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–+ servings
Chocolate peanut butter bars stacked on marble surface with crisp chocolate topping and natural light.

Healthy Peanut Butter Bars (No-Bake, Made with Oats)

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Chilling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Author: Nico Pallotta

  • 1½ cups (150 g) rolled oats or oat flour
  • 1 cup (250 g) creamy peanut butter
  • 3 tablespoons (60 g) honey or maple syrup
  • 3 tablespoons (42 g) butter melted, sub non-dairy butter or coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (170 g) dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
  • 1 generous pinch sea salt or Maldon salt

  • Blend Oats: Add 1½ cups rolled oats to a blender or food processor and blend into a fine flour (2 to 3 minutes).
    Step 1 Ground oats blended in food processor on marble countertop near natural window light.
  • Add Peanut Butter: In a bowl, stir together the blended oats, 1 cup creamy peanut butter, 3 tablespoons honey, 3 tablespoons butter (melted), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 generous pinch sea salt until thick and fudgy.
    Line an 8x8-inch pan or baking dish with parchment paper.
    Press the mixture firmly into the pan, spreading it with the back of a spoon.
    Step 2 Peanut butter oat mixture pressed into parchment-lined baking pan.
  • Add Chocolate: Melt 1 cup dark chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring often, until smooth.
    Pour over the peanut butter layer and spread evenly. Sprinkle with sea salt right away.
    Step 3 Melted chocolate spread over peanut butter bars with flaky salt on top.
  • Chill & Enjoy: Freeze for about 1 hour, or until firm. Let the pan sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes, then slice into squares or bars.
    Store them in the freezer for an easy grab-and-go snack.
    Step-4 Chilled healthy peanut butter bars on a plate.
Substitutions
  • Rolled oats –> quick oats, or oat flour
  • Natural peanut butter –> almond butter, cashew butter
  • Honey –> maple syrup or agave syrup
  • Butter –> non-dairy butter or coconut oil
  • Vanilla extract –> almond extract or skip it
  • Dark chocolate chips –> semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
  • Flaky sea salt –> Maldon salt, crushed roasted peanuts, or skip it
 
Tips
  • Use natural peanut butter → Choose a creamy one made with just peanuts and salt
  • Press the mixture firmly → This helps the bars hold together after chilling.
  • Line the pan with parchment paper → Makes lifting and slicing much easier.
  • Melt the chocolate slowly → Short microwave bursts keep it smooth and glossy.
  • Let the bars sit 5 minutes before slicing → They cut more cleanly when slightly softened.
  • Use a sharp knife → For neat, bakery-style squares.
  • Chill until firm → The freezer works faster and gives the bars a cold, fudgy texture.
  • Cut into small squares → These bars are rich, so a little goes a long way.
  • Store in the fridge or freezer → They stay fresh for days and taste great cold straight from the fridge.
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