Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are chewy, gluten free bars that only take a few minutes to throw together and make a great breakfast or snack!
Peanut butter oatmeal bars are super easy to make that even the kids can help. Everything is be mixed all in one-bowl and then transferred to a baking dish to bake. Check out how the recipe here (this version is with chocolate chips which I highly recommend)!
Thanks to the Recipe Redux for today’s theme since October 22nd, is National Nut Day, we will all be sharing nut-filled recipes.
When I don’t make healthy homemade snacks kids, I find I feed them more packaged foods, which I don’t like. None of this really takes much time and is so simple my 8 year old can make them herself.
Eating healthy in general can take a little planning, but I try to aim for one homemade snack recipe a week- energy bites, bars, breakfast cookies, muffins, etc. Try to set a simple goal for yourself and see what happens.
I used the staples in our house, tossed everything in a bowl and out came these bars. Aren’t one bowl recipes the best?
Eight wholesome ingredients in this bar recipe. No preservatives or junk like the packaged ones.
However, I am updating this to add my kids now “need” these bars with chocolate chips so that is the way I have been making them lately. Once you do the chocolate chips it’s hard to go back!
Nuts are a super food that fit into a healthy lifestyle because they are packed with heart healthy fats, tons of nutrients, fiber and more. Because they have protein, fat and fiber, they are very satisfying so make sure to fit them into your daily meal plan (just watch the servings as they are calorie-dense).
So cheers to the nut! Hope you enjoy these super simple bars. And if you don’t do nuts, try these Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars one-bowl bars too, inspired from this recipe.
I would love to hear your favorite nut recipe!
[Tweet “Need a healthy, portable snack? Make these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars #glutenfree #thereciperedux”]
- ½ cup natural peanut butter (or can sub almond butter)
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted or at room temperature
- ½ cup applesauce or smashed ripened banana
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 cups rolled oats, gluten free if needed
- ½ cup bittersweet or dark chocolate chips (optional)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray. In a large bowl, whisk together peanut butter through vanilla extract. Add cinnamon and oats and stir to combine. Stir in chocolate chips if using. Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth evenly with a spoon. Bake for 26-28 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares.
Looking for more snack bars?
Oatmeal Currant Bars (Gluten Free)
The Southern Thing says
These look so good! I love anything with peanut butter!
The Southern Thing recently posted..DIY Dog Hair Bows
Melanie says
Me too!! Thank you 🙂
The Southern Thing says
These look so good! I love anything with peanut butter.
The Southern Thing recently posted..DIY Dog Hair Bows
Karin Rambo says
I love how healthy these are! Perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth while still staying on track. 🙂
Karin Rambo recently posted..Three Ways to Build a High Quality Capsule Wardrobe on a Tight Budget
Melanie says
Definitely! Thanks Karin!
Vicky @ Avocdo Pesto says
Looks delicious and is so much healthier than the store bought pre packaged granola bars n snacks! Would love to make this with almond butter (which I loooove)!
Vicky @ Avocdo Pesto recently posted..Vegan Summer Rolls with Mango and Avocado {GF}
Melanie says
I want to try that version next too 🙂
Emily says
I have all the ingredients and hope to make this soon with my four year old sous chef 🙂 These look like they would be a big hit for adults and kids alike, thanks!
Lauren @ Eating with a Purpose says
I love peanut butter & oats together- I will definitely be making these. A great workout snack.
Lauren @ Eating with a Purpose recently posted..Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine says
Peanut butter anything is just love and hugs!
EA-The Spicy RD says
Yum-I can’t wait to make these for my kids! {Me too!!} I tend to like the lower sugar versions of most things too-even my kids find a lot of pre-made treats to be too sweet 🙂
EA-The Spicy RD recently posted..Low Carb No-Bake Nutty Caramel Energy Bites
Julie @ RDelicious Kitchen says
Love the simplicity of ingredients in this recipes! I baked good I can feel great about enjoying for breakfast in the morning!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness says
8 Wholesome ingredients, peanut butter AND oatmeal in ONE BAR? I think you must have made these FOR ME RIGHT?
Right. That means I am going to eat the WHOLE batch. For breakfast!
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness recently posted..Almond Energy Balls with Cranberry, Maple and Vanilla {GF + Vegan + High Protein}
Rachel @ Delicious Balance says
I love one bowl recipes…especially ones that contain peanut butter! I love that you were able to cut down the sugar even more. Definitely going to make these!
Jessica @ Nutritioulicious says
These look fabulous! I often mix PB into my oatmeal in the am, so totally know this is gonna be a hit with the fam!
Caroline @ Caroline Kaufman Nutrition says
One bowl recipes are totally the best 🙂 These look great!
Melanie says
Thanks Caroline! I agree, I always love less dishes!
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life says
I’ve made something exactly like this before and it is the best on the go breakfast! I also like it topped with greek yogurt and more peanut butter 😉
Melanie says
Yes, can’t have too much pb! 🙂
Tiffany says
These look so good & I would LOVE to try them, but my daughter can’t have apples OR banana, is there anything else you would recommend subbing that for? TIA😊
Melanie says
Hi Tiffany, I would try sweet potato or prune puree. You can grab one of those small baby food containers, they might have other neutral fruit flavors that would work for your daughter. The puree just adds some moisture so that extra oil isn’t needed, but you could always sub a little oil too. Hope that works!
Tiffany says
Thanks so much, I will definitely give that a try!😊
Melanie says
No problem! I thought of two more- squash or pumpkin. Those shouldn’t be too overpowering 🙂
Sarah@ReFlawed says
Yum, I prep my husbands food for the week and always like to make him a healthy treat. We love these! Thank You for the recipe. Super easy with real clean ingredients.
Melanie says
Awesome, great to hear that Sarah! Thanks for the comment 🙂
Emily says
These are really good! I was afraid they would be dense and heavy as a brick but they are delicious and gooey. I used butter instead of coconut oil because my fiancé doesn’t like coconut and I added a handful of dark chocolate chips. A really good, healthy treat.
Rina Liddle says
Maybe I missed it, but when do we put in the 1/2 coconut oil? Is it missing from the instructions?
Rina Liddle says
And same with the apple sauce! Am I the only one who doesn’t know how to bake?
Melanie says
Rina, the instructions say “whisk together peanut butter through vanilla extract” so that means all the ingredients that are listed in between those…. Basically everything goes in the same bowl, stirred together. Sorry if that was confusing for you. I will list out all ingredients next time if that helps. 😉
Kristan says
Do these freeze well? Or refrigerate? TIA!
Melanie says
I have not tried, but they should be fine. Definitely in the fridge. 😉
Michele says
I would like to try this but I am type 2 diabetic, will the 1/4 cup of honey cause a problem?
Melanie says
Hi Michele, Like anything made with sugar, you need to be mindful of the portion size you eat, however 1/4 cup for the whole dish isn’t super high. You can also try a sugar free baking substitute if you prefer.
Amanda says
wondering if you used unsweetened or sweetened applesauce, thanks!
Melanie says
Always unsweetened! 😉
Michelle says
Those bars sound really delicious! I’m definitely on board for anything with peanut butter and oatmeal!
Kate says
The video looks great! I have to try these with peanut butter for the kids and almond butter & pecans for me. Chocolate chips in both of course!
Cat says
Delicious gf recipe! The texture is fantastic. For me, baking time was 28-30min. It was a little bit under baked at 26min/ not browned enough on top. I added 1/4 tsp salt, used 1 banana (I didn’t measure it, so I’m not sure it was 1/2 cup but it worked just fine), used a mix of maple syrup and honey for the honey measurement, and followed the rest of the recipe to a T. I will be making it again and again!!! Oh and it’s good without the chocolate too.
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a great healthy snack for the family!
Vanessa says
Thanks for sharing! Does it keep long?