Make Protein Bars Your Way—No Baking Required

School is in session, football season is in full swing, and the aroma of pumpkin spice is everywhere. To keep up with busy schedules, it’s even more important to stay nourished and energized. Creation Nation has your back with a line of no-bake mixes for homemade balls, bars, and bites that taste indulgent but keep you satisfied with protein and fiber. Here are five reasons you’ll want to make a batch ASAP.

1. Whole-food ingredients
These nourishing snacks hit the spot thanks to a handful of high-quality, gluten-free, non-GMO, and organic ingredients. Think: almonds, Brazil nut powder, cocoa, coconut, flaxseed meal, oats, and pea protein or grass-fed whey protein.

What you won’t find? Preservatives, fillers, or high-fructose syrup. Instead of stevia, Creation Nation’s mixes are naturally sweetened with zero-calorie Monk Fruit.

2. No baking required
Making protein bars from scratch can be time-consuming but many pre-made options contain questionable ingredients. Creation Nation raises the bar with mixes so easy you can make them even when you don’t have easy access to an oven, making them great for frequent travelers and dorm dwellers. Just add one or two of your favorite binders like honey, nut butter, coconut oil, or mashed bananas, then stir, smash, and slice.

Thrive Market member Nadine makes a batch every week and keeps them in the fridge. “The protein truly fills me up and one bar can even be a quick meal if you’re in a crunch.”

3. Customizable for every diet
The struggle is real to find delicious unprocessed snacks, treats, and protein bars, especially if you have allergies or diet restrictions. These tasty mixes are gluten-, soy-, and grain-free, and beyond the base ingredients, there’s lots of room to get creative and customize the recipe to your taste.

If you’re dairy-free, Paleo, or vegan, check out the Vegan Protein Bar Mix or Paleo Energy Bite Mix, and if you follow a primal diet, there’s a Protein Bar Mix with your name on it. You can also add grass-fed ghee, coffee, or Thrive Market Coconut Oil to really amp up your bars.

For even more inspiration, here are two quick and easy recipes!

Banana Breakfast Bars
This recipe will help keep you fit and fueled. Add all the ingredients to a bowl, then stir, smash, and serve. Makes 8 to 12 bars.

1 bag Creation Nation Primal Protein Bar Mix
⅓ to ½ cup mashed banana (about 1 banana), or water
⅓ cup grass-fed butter or nut butter

Coffee Bliss Balls
The perfect companion for late night study sessions. Stir everything in a bowl, then roll balls in your hands. Makes 24.

1 bag Creation Nation Paleo Energy Bite Mix
¼ cup coconut oil
¼ to ⅓ cup strong coffee or concentrate
¼ cup honey or agave

4. Fits your budget
For a fraction of the price of pre-made protein bars and energy bites, you can DIY Creation Nation’s snacks, guilt-free on your bank account, too. As a Thrive Market member, snag the mixes for 25% off retail!

5. Smart cookies can enter to win
Join the DIY Protein Bar Revolution! When you share your Creation Nation photos or video on social media with #HackYourSnack you’ll automatically enter yourself to win an annual giveaway of a school-year’s supply of Protein & Energy Bar Mixes (nearly a $500 value, winner chosen every summer). Get snapping!