Copycat GoMacro Protein Bars
I am almost always hungry. I tandem nurse a two and four-year-old. I know, I didn’t intend for it to be this way but it just kind of happened. So for the last seven years I have been pregnant or breastfeeding, or both. My protein needs are high, even more than my kids or husband. Yours probably are too! And if I want to be the regulated and peaceful mother my family needs me to be, then nourishing myself well is a top priority. While I’d rather have a cup of homemade bone broth to sip on, or a beef shank or some bacon, sometimes I just need an open-the-fridge-and-go option. That’s where these bars come in.
For a while, I was enjoying GoMacro bars which are Organic and Vegan. I didn’t care about the vegan part but the ingredients were clean and I liked the protein content. But the price tag! They’re about $4 now, maybe less on sale or bulk, but too much for a habit. Soooo I attempted to find a similar copycat. It’s not quite the same, of course, but it does hit the craving and in 15 minutes I can whip up a batch of these and have for the homeschool week ahead. This is a “big” recipe because odds are I’ll let my kids have them once or twice this week, my husband will grab one, and poof they are gone.
Copycat No Bake GoMacro Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 28oz or 2.5c Peanut Butter I use the one full jar of the Organic PB from costco
- 1.5 cup honey or rice syrup Costco or Azure. This is essential to hold it together, and I sometimes add more.
- Generous pinch of salt
- ¼ cup organic cane sugar
- Splash of Vanilla Extract
- Generous shakes of cinnamon about 1 TBSP
- 1 cup of NAKED Whey protein powder. I have also used Equip prime protein which is great. You do want the extra protein here!
- 1 cup Perfect Supplements Grassfed Collagen Powder code KATYBUGFARMS for 10% off
- 2 cups Organic quick oats Costco or Azure. Start with less and add slowly
- FULL BAG. Organic rice crisps these are technically optional but I feel like they really add nice texture. I get them from Azure. They’re a little pricy but cheaper than the real bars. If you omit the rice crisps, then add another 4 cups of oats.
- 2 cups chocolate chips or other mix in like raisins or nuts
Instructions
- First, mix the peanut butter together with the salt, sugar, Syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla.
- Mixing is quite thick and may make you question if you’re doing it right. Keep mixing, ideally with a sturdy wooden spoon. Mine looks like this and smells great. Now is a good time to taste and see if it seems a good sweetness.
- If it passes the sweetness test, then I check the consistency. If there is not enough PB ratio to the oats and crisps, the bars won’t really be bars and hold together well. At this point, I sometimes add a tad more peanut butter and honey, or make sure to incorporate really well.
- Parchment paper makes life easier and I am grateful!
- Once you press into the 9×13 pan it should look incorperated and set together. No super crumbly pieces. If there are, you want to dump back in your mixing bowl and add more PB.
- Refrigerate for a few hours and you will see them hold together better! This recipe can be modified with different mixins. Be empowered to go forth and make on-the-go protein bars or balls with what you have!
First, mix the peanut butter together with the salt, sugar, Syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla.
Mixing is quite thick and may make you question if you’re doing it right. Keep mixing, ideally with a sturdy wooden spoon. Mine looks like this and smells great. Now is a good time to taste and see if it seems a good sweetness.
If it passes the sweetness test, then I check the consistency. If there is not enough PB ratio to the oats and crisps, the bars won’t really be bars and hold together well. At this point, I sometimes add a tad more peanut butter and honey, or make sure to incorporate really well.
Parchment paper makes life easier and I am grateful!
Once you press into the 9×13 pan it should look like this. No super crumbly pieces. If there are, you probably want to dump back in your mixing bowl and add more PB.
Refrigerate for a few hours and you will see them hold together better! This recipe can be modified with different mixins. Be empowered to go forth and make on-the-go protein bars or balls with what you have!
Let’s be well nourished mamas.
And if that means saving them for yourself and not sharing, then so be it! Let me know if you make them and how they turn out.
Onward and upward,
Kate
