Healthy Peanut Butter Chunk Oatmeal Bars Recipe
These Healthy Peanut Butter Chunk Oatmeal Bars are a delicious and nutritious snack packed with wholesome ingredients like rolled oats, natural peanut butter, and a touch of honey or maple syrup for natural sweetness. With optional chocolate chunks and nuts, these bars offer a perfect balance of texture and flavor, making them ideal for a quick breakfast or energizing snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars 1x
- Category: Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chunks or chips (optional)
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup natural peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch or 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy removal of the bars.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the natural peanut butter, honey (or maple syrup), and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture is smooth and well integrated.
- Combine dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, mix the rolled oats, baking soda, and salt. If using, add the chocolate chunks or chopped nuts to this mixture.
- Form the batter: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir thoroughly until the mixture forms a thick, cohesive batter.
- Press into pan: Transfer the thick batter into the prepared baking dish, pressing it down firmly and evenly to create a solid layer.
- Bake the bars: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges turn golden brown, indicating the bars are set and cooked through.
- Cool and slice: Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool for 10 minutes in the pan. Then, lift the cooled bars out of the baking dish using the parchment paper. Let them cool completely before slicing into squares to maintain their shape.
Notes
- For a nut-free option, substitute peanut butter with sunflower seed butter and omit the nuts.
- You can customize the bars by adding dried fruits like raisins or cranberries instead of chocolate or nuts.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or refrigerate for longer freshness.
- To make these bars vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Pressing the batter firmly into the pan helps the bars hold together better after baking.
Keywords: peanut butter oatmeal bars, healthy snack bars, homemade energy bars, gluten free snack, peanut butter dessert
