Healthy oatmeal peanut butter bars are a chewy no bake recipe combining the creamy richness of peanut butter and the sweetness of chocolate, to make a delicious, nutritious treat.
My no bake oatmeal peanut butter bars are especially fun because they use only 5 healthy ingredients, and no baking is required. Oats and peanut butter are combined with chocolate, dates and milk to create a decadent treat that is dairy free and an energy power house. The chocolate topping is just icing on the..er..bar.
Why You'll Love These
These peanut butter oatmeal bars are similar to a granola bar although much softer and with an explosion of chocolate. If you prefer a similar bar without peanut butter, check out my chocolate oatmeal bars, or even my no bake chocolate protein bars. Like all the healthy no bake snacks on my blog, these bars too are dairy free, vegan and gluten free. And super easy to mix with a bowl and spoon, chill and eat!
Ingredients
1. Rolled Oats. Rolled oats add fiber and help keep these oatmeal peanut bars gluten-free and nut-free, and give the oat bar structure.
2. Peanut Butter. High in protein and other nutrients.
3. Maple syrup. Or make a date paste with Medjool dates.
4. Chocolate. Unsweetened chocolate powder and chocolate chips, both are zippy high in fiber and mood-boosting magnesium.
5. Milk. I used almond milk to keep the bars dairy-free.
Equipment Needed
- Measuring cups, spoons
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Loaf pan, with parchment paper that hangs over the sides so you can grab and lift out the bars.
Steps to Make
Here are general steps to make this no bake healthy oatmeal peanut butter bar recipe. For specific measurements and instructions, scroll down to the bottom of this post for the printable recipe card.
- Step 1: Measure out ingredients. You can use maple syrup or if you have time make date paste. To do the latter, soak dates for a few minutes in just-boiled water, pit them, and blend up with water. I have detailed instructions in the recipe card below or read my date paste post here - how to make date paste recipe
- Step 2: Microwave nut butter for 30 seconds to make is soft. Add it to a bowl.
- Step 3: To the same bowl, add maple syrup (or date paste) and milk. And stir with a spoon. Then add the oats, salt and cocoa and stir.
- Step 4: Press mixture into a parchment-lined loaf pan.
- Step 5: Melt the chocolate and pour on top, drizzle some melted nut butter on top, and use a toothpick to make a design.
- Step 6: Chill in freezer for one hour.
- Step 7: Cut and serve, store frozen or refrigerated.
Tips & Substitutions
1. Make sure you use a peanut butter that is natural and made of just nuts and oil.
2. To use maple syrup, use ¼ cup. To use date paste, use ⅓ cup and make it by blending 4-5 medjool dates in ¼ cup of water. Agave syrup would also work, the same amount or less since it tends to be sweeter than maple syrup.
3. To cut the peanut butter oatmeal bars, dip the knife in boiling hot water, wipe it dry, and then press the point and then edge of the knife on the chocolate for a moment to melt a cut before then pressing down to avoid the chocolate breaking.
Variations
Nuts. Add ¼ cup chopped nuts of any variety.
Chia seeds. For added protein, add ¼ cup of chia seeds. This will add 20 grams of protein to the mixture.
Raisins. Oatmeal and raisins go hand in hand. Use organic to avoid sulfates.
Oats. This recipe works best with flaky rolled oats. You can also use steel-cut or quick oats although the texture will be less flaky and more solid.
Storage
These chocolate oat peanut butter bars are fine at room temperature for 24 hours. After that, seal them in a container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
To freeze, put them in a sealed container and freeze for up to three months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight for best texture.
FAQS
Is Oatmeal and Peanut Butter Healthy?
Yes! Oatmeal and peanut butter provide fiber, healthy fats, protein and carbs that support nearly every cell process in the body.
Are Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars Healthy?
Peanut butter oatmeal bars are healthy because of the fiber in oats and the protein in peanut butter. Oats have about 8 grams of fiber per cup. Peanut butter has about 22 grams of protein per 3.5 ounces, one of the highest protein levels in a plant-based food.
More Healthy Chocolate Bars
- No Bake Chocolate Protein Bars
- Chocolate Caramel Candy Bars
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Homemade Fudge Bars
- How to Make Homemade Protein Bars
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📖 Recipe
Healthy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Mixing bowl
- spoon
- parchment paper (8-inch by 12-inch) The parchment paper hangs over the sides so you can grab and lift out the bars.
Ingredients
Chocolate Oat Peanut Butter Bars
- ½ cup peanut butter or nut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup or ⅓ cup date paste ⅓ cup date paste = 4-5 dates blended with ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup dairy-free milk
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
Chocolate Fudge Top
- ¾ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup peanut butter or nut butter
Instructions
Prep
- Measure ingredients, and if using, make date paste by soaking 4-5 Medjool dates in just-boiled water for 2 minutes. Pit and blend with ¼ cup of water to make a paste.
- Melt peanut butter in microwave for 30 seconds until melted.
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper hanging over the sides. That gives you handles to lift the bars out of the pan with.
Make the Oat Bars
- Put melted peanut butter into a mixing bowl.½ cup peanut butter
- Add maple syrup or the date paste, milk and stir.¼ cup maple syrup or ⅓ cup date paste, ¼ cup dairy-free milk
- Then pour in the oats, salt and cocoa and fold.2 cups rolled oats, ¼ cup cocoa powder, pinch of salt
- Press mixture into the pan. Press with spoon to even top.
- Refrigerate for 15 minutes while you make chocolate top.
Make Chocolate Top
- Prepare chocolate top by melting the chips and peanut butter in a pyrex measuring cup and microwave for 1 minute.¾ cup chocolate chips, ¼ cup peanut butter
- Pour on top of chilled oat bar in pan.
- Top with chips or drizzle more melted peanut butter over the chocolate. Use a tooth pick or a sharp knife to create the swirl effect. To melt some peanut butter, microwave ¼ cup in a microwave safe cup for 5 seconds repeatedly until melted.
- Chill until the chocolate is set - about 1 hour in the refrigerator, then slice into 8 squares.
Storage
- The bars are fine at room temperature for 24 hours. After that, seal them in a container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.To freeze, put them in a sealed container and freeze for up to three months. Let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight for best texture.
WG
Delicious! These are just what I was craving!!! Thank you!
Dee Dine
So glad you liked these bars! Thank you for the rating!