The no-bake oatmeal peanut butter bars are by no means low-calorie. But then, when you’re using ingredients you can count with one hand, all of which pack a healthy punch, you don’t need to count calories. 

The crunchy oats, the crackly coconut, the nutty almonds and the magical combo of peanut butter and chocolate make each bar a hearty-healthy-delicious snack. And what’s even better? You don’t need the oven to make them!

How to make no-bake oatmeal peanut butter bars?

Adapted from Joyfoodsunshine’s chocolate coconut bar recipe, you need just 6 ingredients. Since there is no oven time, the oatmeal bars take only 20 minutes of hands-on work. They’re also super easy to make and a fun (safe) way to cook with kids. 

• Start by melting peanut butter with coconut oil on gentle heat, either on your stovetop or the microwave. 
• Take your saucepan off the heat and add honey along with a few drops of vanilla extract.
• In a separate bowl, combine your oats, almond meal, and desiccated coconut. 
• Incorporate the dry ingredients into the liquid to make a sticky mixture. The consistency is so thick that you can’t “pour” it from the bowl to your tray. 

Quick note:

To check if the consistency is perfect, try making a ball with your palms. If it sticks and holds shapes, you’ve got it right.

• In case the mixture feels dry-ish, put a couple of tablespoons of honey or peanut butter to make it moist.
• In case the mixture feels runny, throw in some more oats to absorb the excess liquid. 

Refrigerating the oatmeal peanut butter bars

Spread the thick oatmeal, peanut butter, and coconut mixture on a tray. Pat it evenly. Make sure the tray or baking dish is lined with parchment. 

At this point, you can chill the bars and call it a day. But no, we just had to take that extra indulgent step and drown the bars in a wave of dark chocolate. 

Making the chocolate layer

• Melt chocolate along with homemade almond milk in a double boiler or microwave.
• Stir till you have a nice, shiny, and glossy concoction. 
• Layer it on top of the oatmeal mixture. 
• Then refrigerate for a good 3 to 4 hours.

Quick note:

Right before the chocolate fully sets, sprinkle it with sea salt and some chopped peanuts to give the oatmeal peanut butter bars a piquant note. 

No-bake oatmeal peanut butter bars ingredient substitutes

Oats – I used rolled oats which I dry roasted and then ground coarsely in my food processor. You can leave them whole. Grinding them is just a personal preference. 

If you want to make gluten-free oatmeal peanut butter bars, use for certified gluten-free oats. 

Peanut butter – You can use any peanut butter, creamy, or chunky. Just make sure it is unsweetened and preferably organic. 

Almond meal – All I did was ground almonds at home till they looked like breadcrumbs and added them to the recipe. You can try walnuts or even peanuts. 

Honey – For vegan no-bake oatmeal peanut butter bars, switch to maple syrup, date syrup, or agave syrup. 

Chocolate – Try to get your hands on as dark chocolate as possible. Not only do they have a very balanced savor, but they are also far healthier and more wholesome. My chocolate had 70% cacao. 

Serving the no-bake oatmeal peanut butter bars

Chewy and crunchy from the peanut butter and oatmeal, topped with the tallest layer of chocolate, the no-bake oatmeal bars are perfect for the afternoon slump. Or you can have them as pick-me-up desserts after dinner. Really, they’re the ideal anytime snack. 

Not overly sweet with a salty undertone, they’re healthy thanks to the lack of refined sugar and a good dose of fiber from the oats and shredded coconut. The almonds bring in a tad bit of nuttiness that pairs well with the earthy chocolate flavors. 

In short, the no-bake oatmeal peanut bars are insanely delicious but also nutritious. And if you don’t feel like making bars, you can always mold them into energy bliss balls. Just don’t forget to dip them in chocolate glaze!

Some more healthy recipes you should try:

• Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Bars
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls
• Chickpea Protein Bliss Balls
• Banana Baked Oatmeal
• Coffee Granola Bliss Balls
• Strawberry ‘n Cream Baked Oatmeal