No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are an absolute dream for peanut butter lovers or anyone who digs oats, or chocolate. This healthy dessert recipe requires few ingredients, very little prep and is great for school lunches or after school snack!
Humans of all ages, if you’re into oats, chocolate, nut butter of any kind, or granola bars, these easy no-bake peanut butter oatmeal bars are a must make!
Packed with energizing wholesome ingredients, these simple peanut butter oat bars are everything you want in a treat.
They are perfectly sweet, packed with peanut butter goodness, a delicious display of how versatile oats can be, and pack chocolate decadence to bring sweet and salty dreams come true.
Plus, these peanut butter bars are easy to customize based on what you have on hand!
Let’s discuss the simple ingredients for this healthy snack.
Ingredients for No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars:
Creamy Peanut Butter: The majority of the flavor and part of the glue that holds the whole operation together, unsweetened natural peanut butter is the star of the show here.
You can easily replace it with any thick, well-stirred seed or nut butter such as almond butter, sunflower seed butter, or cashew butter. Crunchy peanut butter works too!
Pure Maple Syrup or Honey: The sweetener! Pure maple syrup, honey, agave syrup, or your favorite sticky sweetener is what adds sweet flavor to these healthy peanut butter oatmeal bars.
You can scale the amount back for a lower sugar option, or increase the amount depending on how sweet you like your treats.
Oats: Old fashioned oats bring oat flavor and nutty texture to the recipe. For the best result, stick with whole rolled old-fashioned oats instead of quick oats or instant oats. I use gluten-free sprouted oats.
Hemp Seeds, Chia Seeds, or Flax Seeds (Optional): Adding an infusion of omega 3 healthy fats, hemp seeds, chia seeds, or flax seeds are an easy addition to bring a nutrient boost to the mix. You can easily omit them!
Ground Cinnamon and Sea Salt: As you’ve probably seen, I love adding ground cinnamon and sea salt to the majority of my dessert recipes because they both are flavor enhancers.
A pinch of cinnamon adds warmth and interesting nuance, and a pinch of salt brings out all of the individual flavors of each ingredient. It also makes a dessert taste sweeter without the need for added sugar.
For the Chocolate Layer: Chocolate chips and coconut oil or butter. The chocolate topping not only adds rich chocolatey goodness, but it is paramount in helping the bars stay held together nicely.
The simple combination of chocolate chips and coconut oil, coconut milk, or butter is all you need. The thick layer of chocolate really seals the deal for me.
Use your favorite semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or sugar-free chocolate chips.
Optional Additions:
Add ½ cup of chopped almonds, pecans or walnuts for a great addition bringing an additional texture element.
If you have dried fruit on hand and love a good trail mix vibe, add ½ to ⅔ cup of raisins, dried cranberries, dried blueberries, etc.
Add ½ cup of chocolate chips or cacao nibs to the oatmeal base for even more chocolate flavor.
Looking to make protein bars? Add 1 to 3 tablespoons of your favorite protein powder.
If you have vanilla extract on hand, add 1 teaspoon to the wet ingredients.
Turn these into peanut butter banana oatmeal bars by replacing 1/2 cup of the peanut butter with one large ripe mashed banana.
Now that we’ve covered the ingredients list, let’s make these delicious peanut butter oatmeal bars!
How to Make No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars:
Add the peanut butter and pure maple syrup to a large microwave-safe large bowl.
Microwave for 15 to 20-second intervals stirring well in between, until the ingredients mix together easily, about 40 to 60 seconds total.
Note: if you don’t own a microwave, you can prefer this step using a small saucepan and heat on the stove top over medium heat.
Stir in the oats, hemp seeds, ground cinnamon, and sea salt until everything is well-combined.
Transfer the peanut butter oat mixture to a 8” x 8” square pan lined with parchment paper and press it into an even layer. I used glass Tupperware, but an 8-inch pan or a 9-inch pan (for thinner bars) works great too.
To make the chocolate topping, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 20-second intervals, stirring well between, until the mixture has melted and is creamy, about 60 seconds total.
Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter oats and spread it into an even layer.
Cover with plastic wrap and transfer the bars to the refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate has set up completely.
When you’re ready to cut the bars, remove them from the refrigerator and tug on the parchment paper to pull it out of the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut equal sized squares. Serve, and enjoy!
Store peanut butter oatmeal bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. After that, you can transfer the rest to a zip lock bag and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Enjoy these as healthy breakfast bars or a delicious treat any time your sweet tooth is activated. The perfect dessert when you want a healthier version of a peanut butter dessert with health benefits.
If you love peanut butter recipes, also try my 5-Ingredient Peanut Butter Chocolate Ice Cream, Low-Carb Peanut Butter Protein Balls, Peanut Butter Banana Baked Oatmeal Muffins, and Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies.
Longing for more no-bake desserts that are easy to whip up? Check these out!
More No-Bake Dessert Recipes:
- Crunchy 4-Ingredient No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- 3-Ingredient No-Bake Banana Oatmeal Cookies
- No-Bake Paleo Lemon Bars
- 4-Ingredient Healthy Rice Krispie Treats
- No-Bake Kitchen Sink Cookies
Enjoy these delicious no-bake oatmeal bars!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups unsweetened peanut butter or almond butter
- 1/3 cup pure maple syrup or honey
- 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds optional*
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Chocolate Topping:
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 3 Tbsp coconut oil**
Instructions
- Add the peanut butter and pure maple syrup to a large microwave-safe large bowl. Microwave for 15 to 20-second intervals stirring well in between, until the ingredients mix together easily, about 40 to 60 seconds total. Note: if you don't own a microwave, you can prefer this step using a small saucepan and heat on the stove top over medium heat.
- Stir in the oats, hemp seeds, ground cinnamon, and sea salt until everything is well-combined.
- Transfer the peanut butter oat mixture to a 8” x 8” square pan lined with parchment paper and press it into an even layer.
- To make the chocolate topping, add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and heat for 20-second intervals, stirring well between, until the mixture has melted and is creamy, about 60 seconds total.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the peanut butter oats and spread it into an even layer.
- Cover with plastic wrap and transfer the bars to the refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate has set up completely.
- When you’re ready to cut the bars, remove them from the refrigerator and tug on the parchment paper to pull it out of the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut equal sized squares. Serve, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you.
These were a hit! Took them to a pool party where the pan was emptied and several people wanted the recipe. Adults and kids alike enjoyed. Best part was they were fast and used ingredients I keep on hand. Can be DF and GF which is a plus.
Yaaay! I’m thrilled to hear it! Thanks for reporting back, Christy!
Are these chewy or hard
Hi Heather! They’re crunchy 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions!
Followed the recipe as is, added some slivered almonds on top. Whole family loved them! Super easy to make!
So thrilled to hear it! Love the idea of adding slivered almonds on top…how fun! xo
I made these into cookies. It made 16 large cookies.
I did add the hemp seeds but not the cinnamon. I did not make the chocolate topping. They are great without it.
I did not heat the ingredients as instructed. I was able to mix the ingredients easily in a large bowl. I shaped the cookies into a ball then flattened them and then I did bake the cookies on a pan with parchment paper for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.
They make great cookies!
Thank you. 👍
I’m so thrilled to hear the recipe works out as cookies too, Susan! Thanks so much for sharing that…this is so helpful to others who want to try the same thing. xoxo 🙂
DELICIOUS! Used almond butter, chia seeds, honey and used soy milk for the chocolate topping. Did not have the coconut milk so gave the soy a try. It worked out just fine. We both have sweet tooth and I could easily eat the whole pan of these to myself. Will be making on repeat I am sure!! DELICIOUS!
I’m so thrilled you enjoy them, Carrie!! Thanks so much for reporting back with your changes – this is super helpful to others who want to try the same thing! xoxox