chocolate Chips – Mix in a few sugar-free chocolate chips for those days when you really want to indulge.
• Coconut – Sprinkle a little bit of shredded unsweetened coconut on top of the bars before they set.
• Vanilla – Add in a teaspoon or two of vanilla extract to boost the flavor.
• Cinnamon – Love the cinnamon roll protein bars on the market? Copy those by adding some cinnamon and using sugar-free white chocolate chips.
• Caramel – Caramel extract is an easy way to add caramel flavor to a low carb bar.
• Chia Seeds – Love chia seeds? Go ahead and mix some in.
• Chocolate Drizzle – Melt some sugar-free chocolate chips and drizzle on top of the bars. It’s a fun way to add a touch of elegance.
• Peanut Butter Coating – The bars that were my inspiration do have their bottoms coated with a peanut butter coating. If you would like to do that, simply melt some extra peanut butter chips and dip the bottoms of the bars in them. Place the sweet and salty bars upside down while the coating sets.
• Extra Protein – The nuts and hemp hearts provide protein, so I chose not to incorporate a protein powder. But if you would like to, you can mix in a little grass-fed whey protein powder, collagen, egg white protein powder, or pea protein right before adding the mixture to the pan.

Why Should I Make Protein Bars?

There are many reasons to make your own keto protein bars. Here are just a few:

• They are delicious, and you know exactly what ingredients are in them, unlike store-bought brands.
• Even your kids can help make them, so they are great for beginners.
• You can throw low carb protein bars together in mere minutes.
• These keto bars even make thoughtful gifts during the holidays or when a new neighbor moves to the area.
• Sweet and salty peanut bars taste more like a candy bar with a side of healthiness!
• Much less expensive than anything you can pick up at your local market.

For more protein-full snacks, try my Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Brownie Fat Balls, Apricot Bliss Balls, and Keto Peanut Butter Balls. 

Common Questions

Are homemade keto protein bars better than store-bought?

I think so! I love knowing exactly what goes into my homemade protein bars. You can choose your own ingredients and sweeteners, and they cost less than buying a pack of keto-friendly protein bars at the grocery store.

Plus, I think these taste better than most of the ones I’ve tried!

How many net carbs are in these keto protein bars?

The exact net carbs depend on the brands of sweetener and peanut butter chips you use. Check the nutrition information in the recipe card for the calculated calories, total carbs, protein, and other nutrition details.

Remember that net carbs are generally calculated by subtracting fiber and qualifying sugar alcohols from total carbohydrates. The calculation can vary depending on the sweetener.

Can I make these protein bars without peanut butter chips?

The peanut butter chips are a big part of the flavor and help hold the bars together, so I wouldn’t recommend leaving them out entirely. You can experiment with another type of sugar-free baking chip, but the texture and flavor may change.

Like what you see? Follow me on Facebook and Instagram! Love this recipe? Leave a comment & a 5-star rating right here! Make sure you don’t miss new recipes by getting email updates!

Originally Published July 21, 2021. Revised and Republished October 8, 2026.