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These no-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are easy to make with a gooey mix of oats, peanut butter, and honey. Topped with a chocolate drizzle, they’re an irresistible healthy snack to add to your meal prep.
If you’re tired of making a bowl of oatmeal every morning or settling for a boring granola bar as an afternoon snack, then you need these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars in your life. You can throw them together during your Sunday meal prep and snack on them all week long!
Easy to make with a sweet and gooey mix of oats, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla, the mixture is pressed into a baking dish and finished with an irresistible chocolate drizzle on top. Slice the healthy granola bars when they’re ready and pack them with your lunch, give them to your kids, or stash them away for hangry emergencies.
Packed with protein and fiber, these healthy peanut butter bars are the kind of snack that not only curbs your cravings but also helps keep you feeling fueled and focused. It’s a win-win!
Recipe features
- A game-changing healthy snack with deliciously sweet and nutty flavors. No baking needed!
- They’re a perfect afternoon pick-me-up and a healthy handheld breakfast.
- The bars are easy to make gluten-free and vegan, and pack protein and fiber into every bite.
Ingredients
Peanut butter – Look for creamy or crunchy natural peanut butter with just peanuts and salt listed as ingredients. Avoid peanut butter with added sugars, hydrogenated oils, and other additives.
Honey – It helps bind the oat mixture together and adds the most divine subtle sweetness. You can use agave syrup as a vegan substitute if you want.
Vanilla – For a warm and sweet flavor.
Salt – Just a pinch of sea salt or kosher salt makes the rest of the flavors pop.
Rolled oats – Packed with fiber and nutrients, rolled oats (AKA old-fashioned oats) give the bars a hearty texture and make them feel very wholesome. Remember, not all oats are gluten-free! To make gluten-free oatmeal bars, stick to certified gluten-free oats.
Chocolate chips – They’re melted and drizzled over the top of the oat bars. Remember to use dairy-free chocolate chips to keep this recipe vegan-friendly.
Instructions
Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients. Stir the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt in a large saucepan over low heat until smooth and warmed through.
Step 2: Add the oats. Stir the oats into the wet mix until combined. Transfer the oat mixture to a prepared baking pan.
Step 3: Set in the refrigerator. Once the oat mixture has cooled in the pan, drizzle the melted chocolate over the top and place it in the fridge to set.
Step 4: Slice and serve. Remove the pan from the fridge, slice the bars, and enjoy!
Tips and FAQs
- Rolled oats are always best for oatmeal bars but quick oats do work in a pinch. Just keep in mind that the quick oats will yield a softer and less firm texture.
- Let the bars chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until they’re fully set.
- For clean slices, run a sharp chef’s knife under hot water after slicing each bar.
Tip
Give your peanut butter a really good stir before getting started, especially if it’s separated from the natural oils.
Variations
- Mix-in ideas – Stir chocolate chips, shredded coconut, chia seeds, dried cranberries, flaxseeds, or chopped dates into the slightly cooled wet mixture before transferring it to the baking pan to set.
- Instead of a chocolate drizzle – Drizzle melted white chocolate, caramel sauce, or strawberry sauce over the top.
- Optional toppings – After adding the drizzle, sprinkle toasted coconut flakes, chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, or pecans), dried fruit (diced pineapple or mango), or granola over the top before refrigerating.
- Use another nut butter – Like almond butter or cashew butter.
- Warming spices – Sprinkle a pinch of cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice into the mixture.
- Protein oat bars – Mix in a scoop of powdered peanut butter (PB2) or your favorite chocolate-flavored protein powder.
Can I use steel-cut oats instead of rolled oats?
I don’t recommend it. Like I said, rolled oats are best because they make the oatmeal breakfast bars nice and chewy. Steel-cut oats are much too dense.
Can this recipe be made nut-free?
Absolutely! Just substitute peanut butter with creamy seed butter, like sunflower seed butter. The flavor will be slightly different but the bars will still be tasty.
How much fiber and protein is in these bars?
When sliced into 9 squares, each bar contains approximately 11 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. For 16 squares, the bars have approximately 6 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. Remember, these are rough estimates and the nutritional content will vary based on the brand of your ingredients and any substitutions you make.
Storage
Room temperature: Wrap the individual bars in plastic or store them all in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days.
Refrigerator: The bars will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Freezer: These oat bars freeze well for 2 to 3 months. Remember to wrap them well in plastic wrap or place parchment paper between each one before storing them in a freezer-safe container. Thaw in the fridge when you need a convenient and healthy snack.
More no-bake healthy treats
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Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
These no-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are easy to make with a gooey mix of oats, peanut butter, and honey. Topped with a chocolate drizzle, they’re an irresistible healthy snack to add to your meal prep.
Servings: bars
Instructions
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In a large saucepan, stir the peanut butter, honey, vanilla, and salt together over low heat until everything is combined and warmed, about 2-3 minutes.
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Remove the saucepan from the heat and add in the oats. Mix until everything is combined and then transfer to a 9×9 square pan lined with parchment paper.
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Let cool to room temperature and then drizzle melted chocolate over the top and place in the fridge for at least one hour.
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Remove from the fridge and from the pan. Slice into 9 or 16 bars and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
*Calories are per serving and are an estimation.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 235kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 0.4mg | Sodium: 126mg | Potassium: 176mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 1mg
