Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars
Published 2/17/2024
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These Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars are a crunchy, chewy, and delicious treat that will satisfy your sweet tooth while keeping you energized for the day. Think of ’em like how you make rice crispy treats, but instead of marshmallows, you combine peanut butter with honey. And instead of rice crispies, you’ve got quick cooking oats. Talk about tasty!
I love making this chewy peanut butter oatmeal bar recipe because it’s easy to meal prep as a convenient on-the-go breakfast bar or as a tasty yet nutritious school snack for the kiddos. It’s a simple no-bake recipe that you only need to freeze up for 20 minutes before enjoying.
What’s In Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars
To make these chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars, you’re going to need all-natural, drippy peanut butter. Using this kind of natural peanut butter is important because it doesn’t have added sugars and unnecessary ingredients. Plus, it gives these bars a rich, buttery taste that can’t be beaten!
You’ll mix the peanut butter with honey for a sweet and sticky binder that holds all the ingredients together.
Quick-cooking oats are then added to give these bars their chewy texture, while some melted semi-sweet chocolate chips bring in some of that indulgent sweetness.
Top it with some sea salt, and you’ve got yourself a winning combination of flavors and textures.
our favorite
Peanut Butter
Smuckers All-Nautral Peanut Butter is our go-to drippy peanut butter for baking!
Variations and Substitutions
Quick-cooking oats: Old-fashioned rolled oats will work, too. The bars will just have more of a bite to them.
Vegan: To make these oat bars vegan, substitute honey with maple syrup or agave syrup and use dairy-free chocolate chips.
Nut-free: If you have nut allergies, swap peanut butter for sunflower seed butter, almond butter, or soy butter. Just note that the peanut butter flavor won’t be present, but it will still be delicious!
Tasty additions: Try adding dried cranberries or raisins for a burst of sweetness and texture. Or, mix some chopped nuts, like ¼ cup of chopped salted peanuts or ½ cup of crushed Chex cereal, into the oatmeal mixture for added crunch and protein.
Top Tips for Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars
- To avoid a mess when coating the bars in melted chocolate, use a fork to dip and shake off the excess before placing them on parchment paper.
- Make sure to press the mixture firmly into the dish so that it holds together well.
- For a more uniform and neat appearance, cut the bars while they are still slightly frozen.
- Feel free to cut the bars in whatever size you desire! Thinner bars make for a perfect snack, while larger bars are great for breakfast.
Storage + Freezer Directions
Place these crunchy peanut butter oatmeal bars in a freezer-safe, airtight container and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
What to Serve with Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars
Start your morning right by enjoying these chewy peanut butter oatmeal bars with a nice hot cup of Pour Over Coffee. Or if you’re keepin’ it cool in the summer, this delicious Cold Brew Coffee.
And if you’re looking for a nutritiously filling on-the-go breakfast, pair these bars with a Green Smoothie or refreshing Fruit Salad. Trust me. These peanut butter cookie bars go great with everything!
Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-natural, drippy peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- 2 cups quick-cooking oats
- Water, as needed
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Coarse sea salt, for topping
Instructions
- Line an 8×8-inch pan with parchment paper.
- Heat the peanut butter and honey over medium heat. Stir periodically until the ingredients are melted together and glossy.
- Remove from heat and add the oats to the peanut butter mixture. Stir together until all of the oats are coated. Add water by the teaspoon, if needed, until the mixture has a cookie dough consistency.
- Transfer the oat mixture to the lined pan and firmly press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
- Add the chocolate chips to a microwave-safe bowl and heat the chocolate chips at high heat for 20-second increments, stirring every 20 seconds. Repeat until the chocolate is melted and glossy.
- Pour the melted chocolate over the oat layer and use a spatula to spread the chocolate evenly over the oat layer. Sprinkle on coarse sea salt.
- Transfer the pan to the freezer for at least 20 minutes before cutting the bars into squares.
- Eat immediately or transfer the bars into a freezer-safe container.
Tips & Notes
- Any nut butter can be used in place of the peanut butter.
- To add a bit of crunch to the bottom layer, add ¼ cup of chopped salted peanuts or ½ cup of crushed Chex cereal.
- Old-fashioned rolled oats will work, too. The bars will just have more of a bite to them.
- Maple syrup can be substituted in place of honey.
- Feel free to cut the bars in whatever size you desire.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Photography: photos taken in this post are by Ashley McGlaughlin from The Edible Perspective.
Don’t heat the peanut butter and honey mixture, it absolutely doesn’t work and is a waste of product and time.