No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

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. High protein option included!

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 – you can also make them high protein.
• 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, it is safe to consume raw. Use certified gluten-free oat flour or almond flour if you are allergic to gluten. For high protein peanut butter bars, replace half of the flour with protein powder.
• 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, 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 2 weeks.

For a longer storage, transfer in zipper bags and freeze for up to 3 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.

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