No bake peanut butter oat bars are protein-rich and made in one bowl with 5 ingredients combining peanut butter, oatmeal and chocolate to make an energizing, nutritious treat.
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 a drizzle of 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 5-10 seconds repeatedly until melted.
Cover the pan with plastic wrap and chill until the chocolate is set - about 30 minutes in the freezer or refrigerator or until you can slice them. 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.
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Notes
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.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.