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Close up of a stack of no bake oatmeal bars on a weathered white wood surface

No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars

These easy no bake oatmeal peanut butter bars are highly addictive and just perfect for when you need a quick breakfast pick-me-up. Make a batch (or several!) to keep on hand for when you need a quick burst of energy and protein.
Prep Time15 minutes
Resting Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 20 bars
Calories: 381kcal

Ingredients

  • cups quick oats
  • 1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped almonds Toasted.
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • cups peanut butter
  • ¾ cup honey
  • ½ teaspoon almond extract
  • dark melting chocolate wafers For drizzling. Optional.

Instructions

  • Optional step: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Scatter chopped almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
  • Add oats, chocolate chips, chopped almonds, cinnamon, cardamom and salt to a large bowl.
    Stir with a sturdy spatula until well combined.
  • Add peanut butter, honey and almond extract to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
  • Pour peanut butter/honey mixture into oat mixture.
  • Stir to combine thoroughly. No dry oat streaks should remain. I found it easier to fold the oat mixture into the peanut butter/honey mixture and eventually used clean hands to knead the mixture until all dry oats are incorporated.
  • Line a 10 inch by 15 inch baking sheet with wax paper. Allow the paper to hang over the side to make handles so that it's easy to remove the mixture from the baking sheet after it sets.
  • Use the bottom of a glass or jar to firmly press the oat mixture into the baking sheet. It's important to press very firmly. Otherwise the bars may crumble and fall apart when you cut them.
  • Press another piece of wax paper onto the top of oat mixture. Refrigerate until set, at least 1 hour. It's best to refrigerate overnight.
  • Remove wax paper from the top and drizzle with melted dark chocolate, if desired. Place back in the refrigerator for a minute or two until the chocolate sets.
    Cut into 20 (2 inch by 3.5 inch) bars.

Notes

Tips and Storage

  • We used a liquid measuring cup to measure the honey. To help prevent the honey from sticking to the side of the measuring cup, we rubbed a little bit of liquified coconut oil on the sides of the cup before pouring the honey in. You can also use a little bit of vegetable oil. It doesn't take much. The oil makes the honey easier to pour.
  • Be sure to mix the oat bar mixture very well. Make sure that no dry oats remain. I found it helpful to fold the dry oat mixture into the wet peanut butter/honey mixture and eventually used clean hands to knead the mixture until all of the dry oat mixture was fully incorporated.
  • When you press the mixture into the baking sheet, be sure to press very firmly with the bottom of a glass jar or glass. This step is the key to making sure your bars hold together when you remove them from the baking sheet.
  • After pressing the mixture into the baking sheet, cover it with a piece of wax paper and then cover that with a second baking sheet. The second baking sheet will weigh it down and help to compact the mixture.
  • The chocolate drizzle on top is optional, but it does help hold the bars together. If you decide to include the drizzle, be sure to use the chocolate wafers or chocolate bars that are designed for melting. Chocolate chips, like the ones we are using in this recipe or that you would use for a chocolate chip pancake recipe, are not designed for this purpose and will not melt nor drizzle very well.
  • These chocolate peanut butter bars will keep in your fridge for up to two weeks. I haven't tried freezing them. They get eaten too fast at my house to even think about freezing them!

Nutrition

Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 375mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 6IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg