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These No Bake Peanut Butter Bars taste like Reese’s peanut butter cups, but healthy and vegan. Made with 4 wholesome ingredients such as peanut butter and oats, these chocolate pb bars are the perfect easy healthy snack all year around.
The best healthy no bake peanut butter bars
I love anything peanut butter + chocolate. That’s why I love this recipe so much. Along with pb banana bites and frozen banana snickers, these no bake peanut butter oat bars are my to-go easy snack for summer. And all other seasons of course, because I simply can’t resist the goodness of crunchy chocolate over a smooth, slightly salty peanut butter layer.
Loving peanut butter chocolate so much, it’s funny that I first tried peanut butter at the age of 16. Growing up, little Matteo only knew Nutella. Nutella over bread, Nutella with breadsticks, Nutella in cakes, that’s what being an Italian kid means. But things changed as I began my health journey in the early teens. That’s when I discovered – and fell in love with – oats, cashew butter and peanut butter. Oh my goodness, I still remember the day I first snacked on cold banana with 90% dark chocolate and peanut butter. It was love at first bite, the beginning of a new obsession.
That was also the time when I started experiment in the kitchen and discovered my passion for healthy cooking. Together with banana oat bars, these healthy chocolate peanut butter bars were one of the snacks I used make day in and day out. My brother loved them too. Quick, easy, no-bake and so satisfying, everyone will love these chocolate pb bars.
- Quick and easy to make, without the need baking or cooking.
- Satisfying, peanut buttery, chocolatey, and oh so delicious.
- Healthy, gluten-free and vegan.
- No refined sugar, no graham crackers and no trans fats.
- Perfect for grab & go snacks, afternoon pick-me up desserts or late-night treats.
- Spoiler alert, they taste like Reese’s cups.
4 ingredients chocolate pb bars
This no baked peanut butter bars recipe is so simple, it only requires 4 healthy ingredients that you probably already have at home. Peanut butter, maple syrup, oats and chocolate. Here are some more details.
- Peanut butter. I recommend creamy peanut butter, preferably slightly salted (if unsalted, add a pinch of salt). For healthy chocolate pb bars, use natural peanut butter without added sugar and oil. Regular peanut butter such as Skippy will also work.
- Maple syrup. Pure maple syrup sweetens the bars naturally without the need for refined white sugar. As a replacement you can use honey, date syrup or agave syrup.
- Oat flour. Store-bought or homemade oat flour creates a thick base for no bake peanut butter bars without graham crakes. As it is made from oats, oat flour is safe to consume raw. Use certified gluten-free oat flour or almond flour if you are allergic to gluten.
- Dark chocolate. This recipe uses dark chocolate, either in chips or cut into small chunks to facilitate melting. I prefer dark chocolate because it contains less sugar and more nutrients. As an alternative you can prepare pb oat bars with bittersweet chocolate or milk chocolate.
How to make no bake peanut butter bars
Start by preparing the pan. Line a 9×9 inch brownie pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it with coconut oil or melted butter. This will make it easier for you to remove the oatmeal peanut butter squares from the pan.
Now, time to make the dough. In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter with maple syrup and stir until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency. Add oat flour and stir to combine. Transfer the peanut butter dough to your prepared baking pan and spread it out with a spatula or with the help of your hands.
You can now melt the chocolate. Place dark chocolate, chopped into chunks or in chocolate chips, in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate has melted completely. Pour the melted chocolate over your peanut butter dough and spread it out evenly.
Place in the refrigerator to set. Refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours, or until the chocolate has hardened. Slice into bars, I got 16 squares but you can also make smaller or bigger pieces. Serve immediately or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for a maximum of 2 weeks.
Storage directions & freezing
To store no bake peanut butter bars with oats, after the chocolate has hardened place the squares into an airtight container in layers and refrigerate. Make sure you divide each layer with parchment paper so that the no bake pb bars won’t stick together. In the fridge, they will last for up to two weeks.
For a longer storage, transfer in zipper bags and freeze for up to three months. If you freeze them, let them thaw in the fridge for some minutes before serving. Or enjoy frozen for ice cream oatmeal peanut butter bars.
Yes, you can turn these peanut butter oat bars into healthy pb cups. It is very simple. Just place the dough in greased muffin molds, press it, and top with melted chocolate before refrigerating. Enjoy cold as a healthy alternative to Reese’s pb cups.
This no bake peanut bar recipe is a healthier alternative to the traditional recipe. Made with oat flour, natural peanut butter and pure maple syrup, it does not contain refined sugar, dairy, or heavily processed ingredients. No graham crackers! Additionally, it is gluten-free, dai and vegan.
Yes, you can replace 1/3 cup (30 grams) of oat flour with a scoop (30 grams) of protein powder. I recommend vanilla flavored or unflavored protein powder.
More healthy no bake snacks
- Peanut butter energy balls
- No bake keto cookies
- Protein balls
- Cottage cheese cookie dough
- Banana bites
- Chocolate protein balls
- Frozen banana snickers
- Blueberry yogurt clusters
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Base
- 1 cup (260 g) peanut butter, creamy and salted
- ⅓ cup (100 g) maple syrup, or honey
- 1 cup (100 g) oat flour, certified gluten-free, or almond flour
Chocolate Topping
- 5 oz (140 g) dark chocolate, chopped in chunks or chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp peanut butter
Instructions
- Line a 9×9 inch brownie pan with parchment paper and lightly grease it with coconut oil or melted butter.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter with maple syrup and stir until the mixture reaches a smooth consistency. Add oat flour and stir to combine.
- Transfer the peanut butter dough to the prepared baking pan and spread it out with a spatula or with the help of your hands.
- Place dark chocolate chunks (or chocolate chips) in a microwave-safe bowl with 1 tablespoon of peanut butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the chocolate has melted completely.
- Pour melted chocolate over the dough and spread evenly.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours, or until the chocolate has hardened. Slice into 16 bars, then serve immediately or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge for a maximum of 2 weeks.
I discovered that store bought oat flour has to be cooked and should not be eaten raw (bc it doesn’t undergo a process to remove pathogens). So, I used rolled oats and blended them to make my own oat flour, and proceed with the recipe. It’s delicious!! Tastes like a Reece’s peanut butter cup. This is the second recipe of yours that I’ve tried, and they are both excellent! Thank you for sharing your talents!
Hey Ali,
thanks a lot for your kind feedback. I’m so, so happy to hear that you tried and liked some of my recipes like these healthy Reese’s peanut butter bars. The idea of making oat flour at home is great, good choice!
Have a great start to the new week,
Matteo
Peanut butter bar, this is my favorite and very delish!!!?? excellent recipe with this combination of dark chocolate!
Hey my dear Liza,
thank you so so much for your kind comment!! I completely agree with you, nothing will ever beat the delicious combination of dark chocolate with peanut butter and oats in bars 😉
Have a great week ahead,
Matteo
Can this be made with honey and al purpose flour ?
Hey dear Rhonda,
honey will work as a replacement for maple syrup. BUT you cannot, and I repeat you cannot use all purpose flour. All purpose flour requires to be heated, as it is not safe to consume raw. Use either oat flour or almond flour 😉
I hope I could help you!
All the best,
Matteo