No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
These healthy No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are decadent, slightly fudgy, and a wonderful snack or dessert made with just 8 natural ingredients!
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 232kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup almonds
- 1 1/2 cups rolled or quick oats
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup smooth natural or organic peanut butter unsalted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or raw honey
- 3-4 tbsp water
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips I used Enjoy Life
- 1 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
- In a food processor, add almonds and process on High until finely ground. Add oats and process more until finely ground. Add coconut flakes, cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract; process for 30 seconds.
- Add peanut butter, maple syrup and water; process until combined. You might have to stop a few times and scrape down the walls.
- Line 8" x 8" square baking dish with parchment paper and transfer dough into it. Flatten using your fingers pressing onto dough well so bars don't crumble. Then level with spatula and hands.
- In a small saucepan, add chocolate chips and coconut oil; melt over low heat, whisking constantly. Pour over dough all around and tilt pan to help melted chocolate coat bars evenly.
- Refrigerate for a few hours of freeze for 30 minutes. Cut into 16 squares and enjoy chilled.
Notes
Recipe improved and updated Apr 2021.
- Store: Refrigerate in a glass airtight container for up to 7 - 10 days.
- Freeze: Up to 3 months.
- Peanut Butter: Avoid peanut butter with tons of added sugars and additives in general. Instead, choose an all-natural peanut butter with a runny consistency, if possible. If it's thick, then you can heat it up first.
- Almonds: The almonds will be processed into flour, so feel free to use approximately 1 1/4 cups store-bought almond flour if you have it.
- Oats: Use rolled oats or quick oats, using certified gluten-free if needed. You could also use store-bought oat flour.
- Sweetener: Honey (non-vegan), brown rice syrup (decreased GI), or date syrup will work best. You can also use maple syrup, though as it's not quite as 'sticky,' the peanut butter oat bars may be slightly more fragile.
- Chocolate Chips: I like to use either semi-sweet, dark, or even sugar-free chocolate chips.
- Chocolate chips instead of ganache topping - older recipe without melting chocolate: You can also add 3/4 of chocolate chips to a dough and pulse a few times in a food processor. Sprinkle remaining chocolate chips on top and flatten more with spatula or using your hands, pressing chips into dough.
Nutrition
Serving: 1bar | Calories: 232kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 44mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g