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These peanut butter oatmeal bars are my kids' absolute favourite snack. They rate them 5 out of 5. They are often on the menu as an afterschool treat before a sports practice!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Easy no-bake recipe, no oven required!
- Made with pantry basics
- Loaded with rolled oats and peanut butter flavors, it's sustaining
Ingredients you will need
To make my peanut butter oatmeal bars you will of course need peanut butter and rolled oats. I then use honey, butter and milk to make the delicious peanut butter caramel that hold's everything together.
A little chocolate is optional if you want to add a chocolate drizzle on top of the bars
Ingredient Substitutes
- Peanut butter: This recipe will work with any nut butter. (almond butter, cashew butter etc, or for nut-free sunflower seed butter). If your nut butter is unsalted I would add ¼ teaspoon of salt to the recipe to enhance the taste.
- Rolled oats: I haven't tested this recipe with substitutes for rolled oats, but both traditional rolled oats (old-fashioned oats) and quick-cook oats work fine. Steel-cut oats do not have the right texture for this recipe.
- Honey: Pure maple syrup will work as a vegan substitute for honey. As does brown sugar.
- Milk: Coconut milk works as an alternative, I have not tested other plant-based milk.
- Butter: Coconut oil works as a dairy free alternative.
- Chocolate: Choose your favourite chocolate both milk chocolate chips and dark chocolate chips are nice.
- Optional: A little vanilla extract can be a nice addition,
I am an ambassador for Countdown supermarket, they support my blog by providing ingredients for recipe creation and testing. I used honey, and chocolate drops from their range in this recipe.
Step by step instructions
Below are illustrated step-by-step instructions to make peanut butter oatmeal bars, if you prefer just the written instructions then head straight to the printable recipe card or video below.
Step one: Line a loaf tin or small cake pan with baking paper
Step two: In a saucepan place the peanut butter, milk, butter, and honey.
Step three: Heat and stir over a medium heat until a caramel starts to form. The caramel will darken and thicken and you will be able to create a channel when you draw your spoon through the peanut butter caramel.
Step four: Remove the caramel from the heat, stir through the rolled oats
Step five: Press the oat mixture into the lined loaf tin or small baking pan, refrigerate for 4 hours
(Optional) melt the chocolate and drizzle over the top of the peanut butter oat bars to make a scribble pattern.
Slice, enjoy!
Top Tips
Here is how you can make these no-bake peanut butter bars perfectly every time!
- The only real tip is to watch the peanut butter caramel like a hawk, you want it to thicken and darken so that it will hold the oat bars together but the worst thing ever is burnt caramel!
- These peanut butter bars are absolutely delicious but they are best enjoyed from the fridge, they may be too fragile to send in the lunchbox, as they can crumble if they get too hot.
FAQs
How to store peanut butter bars?
Store your peanut butter oat bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Other Recipes You Will Love
I LOVE no-bake recipes especially when I am making them with my kids, if you are after some no heat recipes try:
- weetbix slice,
- milo balls
- chocolate bliss balls
If your kids love snack bars then be sure to check out how to make popcorn bars and energy bars both are great for lunchboxes.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
These no-bake peanut butter oatmeal bars are utterly delicious, loaded with rolled oats and peanut butter they fuel kids with whole grains, protein and healthy fats.
Print Pin Rate
Course: Snack
Cuisine: New Zealand
Keyword: peanut butter oatmeal bars, peanut butter bars, no bake peanut butter bars, chocolate peanut butter bars
Servings: 14 bars
Calories: 207kcal
RATE THIS RECIPE
4.70 from 23 votes
Ingredients
- 225 g peanut butter ½ cup
- 120 ml milk ½ cup
- 50 g butter
- 170 g honey ½ cup
- 250 g rolled oats 2 ½ cups
- ¼ cup chocolate chips optional
Instructions
Line a loaf tin with baking paper
In a saucepan place the peanut butter, milk, butter, and honey. Heat and stir over a medium heat until a caramel starts to form. The caramel will darken and thicken and you will be able to create a channel when you draw your spoon through the peanut butter caramel.
Remove the caramel fro the heat, stir through the rolled oats
Press the peanut butter bar mix into the lined loaf tin, refrigerate for 4 hours
(Optional) melt the chocolate and drizzle over the top of the peanut butter bars to make a scribble pattern.
Slice, enjoy!
Video
Notes
Ingredient Substitutes
- Peanut butter: This recipe will work with any nut butter
- Rolled oats: I haven't tested this recipe with substitutes for rolled oats, but both traditional rolled oats and quick cook oats work fine.
- Honey: Maple syrup will work as a substitute for honey.
- Milk: Coconut milk works as an alternative, I have not tested other plant-based milk.
- Butter: Coconut oil works as an alternative.
Tips
- The only real tip is to watch the peanut butter caramel like a hawk, you want it to thicken and darken so that it will hold the oat bars together but the worst thing ever is burnt caramel!
- These peanut butter bars are absolutely delicious but they are best enjoyed from the fridge, they may be too fragile to send in the lunchbox, as they can crumble if they get too hot.
- Store your peanut butter bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1bar | Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 83mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 20IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 31mg | Iron: 1mg
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These are so yummy, kind of like a snickers bar. I made them today, I’m going to have to hide them from the kids. ??Reply
Delicious and easy. A tasty tummy filler for morning or afternoon tea.Reply
Our oven broke right before lockdown so these have been amazing. Whole fam love them. I top ours with a little dark chocolate, so delicious.Reply
So simple to make, using all ingredients that my grandmother would recognise. I made this spur of the moment on a rainy day - with my three-year old - and loved that we had all the ingredients in the pantry. Most importantly, seriously delicious!!! It’s filling because of the peanut butter and oats. I intended to take some to my sister & niece and my parents. They missed out this time. Making a bigger batch tomorrow!Reply
These were AMAZING! I made them with my toddler and we both couldn’t believe how good they tasted. Will definitely make again 🙂Reply
Oh I am so glad!
Reply
Yummy, easy and great for filling tummies. Will try with maple syrup next time just to see what it tastes like!Reply
