Whether you're on the go running errands or need a pick-me-up pre-workout, an energy bar is a perfect handy and healthy treat. If you're tired of the usual store-bought suspects, why not try making your own? Here are a group of yummy energizing recipes that will have you up and running in no time.
— Additional reporting by Tara Block, Jaime Young, Aemilia Madden, and Jenny Sugar
Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Leta Shy / Anna Monette Roberts / Jenny Sugar
Gluten-Free Almond Oatmeal Protein Bars
Each chewy, nutty, and subtly sweet bar [1] is 176 calories and offers 8.4 grams of fiber but only has 5.5 grams of sugar.
Vegan Chocolate Almond Protein Bars
Here's a dairy-free dessert-like snack [2] that offers almost 13 grams of protein per 166-calorie bar.
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Pie Protein Balls
These protein balls [3] have all the warm spices you adore from pumpkin pie but are just 77 calories per bite.
Peanut Butter Protein Rice Krispies Treats
At 153 calories per delicious square [4], they're just as addictive as the original recipe, but with 4.6 grams of protein, you won't feel guilty inhaling half the pan more than one.
Vegan Banana-Oat Protein Balls
Made with only three ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, these protein balls [5] couldn't be easier to whip up. At 47 calories per ball, a three-piece serving is 141 calories and offers 8.1 grams of protein and 24 grams of carbs.
Carrot Cake Protein Balls
Even without the cream cheese frosting, their warm flavor [6] will satisfy your sweet tooth while filling your belly and offering your body the energy it needs to exercise or get through that late-afternoon meeting.
Cashew Go-Bars
If you're headed out on a tough hike, pack these cashew go-bars [7] to keep you energized through the last mile.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Protein Bars
These chocolate chip pumpkin protein bars [8] may look and taste like dessert, but they will help you power through your next tough sweat session.
Almond Cherry Energy Chunks
Sugar-free and gluten-free too, these almond cherry chunks of energy [9] make a great snack that will help you lose weight.
Mango Energy Bites
Fuel up with these mango energy bites [10] full of healthy foods like quinoa and coconut.
Coconut Almond Energy Bars
These crunchy nut- and seed-packed coconut almond energy bars [11] will give you the carbs you need to rock your next workout.
Almond Butter Apricot Bites
For a pre-workout snack that is easy to whip together and save for later, make these vegan almond butter apricot bites [12].
Cookie Dough Protein Bites
These peanut butter protein balls [13] taste like chocolate chip cookie dough but offer the ideal blend of protein and carbs you need to power up before a tough strength-training session.
Special For Cyclists
Convenience, portability, and ease of eating are all factors that define a cyclist's fuel, and this energy bar recipe [14] from competitive cyclist Neil Bezdek does not disappoint. The oats alone will help regulate your body's blood sugars to keep your glucose levels steady, and the chocolate chips give you the instant energy you need to keep on climbing.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls
No-bake peanut butter balls [15] are quick to come together so you can always have them in your fridge ready to go.
Gluten-Free Pure Bars
Veronica Bosgraaf, founder of wildly popular Pure Bar [16], shared this easy recipe for her dessert-inspired fruit and nut bars [17]. Packed with protein, fiber, and antioxidants, these bars are a great way to satisfy a vegan or gluten-free sweet tooth.
DIY Fruit and Nut Bars
Fans of Lärabars who can't afford the price tag can create their own fruit and nut bars [18] in the comfort of their kitchen. These step-by-step instructions will show you how to cook up the perfect 150-calorie snack or dessert.