Peanut butter oatmeal bars are no bake and just five ingredients! Perfect breakfast bar or afternoon energy booster. High in protein, dairy-free, vegan, gluten-free, refined-sugar-free!
My peanut butter oatmeal bars are especially fun because no mold is needed, and of course no baking. Just mix, press into a loaf pan, pour on chocolate, chill and you have a healthy candy bar. They 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 homemade protein bars.
Ingredients
1. Rolled Oats. Rolled oats add fiber and help keep this recipe gluten-free and nut-free, and give the oat bar structure.
2 Peanut Butter. High in protein and other nutrients.
3. Medjool dates. Full of fiber and iron. Or maple syrup if you don't want to deal with dates.
4. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate. Unsweetened chocolate powder or cacao powder and dark chocolate, both are zippy high in fiber and mood-boosting magnesium.
5. Milk - I used dairy-free.
Steps to Make
- Step 1: Measure out ingredients. You can use maple syrup or if you have time make date paste. Soak them overnight in water, pit them, and blend up with water. I have a more detailed 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 the date paste and milk. And stir. 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 warm seed 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. You can use maple syrup instead of dates if you find them hard to come by and don't want to make date paste. Just be sure to use ¼ cup maple syrup instead of the date paste. The batter will be a bit more sticky so you might want to chill it a bit longer for a clean cut.
3. To cut the chilled 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.
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
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
- Chocolate Oat Caramel Cups
- Chocolate Caramel Candy Bars
- No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
- Homemade Fudge Bars
- How to Make Homemade Protein Bars
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📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
- ½ cup peanut butter or nut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup or blend 8 dates in ½ cup of water
- ¼ cup dairy-free milk
- 2 cups rolled oats
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- pinch of salt
Chocolate Top
- ¾ cup chocolate chips
- ¼ cup peanut butter or nut butter
Instructions
Prep
- Measure ingredients, and if using, make date paste by soaking 1 cup or 8 Medjool dates in plain water for a few hours, or boiling for 2 minutes. Pit and blend with ½ cup of water to make a paste.
- Melt peanut butter in microwave for 30 seconds until melted.
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper handing over the sides.
Make the Oat Bars
- Put melted peanut butter into a mixing bowl.
- Add maple syrup or the date paste, milk and stir.
- Then pour in the oats, salt and cocoa and fold.
- 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.
- 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.
- Chill until the chocolate is set - about 1 hour in the refrigerator, then slice into 8 squares.
- Store in an air-tight container in the fridge for 4 days.
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