Perfect Bar Recipe (Only 5 Ingredients!)

This Perfect Bar Recipe tastes exactly like the store-bought version. It’s gluten-free, healthy, and totally delicious!

Who isn’t in search of the perfect snack bar? The appeal of reaching for a single item that will set you up with feel-good protein and nutrition is huge. And finding one with a short list of ingredients you can pronounce is even better. Plus, a bar that actually tastes great? Amazing! The majority of store-bought bars on the shelves fall down on one or more of these points—often while being exorbitantly expensive as well.

Enter this copycat recipe that takes inspiration from the Perfect Bar, a nutritional bar that bills itself as the original refrigerated protein bar. But we transformed it into something we think is even better. Our no-bake bars call for just five simple ingredients so you know exactly what’s in every bite. And you can make them in minutes, no special equipment required. If you love peanut butter, these are a must— we’d pretty much describe them as unadulterated magic!

Is This Perfect Bar Recipe Healthy?

If you’re looking for a bar that’s packed with protein and carbohydrates and made with simple ingredients, then this is the bar for you. It also has a fair amount of healthy fats and is naturally gluten-free. It does have quite a lot of sugar in the form of honey, and the bars have a significant amount of calories. If this is a concern, you should eat them in moderation; you can even cut the bars in half and still have a pretty hefty snack portion that clocks in with half the calories and sugar. Want a dairy-free bar? Use only a quarter-cup plus two teaspoons honey and sub the dry milk powder for sifted (very important) powdered coconut milk.

What Exactly Is Natural Peanut Butter?

Think you know peanut butter? This pantry staple might have a lot more varieties than you imagine, and some have added ingredients you may not want. The type we recommend for this recipe is what’s usually labeled “natural peanut butter.” This product is typically prepared only with ground peanuts, sometimes with a little salt added to enhance the flavor. It doesn’t contain stabilizers, usually in the form of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oil, an ingredient that prevents the natural oil in the peanuts from separating. This means that unless it’s freshly ground you’ll need to stir the oil back into the peanut butter before measuring it out. This type of peanut butter also contains no sugar, an ingredient in many commercial brands. And remember that natural peanut butter isn’t necessarily organic. If that’s important to you seek out a brand labeled as such.

Serving Suggestions

If DIY protein snacks are your thing, then FFF is your playground; we’ve got dozens! Try no-bake almond butter Homemade Paleo Protein Bars or beautiful Superfood Protein Berry Cashew Cream No-Bake Bars. Mini Protein Cupcakes With Funfetti Icing are adorable, as are Blueberry High-Protein Muffins with Quinoa. And you can’t beat a Strawberry Protein Shake for any-time convenience!

Recipe