These peanut butter oatmeal bars are super quick, easy, no-bake and naturally gluten-free and 100% whole grain. With a vegan option.
So it’s been three weeks since I last posted and that was a re-post of an old recipe. And here’s another – with new pictures and a video. Sorry to my long-time readers!
Our little guy is 5 months old and I get a few minutes at a time, maybe 30 all together throughout the day, in the kitchen. That’s been making recipe testing nearly impossible.
I like to use those few minutes to actually eat. But luckily I do have some new recipes on the way!
These peanut butter oatmeal bars are basically candy bars using healthier ingredients. And it couldn’t be any easier!
You just melt a bunch of stuff together, put it in a pan, chill and cut into bars.
I love honey and peanut butter together so that’s what I used but I’ve also tried these with brown rice syrup and it works just as well for a vegan version!
I haven’t tried these with maple syrup. It’s a whole lot less thick and sticky than honey and brown rice syrup so I can’t say for sure that it’d work.
You can use more or less oats or coconut depending on what you want. You could also add in other healthy stuff like nuts or dried berries.
Just don’t go so crazy with the add-ins that the mixture no longer holds together easily.
Want a less sweet version? Use dark chocolate. Want a slightly naughtier version? Add in some peanut butter chips (which aren’t vegan / dairy-free)!
Don’t want to use peanut butter? Almond butter and chopped almonds are a delicious alternative! I also like to add a little almond extract to that version.
Hope you’ll enjoy them! Try these Homemade KIND Bars for something a little healthier if these are too much on the unhealthy side for you. These Gluten-Free Vegan Nanaimo Bars are also another healthier coconut treat.
Questions about these peanut butter oatmeal bars?
- Can I use something else in place of the coconut oil? Butter should work fine! Not olive oil or any liquid oil.
- Can I use something other than peanut butter? Almond butter works great! I’m assuming other types of natural nut butter, without any added fat or sugar, would work fine.
Nut butters aren’t always exchangeable but since this a simple no-bake recipe where you just mix everything together, I think it’d be fine. - Can I use something else other than honey or brown rice syrup? Granulated sugars wouldn’t work. Maple syrup might work but it’s less thick and sticky than honey and brown rice syrup so I’m not 100% sure.
- Can I use white chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate? I haven’t tried it but I’m thinking it’d be a little too sweet.
- Can I reduce the sweetener or amount of chocolate? You can definitely play around with this recipe. I tried it out a bunch of times and thought it was best as written below.
I’m guessing omitting the 3 tablespoons of honey would be ok for a less sweet version. I think it’d still hold together fine. - Can I omit / use something instead of coconut? Together with the oats, the coconut forms the bulk of the recipe. So I wouldn’t just omit it, but I can’t think of a good sub. Maybe more oats?
- Can I use something else in place of oats? Maybe quinoa flakes? I personally don’t like them but they should work. If you can have gluten, spelt flakes, emmer flakes, or whatever-flakes should work! I haven’t tried any grain-free alternative.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (gluten-free, vegan option, whole grain, dairy-free)
- Prep Time:
- Cook Time:
- Ready in:
- Yield: 24 bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup (56 grams) coconut oil
- 3/4 cup + 2 tablespoons (234 grams) natural peanut butter (just peanuts + salt, no added fat or sugar)
- 3 tablespoons (60 grams) honey or brown rice syrup for a vegan version
- 1 cup (180 grams) semi-sweet chocolate chips (make sure to use vegan / dairy-free chocolate chips, if needed)
- 1 cup (85 grams) shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1 3/4 cups (164 grams) rolled oats (gluten-free oats for gluten-free)
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) roasted peanuts
- 3 tablespoons chopped peanuts
- 2+ tablespoons shredded unsweetened coconut
To sprinkle over the top:
Directions
- Melt the coconut oil in a medium pan or pot over medium-low heat. Add in the peanut butter and honey and when thoroughly combined, add in the chocolate chips.
- When melted, add in the coconut and oats. Let cool for 5 minutes and then stir in the peanut butter chips or peanuts.
- Line an 8" x 8" pan with a piece of parchment paper or wax paper. Press the candy into the pan and top with the extra peanuts and coconut, if desired.
- Let chill for about 2 hours or until firm and then cut into bars.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The bars will stay good for several weeks.
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62 comments on “Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars” — Add one!
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Calorie content? Any idea cause they sound delish!!
I don’t have that info but you could use this recipe analyzer for the nutritional profile. :)
They look great! I would surely try this one tomorrow but i would like to roast the coconut flakes & rolled oats and use dark chocolate.
That sounds delicious! I hope you enjoyed them. :)
Can I use unsweetened chocolate baking bar as a substitute for those chocolate chips?
I haven’t tried it (we don’t have unsweetened chocolate where I live) but I’m guessing it’d be fine. Just know that you’ll likely have to add quite a bit of sweetener. I’d love to hear how it comes out!
These look and sound delicious.!! I would make them right now but I only have Jif peanut butter on hand and its not the natural version. Otherwise I pretty much have all the other ingredients and its 10pm so too late to run to the store..lol
Thank you for the recipe Erin.! ☺❤
Haha. Well I hope that you’ll be able to get some of the natural stuff soon to try this out! I’d love to hear how it comes out for you. :)
Erin, I’ll be making these with Lily’s chocolate chips tonight. Can’t wait!
I hope you’ll enjoy them! I’d love to hear how they come out for you. :)
These look delicious. I wonder if there is any information on the number of calories in each bar if made as per this recipe. Thanks!!
Thanks! I don’t have that info but you could use this recipe analyzer if you’d like. :) Hope you’ll enjoy the bars!
Absolutely delicious! I made these for a staff breakfast and the bars were devoured. I made a slight adjustment by adding 2 scoops of collagen, protein powder to the recipe. Thank you for sharing!!!
What a great addition! Thanks so much for your comment. :) I’m happy that they were enjoyed!
This site is a godsend.. I just recently started eating gluten free (with good results so far), but with just about everything I used to eat containing gluten, it’s hard to plan out my meals. I’ve bookmarked your site and am excited about trying all of these recipes out! I’ve also subscribed to your new posts ;)
Hi there! I’m so very sorry for just now seeing your comment (that landed up in spam for whatever reason). I hope that eating gluten-free has become easier since you left your comment and that you’ve been able to try some of my recipes out (and that you’ve enjoyed them!). Sorry again and thanks for your nice comment.
I made these earlier last year and they were awesome. And then made them twice this past weekend….Big hit again as well. I love how good they are and how quick they are to put together and how everyone but one kid (allergic to nuts) in my household loved them. Thanks for the recipe!
And thank you for the feedback! I’m so happy you liked them. I’m a big fan, too. :)
I tried these and they are absolutely delicious. I am gluten free as well as low sugar so I only used 1/2 C. chocolate chips and eliminated the peanut butter chips and they were still plenty sweet. I also used unsweetened coconut to lower the sugar a little more. I did put some coconut and peanuts on top, but I don’t think you really need it. Yum!
I’m so happy that they came out well! Your healthier changes sound great, too. Thanks a bunch for your feedback. :)
Just made these and ate way too many!!
Well I’m happy you liked them enough to eat too many! ;) Thanks so much for the feedback!
Erin, I came across your site because I was looking for gluten-free and dairy-free recipes while breast-feeding. My baby had a sensitive belly for the first 5 or 6 months. This recipe was great. I loved it, but it also has a few ingredients frequently used in lactation cookies; so, as a gift for a friend, I made some lactation “candy bars”–your recipe with a little brewers yeast, fenugreek, and cinnamon thrown in. I am not a fan of brewers yeast, but apparently, I’m in the minority. They were a big hit.
Hi Brooke! I am so sorry for my slow reply. I don’t know how I didn’t see your comment until now! I love how you turned these into lactation candy bars for your friend. So sweet of you! :) And you’ve inspired me to be better about adding the dairy-free tag to my posts. I’ve been doing this for the past few months, but I’m slow to update the older posts with the tag. I’ll get on that! Thanks a bunch for taking the time to leave some feedback and for leaving a rating. Sorry again for the slow reply!
These are a big hit! Love this recipe :)
Sorry for the slow reply! I’m so happy that you liked the bars. I wish I had one now instead of this bowl of spinach. ;) Thanks a bunch for the feedback!
Looks great! It reminds me of my Frankenstein mix I made, based off a Kraft Recipe of “Peanut Butter Granola Bars” mines pretty crazy though.. lol.. I basically substituted everything. Mine looks like this:
(Kraft calls for 1 Cup PB) I use…
1/2 Cup(8 TB) Skippy Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup(8 2TB/PB2 Chocolate Peanut Butter, 12Gx8)
(That way its half real PB, half powdered and less fat)
1/8-1/4 Honey (instead of Krafts suggested 1/2 Cup)
1/4 Cup of Apple Butter (instead of Krafts suggested Oil)
2 Scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder
(Kraft calls for oatmeal, I never have the GF version, thus the Protein powder, lol)
and I mix in some Walnuts, and top them (after mixed and in pan) with:
Shredded Coconut
Mini Carob Chocolate Chips
Walnuts Chopped(or Pecans, ..Peanuts..Cashews.. whatever I have) and drizzle a little honey ontop and bake 350 for 25 mins.
I will have to try yours if I ever pick up GF Oatmeal
Apple butter and protein powder?! These sound interesting! And kind of crazy (and awesome!) like you said. ;) Thanks for sharing your version! You now have me thinking of a fall apple filled bar. With lots of spices!
How about quinoa flakes? I hope you can find some! I did a quick search on GF oats in Australia and found this: Uncontaminated oats
Are those an option?
Oooooo I didn’t think of Quinoa flakes….I can get them quite easily…I’ll try it out with them and let you know how I go!
Cassie x
AMAZING !!! I just made these and used a mini cup cake tin. Perfect little sweet snacks. Thank you for this wonderful recipe. These will be made over and over !
I’m so happy to hear that you liked them! Thanks a bunch for the feedback. :) And I like the idea of a mini cupcake tin! So cute.
Lou Anns Coconut oil can be purchased fairly cheap at Wal-Mart… its usually around 6$.. but I find myself in a position where my cousin is allergic to coconut so is there substitutions to coconut in this recipe?
Thanks for the coconut oil info! I wish we had a Wal-Mart where I live. :)
Butter would work just fine for these! At least I'm pretty sure it would. These bars should be refrigerated after all so I can't think of any issues that would come up. I hope you all enjoy them!
I tried to comment on these from my iPad and I couldn't so I am back now! These look awesome. Probably a good thing that the giveaway is over because I work with Kelapo coconut and shouldn't enter it! ;) I am pinning these.
Hey Erin,
I love your blog, all of your recipes are so interesting and different!
This one in particular looks super delicious, coconut and peanut butter sound like a match made in heaven.
Thanks for sharing, love Leah x x
http://www.obssesivecompulsivebakingdisorder.blogspot.com
I adore coconut but have not gotten on the coconut oil bandwagon. I see it at Trader Joes and just need to pick up a jar. Your bar cookies look easy and tasty. Delish!!!
I love coconut oil, but don't use it nearly enough! I have a jar of this that is almost gone :(
These bars look sinful so I love all the more that they're healthier!
Oh I like the look of these bars and I'm excited to pin them on my new peanut butter board;-)
Coconut and chocolate is one of my favorite combo and these look amazing Erin. I love baking with coconut oil, great substitution to butter in most of the recipes.
Now I have to try using coconut with peanut butter.
I'd never leave out a peanut butter, I like it too much. Your bars will be perfect as an addition to my morning coffee :)
Dude, these bars look like they're too dangerous to have around the house!
It's time for me to finally get on the coconut oil bandwagon, these bars look ah-mazing!!
These bars look perfect for a picnic or hike, they sound not only delicious but so healthy too, YUM!
Erin, these bars look amazing. I just discovered coconut oil, too. I love the stuff!
I love these. They look like something I made not long ago minus the peanut butter. I bet you these are also super good. I love anything no bake :-)
I love this bars, they just look like something I did not long ago minus the peanut butter. They were superb and I am sure these were too. I love anything no bake!!
Thank u so much Erin for the giveaway,those coconut peanut Butter choco bars look so delish,and so ez to prep,my fam will loooove them! :D Wow,i can't wait to try this and all ur recipes,thank u for sharing!!! :) Blessings to u n urs :)
i haven't used coconut oil other than in granola but i want to experiment with it more.
fruitcrmble AT comcast DOT net
I've only ever bought coconut oil in Asia so its great to get to know a source in North America. And I absolutely love these bars, especially since they are no-bake and all ;)
Yum these bars look really good, I love all the ingredients here. I think I could eat the whole pan.
These look great, Erin! Yummm :)
Coconut oil is pretty much my BFF. Love these bars, Erin!
What a great recipe! Printing it and saving it for the weekend, when we'll have company over.
The pictures got me dreaming of these delicious-looking bars and a cup of coffee!
I just baked with coconut oil for the first time this past weekend, and I was so in love with the result! I can't wait to try other recipes :) These bars look absolutely amazing, love the combo of ingredients going on!
Those bars look seriously amazing! I have been wanting to try coconut oil for a while now! So awesome, and I will definitely be trying these bars. I love the peanut butter chips in there :)
These look amazing! You had me at no bake! I am a fan of all things no bake. I am going to try this soon. Thanks!
Ohhh. These looks tasty :)
These look amazing Erin!!
You had me at "healthier candy bars"! Love these, Erin!