Beautiful Cherry Pie Protein Bars with a protein oatmeal base and no-sugar cherry filling! These high protein cherry oatmeal crumb bars are healthy, low sugar, low calorie and low fat too.
Took me two attempts at this recipe, and it turns out the key is to cook that cherry pie filling mixture and actually crush it up. The smooth and sweet cherry filling is a great binder to the oatmeal bar base and oatmeal crumb topping too.
All in all, a great healthy alternative to the classic cherry crumble bars with no shortbread or pie crust!
Ingredients for Cherry Pie Protein Bars Recipe:
These cherry pie protein bars are made with simple healthy ingredients, have no added sugar or milk; A really great homemade gluten free, low carb and Vegan cherry oatmeal protein bar!
Rolled Oats
Oat Flour – You can make your own by blending rolled oats in a high speed blender
Vanilla Protein Powder – key for the high protein oat fudge bars. I used Vanilla protein powder here from HTLT Supps. Quest Nutrition Vanilla Milkshake is another option.
Unflavored Protein Powder to replace some of the flour (and carbs) in the recipe for a slightly lower carb high protein recipe. I recommend the Multi-purpose mix protein powder from Quest Nutrition.
Coconut Flour
Almond Milk
And then the Cherry Pie Filling:
Cherries – Be sure to remove the pits
Lemon Juice
Cornstarch
Coconut Flour
A bit of 1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Substitute – I use Lakanto, to keep this recipe sugar free; (code HAYLSKITCHEN for a discount here).
Tips to make Healthy Cherry Oatmeal Bars with Protein Powder
These protein powder cherry oatmeal bars are extremely easy to make for a fitness snack, with just making one layer at a time. Here’s some tips to get them right!
Use whey-casein and whey protein powder when specified. It works well with the ratio of ingredients here. Whey-casein absorbs more liquid, and whey absorbs less, so you need to adjust the liquid accordingly.
Add milk or water little at a time when preparing the base; Even a little extra will make them too runny.
Mix the dry ingredients well before adding in the wet so you have a smooth mix.
For No Bake Cherry Pie Bars:
These protein packed cherry crumble bars can easily be turned into a no bake recipe by just skipping the step for baking the base. Instead, use less milk and transfer the pan to the freezer to harden a bit.
To store Healthy Cherry Crumb Protein Bars
These homemade cherry crumb protein bars are great for a clean breakfast, and need to be stored in the fridge.
To store this easy cherry bars recipe, place bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a 1 week.
To freeze, place healthy cherry pie bars in airtight sealed container, or individually wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in zipper bag; They should keep for 2 or 3 months. Be sure to let them thaw on the counter before eating!
Alternatives for Healthy Cherry Pie Bars!
I made these sugar free and gluten free and low fat cherry pie bars with this particular ingredient list, but here’s some healthy options to choose from.
For the protein base:
Unflavored protein powder: Almond flour or Oat flour
Coconut flour: Try using about ⅓ cup of Almond Flour
Almond Milk: Regular milk or other non dairy milk
For the Cherry Pie Filling
Cornstarch: Tapioca Scarch
1:1 Zero Calorie Sugar Replacement: Regular confectioners sugar (this won’t be sugar free though, and also higher in calories)
And some more Layered Homemade Protein Bars to try:
Beautiful Cherry Pie Protein Bars with a protein oatmeal base and no-sugar cherry filling! These high protein cherry oatmeal crumb bars are healthy, low sugar, low calorie and low fat too.
Ingredients
Base:
½cupRolled Oats, 45g
3tablespoonOat Flour, 17g
¼cupVanilla Protein Powder, Whey-Casein recommended below, 15g
½scoopUnflavored Protein Powder, Whey-Casein, 15g, see post for subs
Line a 8 x 4″ loaf pan with parchment paper; leave an overhang to lift out later.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Oatmeal Base:
In a bowl, combine rolled oats, oat flour, vanilla protein powder, unflavored protein powder and coconut flour.
Add in milk (little at a time) and mix. Mixture will be like a dough.
Transfer to ¾ mixture into prepared pan and press down.
Cherry Pie Filling:
Heat cherries, lemon juice, sweetener and cornstarch in a small saucepan over medium, stirring occasionally until fruit begins to break down and bubble, about 7-10 min.
Use a spoon or potato masher to mash to desired consistency.
Remove from heat let cool (place in fridge).
Bake:
Spread cherry mixture on base and use back of spoon/spatula to smoothen.
Spread remaining ¼ oat mixture chunks on top, and press down.
Bake for 12-15 minutes until slightly hardened.
Allow to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
Lift layers out of pan, place on cutting board and using a sharp knife, slice into 8 bars.
Notes
Nutrition value is calculated using products recommended below.
See post for alternate ingredients, tips and storage options.
Product Recommendations:
Quest Nutrition Multi-purpose Mix (Unflavored) Whey-Casein Protein Powder
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