Combine the peanut butter, honey, and salt in a glass measuring cup or medium heat-safe mixing bowl. Microwave this mixture for 30-60 seconds. After heating, stir the mixture well to evenly incorporate the honey and salt into the peanut butter.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats with the peanut butter and honey mixture. Mix the mixture together until evenly incorporated using a handheld mixer on low speed or by hand using a spatula.
Using an additional piece of parchment paper, press the oat mixture into an even layer in the prepared pan. Chill the bars for 10-30 minutes in the refrigerator to allow the bars to be easier to cut into squares.
After chilling, remove the bars from the baking dish. Cut the bars into 12 squares and enjoy.
Notes
Peanut Butter: Use either natural refrigerated or shelf-stable peanut butter for this recipe.Salt: If your peanut butter is unsalted, increase the salt to ½ teaspoon. Or omit the added salt for a lower-sodium snack. Oats: Use rolled old-fashioned or quick-cooking oats. Do not use steel-cut oats. Be sure your oats are certified gluten-free if needed. Honey: Feel free to replace the honey with maple syrup for a vegan-friendly peanut butter bar. Storage: Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.