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    Home » Dessert Recipes » Bar Recipes

    Peanut Butter Oat Bars

    Lindsay Moe

    172 shares

    These chocolate peanut butter oat bars make a great breakfast, after school snack, or dessert! They’re soft, filling, and loaded with that classic chocolate peanut butter flavor everyone loves!

    image of peanut butter oat bars stacked on top of each other
    Jump to Recipe

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are my own.

    What happens when you put so many of my favorite things in one snack bar? You get peanut butter oat bars!

    This recipe is seriously simple, and that peanut butter/oatmeal/chocolate combo just can’t be beat. These are healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast, yet sweet enough to call dessert.

    I love the idea of taking these on a picnic or road trip. They’d also be right at home in your child’s lunch box or as an airplane snack!

    image of a chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bar broken apart on a white plate

    Peanut butter oat bars are really just one of my favorite healthy sweet snacks. They have whole grains from the oats and wheat flour, and protein from the peanut butter.

    I used plant based ingredients to keep this recipe vegan, but you could certainly use ordinary milk and chocolate chips if you prefer.

    These oatmeal peanut butter bars are easy enough that older children can make them on their own, and fuss-free enough that you can probably have younger kids help you without losing your mind!

    Ingredients

    image of ingredients for peanut butter oat bars
    • Peanut butter
    • Brown sugar
    • Vanilla extract
    • All purpose flour
    • Whole wheat pastry flour
    • Oatmeal
    • Baking soda
    • Salt
    • Milk
    • Chocolate chips

    How to make peanut butter oat bars

    1. Beat peanut butter and brown sugar on high with a stand mixer until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.
    2. Add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
    3. Add all purpose flour, whole wheat flour, oats, salt, and baking soda and mix on medium speed.
    4. Turn the mixer to low and add the milk, mixing until a dough forms.
    5. Fold in chocolate chips.
    6. Press evenly into an 8×8 baking dish coated with cooking spray.
    7. Bake 18-20 minutes or until set and golden on top. Let cool before cutting into squares.

    Top tips

    What kind of peanut butter should I use?

    I always use natural peanut butter in my cooking and baking. A lot of people will tell you not to because of oil separation, but I’ve found if you make sure it is well stirred it turns out great and has the best peanut butter flavor.

    If you prefer to use a processed peanut butter like JIF or Skippy you are very welcome to and the bars will turn out fine.

    close up image of oatmeal peanut butter bars sliced

    Where do I find whole wheat pastry flour?

    I purchase whole wheat pastry flour in the bulk section of my local food co-op. If you prefer, you could use regular whole wheat flour.

    I do not recommend substituting white flour for the whole wheat flour since they behave differently in recipes.

    Do I need to let these cool before cutting?

    I recommend letting these cool completely before enjoying. I know, it’s so hard! But this is a very soft oatmeal peanut butter bar, so cooling will let them firm up a bit as well as develop the flavors.

    side view image of peanut butter oat bars on cake plate

    Tips for customizing

    • Swap the peanut butter for your other favorite nut butter
    • Drizzle the top of the baked bars with melted chocolate, or spread with chocolate frosting for an elevated treat
    • Try using crunchy peanut butter, or add a handful of finely chopped peanuts or raisins to the batter

    More peanut butter recipes

    • Healthy Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars
    • Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites
    • Peanut Butter Larabars
    • Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Balls
    • Single Serving Edible Peanut Butter Cookie Dough
    • Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Bites
    • Chewy Peanut Butter Bites
    top view image of three peanut butter oat bars  on white plate

    If you make this recipe, be sure to rate it, leave a comment, or tag #theliveinkitchen on Instagram!

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    Recipe

    featured image of peanut butter oat bars stacked on top of each other

    Peanut Butter Oat Bars

    Chewy chocolate peanut butter oat bars made with
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 40 minutes
    Servings: 9
    Calories: 298kcal
    Author: Lindsay Moe

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup natural creamy peanut butter
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • ½ cup whole wheat pastry flour
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 1 cup old fashioned oats
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ½ cup plant based milk, such as unsweetened almond
    • ⅓ cup mini chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
    • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mix peanut butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
    • Add vanilla extract and mix until combined.
    • Add flour, oats, salt, and baking soda and mix on medium speed. The dough will look crumbly.
    • With the mixer on low speed, add the milk and mix until a dough forms.
    • Fold in the chocolate chips.
    • When the dough is completely combined, press evenly into the prepared baking dish. Bake 18-20 minutes or until set and golden on top. Let cool completely before cutting into squares.

    Notes

    Recipe slightly adapted from How Sweet It Is
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 298kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 299mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @theliveinkitchen or tag #theliveinkitchen!

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    Reader Interactions

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    1. Jessica Cody says

      April 22, 2013 at 5:26 pm

      Great healthy snack. Made these today and love them!

      Reply
    2. Mary Devine says

      January 21, 2021 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      How come I haven’t been offered one of these awesome looking bars when I’m at your house? We need to make these sometime. Making me hungry looking at them. Your photos of are great.

      Reply
    3. Clarice Nassif says

      March 03, 2022 at 3:45 am

      How do I store these?

      Reply
      • Lindsay Moe says

        March 16, 2022 at 5:13 pm

        You can cover the pan with plastic wrap, or better yet put them in an airtight container and keep at room temperature for up to 3 days.

        Reply

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    lindsay moe in a kitchen with glasses on shelves behind her

    Hi, I'm Lindsay! I've been creating easily customizable vegetarian recipes since 2011. I love the outdoors, brownies, and brand new books. I live and work in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded Wild Flour Media to expand on my love for food photography and videography to my community and beyond.

    More about me →

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    172 shares