The original Perfect Bars are peanut butter protein bars whose main ingredients are peanut butter and honey. There are many variations in the grocery store, from almond to seasonal pumpkin and everything in between. For convenience sake, it’s so simple to buy the pre-packaged bars from the store, but it is so easy to make your own recipe version of copycat homemade perfect bars.
When I bit into a Perfect bar for the first time, I said, “Wow, this is amazing…and pricey!!” The wheels began to turn in my brain on how to create a homemade copycat version of this yummy protein bar straight from heaven. The copycat perfect bars recipe was simply a must! Like the Larabar, these are one of my go-to bars for a clean, whole food snack.
The Copycat Perfect Bar Recipe
Perfect Bars were a lifesaver when I was nursing my babies. Nursing mothers need around 500 calories per day to continue to meet their’s and their nursing baby’s nutritional needs. When we don’t meet these needs, the consequences can be as simple as waking up in the middle of the night with hunger pains, or our milk supply taking a big hit. I used to keep these bars, along with Larabars, by my bed because I would frequently wake up at night feeling nauseated because I was so hungry! I would eat a quick bar and go right back to sleep. Problem solved! My husband would tease me by saying, “I knew it was 4am because I could hear the wrapper on that perfect bar.” Get those calories in when you can Mama! Your body will thank you for it.
And a simple side note here, while you are nursing your baby is not the time to cut your calories. If you are eager to lose weight quickly (which I don’t recommend), focus on the type of foods you are taking in. It’s much more effective to eat whole, healthy calories and meet your daily requirements, then blow your calories on empty nutritional foods, such as donuts and frappucinos that will leave you hungry and cranky. My own hunger experiences are one of the reasons that I include these copycat homemade perfect bar recipes in my article of What do New Moms Really Need after Giving Birth. We need support AND calories! Healthy calories! Bring them on!
Copycat Homemade Perfect Bar Recipe
After a few tries at this recipe, I feel I got it right! The taste is great and the consistency is perfect. These taste just like the real thing and are my boys’ favorite snacks. They can eat a whole pan in one day if not supervised. And truth be told, I could too! These are packed with protein and have very few ingredients, so I’m happy they like them so well. I can whip them up in about ten minutes and they are good to go for several weeks. These are not low fat but they are a healthy fat recipe. Nutritional needs vary from person to person, but almost anyone can eat these in the right amounts. I should go ahead and tell you that I am not a certified nutritionist, so if you struggle with knowing your nutritional needs, you probably should consult one. I’m a registered nurse with a bend towards naturopathic methods to life’s problems.
But back to the bars. Another great advantage to these bars is you are able to buy the ingredients in bulk and they have a stable shelf life. You don’t have to be in a hurry to use up the ingredients because they will last for several months without going rancid. So stock up on that Costco organic peanut butter and honey! It will keep.
Copycat Perfect Bars
The Perfect Bar slogan is “the original refrigerated protein bar” and this recipe is no different. Keep these homemade bars refrigerated to maintain freshness. I leave them in the 9×13 pan I make them in and cover them tightly with plastic wrap. Storing these in an airtight container is also a great way to keep these homemade protein bars fresh.
There are only FOUR simple ingredients in this homemade version! As a somewhat health-conscious mom, I get pretty excited about that. I love the ease of my kids being able to grab a bar as a snack but don’t like the long list of ingredients and preservatives that are in many boxed varieties. Have you looked at the ingredients of your’s and your kid’s favorite bars? Even packaged organic protein bars can be full of ingredients I have a hard time pronouncing and preservatives I would rather not ingest. Sigh. Copycat Perfect Bars are whole foods in healthy snacks. Yes, please! It’s just another reason I love this recipe.
Copycat Homemade Perfect Bar Recipe
- 1 1/2 cups creamy organic peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
- 1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
In a large bowl combine your peanut butter and honey together. Stir well. Add your dry milk powder and mix until completely smooth. Press mixture into a 9×13 pan with clean fingers. Feel free to use parchment paper to line your pan. (I do not do this because I find they come up nicely on their own.) Lightly press chocolate chips into the top of the bars. Feel free to mix a few tablespoons of chocolate chips into the batter if you would like. Cut the bars into squares or rectangles or any shape you please, and place them into the refrigerator.
These bars can be eaten immediately but will have a softer texture. For a firm, Perfect bar texture you are used to, refrigerate for at least thirty minutes before consuming.This protein bar recipe can also be mixed in a food processor if you don’t want to stir by hand. Optional: add a little bit of sea salt to really bring out the flavor.
This homemade perfect bar recipe tastes just like the original perfect bar! It will not disappoint.
Serving size: Makes 28 bars but the size will vary depending on how you cut them.
Variations and Tips for the Copycat Perfect Bar recipe:
FOR AN ADDED PROTEIN BOOST, add a scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder at the time you add the dry milk powder to your large mixing bowl. Depending on your protein powder, this could add 20 extra grams of protein, making these high protein snacks.
I have found that the organic, need-to-stir peanut butter makes for the best consistency in these bars.
Substitution Options
You can use crunchy peanut butter if you like nuts in your bars (not recommended for young children).
You can substitute the peanut butter with any drippy nut butter, such as almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter to accommodate taste or a peanut allergy. Simply use the same amount of nut butter as you would peanut butter as the recipe calls for. This makes these bars safer for daycares and schools.
DO NOT FEED HONEY to infants under one year old. You can substitute the honey with maple syrup as an alternative.
For these to be 100% “clean” you need to leave off the chocolate chips. They have refined sugar in them. For a clean chocolate snack, try thesedark chocolate cups.
Want more of my best copycat recipes? Then check outCopycat Dairy Queen Ice Cream CakeorCopycat Starbucks Mocha(clean version).
Nutritional Facts:
For one bar, cut into squares similar to the photo, the nutritional content is approximately: Calories: 165 per serving, Total fat: 10g, Saturated fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Total Carbs: 12g, Fiber: 2g, Sugars: 9g, Protein 7g
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