Home/Blog/Homemade Collagen Protein Bars Recipe: Peanut Butter or Chocolate

Homemade Collagen Protein Bars Recipe: Peanut Butter or Chocolate

By Holly Darnell, RD

June 17, 2024

There are a lot of protein and snack bars on the market today. They fill a need for many of us: as an afternoon snack, before or after a workout, maybe on a road trip.

They’re popular for health-minded folks because they’re supposedly healthier than a cookie, biscuit or other common snacks. But are they really? While they can have decent levels of protein, often they contain too much sugar alongside a host of undesirable ingredients. Also, the type of protein can also be inferior, such as cheap soy protein.

Instead, consider making your own protein bar, with a superior protein like collagen that comes with its own set of benefits. Here are two ways to make a collagen protein bar — chocolate as well as peanut butter collagen protein bars — that are balanced nutritionally and absolutely delicious.

Health Benefits of Collagen

Why collagen? Collagen is a type of structural protein, and our bodies rely on our own production of it to keep our joints, ligaments, skin, hair and other organs in good shape. For example, did you know that up to 30 percent of all the protein in our body is collagen protein, and up to 70 percent of our skin, hair and nails is made from collagen?

Unfortunately, as we age past our 30s, our bodies naturally make less collagen, which can contribute to occasional joint discomfort or the appearance of crow’s feet. One way to help replenish our supply of collagen so that your body can make its own is to supplement with collagen powder, a convenient way to boost your intake of this special protein.

For example, Ancient Nutrition's Multi Collagen Protein powder — a main ingredient in each of these collagen bar recipes — can improve the appearance of crow's feet after 28 days and skin tone after 8 weeks. Support for skin elasticity and healthy skin tone is one of the most sought-after collagen benefits for women.

In addition, collagen supports exercise recovery, hair growth, gut lining integrity and healthy digestion.

Collagen Bar Ingredients

Beyond the collagen powder, it’s important to build a protein bar with great ingredients that are both good for you, are tasty and complement each other. These ingredients do just that.

For the chocolate collagen protein bar, healthy fats come in the way of the almond butter. Make sure it’s nice and creamy before using, so give it some good stirring before mixing in.

Coconut flour also adds some healthy fat and mixes well for this bar.

Sweetness comes via the maple syrup, and it’s lower on the glycemic index than sugar.

Chocolate arrives from the Multi Collagen Protein Chocolate, cocoa powder and cacao nibs.

For the peanut butter collagen protein bar, it starts with a cup of peanut butter. If you don’t like peanuts or allergic, you can use almond or sunflower seed butter.

Sweetness comes from the maple syrup and vanilla flavor from Multi Collagen Protein Vanilla, which is then further complimented by vanilla extract.

Dark chocolate chips are also used and mix well with the peanut butter flavor.

Homemade Collagen Bar Nutrition Facts

These bars deliver as protein bars as well as macronutrient bars, meaning they’re balanced between protein, fat and carbohydrates. They’ll also low in sugar, high in fiber and contain a high Daily Value (DV) percentage of many vitamins and minerals.

The peanut butter collagen protein bar contains 14 grams of carbs (2.6 grams of fiber and 7.7 grams of sugar), 18 grams of fat and 14 grams of protein for each 258 calorie serving. It contains nearly 20 percent DV of vitamin C, manganese, copper, niacin, magnesium, vitamin E and phosphorus.

The chocolate collagen protein bar contains 14 grams of carbs (2.7 grams of fiber and 9.1 grams of sugar), 10 grams of fat and 13 grams of protein for each 178 calorie serving. It contains nearly 20 percent DV of vitamin C, manganese, copper, riboflavin, vitamin E and magnesium.

Learn how to make below.

Recipe developed by Holly Darnell, RD. Holly is a registered dietitian nutritionist who unlocked self-love at the intersection of exceptional food and practical solutions for healthy living. She’s passionate about helping others make simple, positive lifestyle changes on their individual path to healing.