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These no-bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are soft, chewy, and made in one bowl using just 3 simple ingredients and 5 minutes of prep.
With 3 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein per bar, these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars make a satisfying snack for kids and adults any time of day.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars at a Glance
- Yield: 12 snack-sized bars
- Quick Prep: The mixture comes together in one bowl in just 5 minutes.
- Made with 3 Ingredients: Rolled oats, peanut butter, and honey.
- Meal-Prep Friendly: The bars keep for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Tested for Success: Guidance on choosing peanut butter and oats helps produce soft, chewy bars that hold together.
Kristen's Keys for Peanut Butter Oat Bars
When it comes to no-bake snacks, I rotate between these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars, No-Bake Granola Bars, and Homemade Larabars. Each one is made with wholesome ingredients and approved by my family.
These bars may be the easiest of the three because they require only one bowl and no food processor. After making them more times than I can count, I have learned exactly what helps them stay soft, chewy, and firmly held together.
- Warm the peanut butter and honey. This helps them blend together smoothly and creates a stickier mixture that binds the bars, so they hold together instead of crumbling.
- Salt matters. If your peanut butter isn't salted, add a pinch. It sharpens the flavor and keeps the bars from tasting flat.
- Line the pan with parchment. It prevents sticking and allows you to lift the bars from the pan for easier slicing.
- Chill before slicing. Chilling allows the peanut butter and honey mixture to firm up, helping the bars hold together when cut.
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Notes on Ingredients
- Peanut Butter: Shelf-stable creamy peanut butter works best because its smooth, consistent texture helps bind the bars. I typically use Skippy Natural, but any similar creamy peanut butter will work. If your peanut butter is unsalted, add a pinch of kosher salt.
- Oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats give the bars the best chewy texture, but quick oats can be used. The bars will just have a softer texture.
- Honey: When warmed with the peanut butter, honey creates a thick, sticky mixture that helps the bars hold together. While you can swap it out for maple syrup, honey produces the firmest, chewiest bars.
How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Step One: Combine Peanut Butter and Honey
Add the peanut butter and honey to a large heat-safe mixing bowl or glass measuring cup. Microwave in 30-second intervals, whisking after each interval, until the mixture is warm, smooth, and beginning to bubble around the edges.
Cut back on dishes. I typically microwave the honey and peanut butter in a large heat-safe mixing bowl rather than using a glass measuring cup as pictured. That way I can add the oats right to the bowl and only have one dish to wash.
Step Two: Add Oats
Add the oats and stir with a sturdy spatula or wooden spoon until they are evenly coated.
Use a handheld mixer if needed. If you have wrist or joint issues, or simply want to make quick work of the process, use a handheld mixer on low speed to combine the oats with the peanut butter mixture.
Step Three: Form Bars
Transfer the mixture to the parchment-lined pan. Because it will be sticky, place another sheet of parchment on top and press the mixture firmly and evenly into the pan.
Step Four: Chill
Chill for 30 minutes before slicing. This allows the mixture to firm up so the bars cut cleanly and hold together better.
Recipe Modifications
- Add Chocolate Chips: Stir in up to ½ cup of chocolate chips after mixing in the oats.
- Top with Melted Chocolate: Microwave ½ cup of chocolate chips in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until smooth. Stir in 1 teaspoon coconut oil, then drizzle or spread over the bars. Refrigerate until set before slicing.
- Peanut-Free: Use shelf-stable creamy almond butter or soy butter in place of peanut butter.
- Vegan-Friendly: Replace the honey with pure maple syrup. The mixture will be softer and less sticky, so press it firmly into the pan and keep the bars refrigerated to help prevent crumbling.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: After chilling, cut into squares, then transfer to an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper if needed, and refrigerate up to 5 days.
- Freeze: After chilling bars to set, cut into squares, wrap each individual square in plastic wrap or parchment paper, place them inside a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature for 30-60 minutes or in the fridge for a few hours prior to enjoying.
More Easy Snack Recipes
Looking for more wholesome, kid-friendly snacks or something to fuel your afternoon or post-workout routine? Try one of these easy recipes next.
Did you make this recipe?
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Peanut Butter Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, *only if peanut butter is unsalted*
- 3 cups rolled oats, old-fashioned is best
Instructions
- Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper.
- Combine 1 cup creamy peanut butter and ½ cup honey in a medium heat-safe mixing bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval, until bubbles begin to form. Note: If your peanut butter is unsalted, stir in ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
- Add 3 cups rolled oats to the peanut butter and honey mixture. Using a wooden spoon, spatula, or handheld mixer on low speed, mix until evenly incorporated.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish and use an additional piece of parchment paper to press the oat mixture into an even layer in the prepared pan. Chill the bars for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
- After chilling, remove the bars from the baking dish. Cut the bars into 12 squares. Enjoy immediately, or transfer to an airtight container, separating layers with parchment paper if needed, and refrigerate up to 5 days.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can you freeze these bars? Only me. I could cut them in half?!
Hi Tish! Yes, you can freeze these bars for up to 3 months. Just be sure to let them thaw at room temperature for 30-60 minutes or in the fridge for a few hours prior to enjoying. To freeze, wrap individual bars in plastic wrap or parchment paper and place them inside a freezer bag. I hope you enjoy.