This quick and easy no bake peanut butter bars recipe is made with 5 simple ingredients. They are rich and fudgy and great as a healthy snack or dessert.
*Thank you Vital Proteins for sponsoring today's so that I can share this no bake peanut butter bars recipe with all of you. As always, all opinions are mine.*
Do you guys remember those delicious NO BAKE peanut butter bars like Reeseās candy bars?
You know.... those chocolate peanut butter bars like school cafeteria that many of us enjoyed as kids?
I was crazy about them and my Mom developed a COPYCATĀ recipe years ago, which is to die for.
However, her recipe for peanut butter bars with brown sugar, corn syrup/karo syrup is not exactly healthyā¦lol.
So, I made some changes and made a HEALTHIERĀ version without all the processed ingredients.
These peanut butter bars with chocolate layer are so addictive that you canāt stop eating them.
They are made with just 5 ingredients:
- Peanut butter
- Oats
- Dark chocolate
- Honey
- Collagen peptides
These peanut butter bars are made without:
- Butter
- Powdered sugar
- Eggs
- Corn syrup/Karo syrup
- Graham crackers
Seriously, with all these āgood for youā ingredients like pure peanut butter, oat flour, collagen peptides and dark chocolate, these are the ultimate peanut butter energy bars (no bake).
They taste very similar to my Momās recipe for but with probably HALFĀ the caloriesā¦lol.
These no bake peanut butter oatmeal bars are rich and fudgy and I promise that you canāt even taste the oats, which is REMARKABLEā¦ Donāt you think?
If you are fond of peanut butter, you should also check out some of these other peanut butter recipes:
Chocolate peanut butter no bake energy balls
Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies
Chocolate peanut butter cracker bark
Peanut butter and jelly thumbprint cookies
I added some Vital Proteins collagen peptide powder in these bars to give them a BOOSTĀ of nutrition.
These individual stick packsĀ are my FAVORITEĀ thing in the world these days.
I carry them in my purse and even my travel bags.
I also have some in my gym bag for to use in my post work-out smoothies.
They have NOĀ odor, flavor or color and your recipes wonāt be affected at all, which is INCREDIBLE!
Here are some FLAVORĀ VARIATIONS for these no bake peanut butter bars:
- To make peanut butter marshmallow bars (no bake), stir in Ā½ cup mini marshmallow in the peanut butter mixture.
- To make peanut butter granola bars (no bake), reduce theĀ oat flour to Ā¼ cup and also add Ā½ cup of your favorite granola mixture.
- To make peanut butter bars with glaze, prepare a simple sugar glaze and pour that on top of the chilled peanut butter mixture. Then, let it set and cut slices.
- To make cake like peanut butter bars or peanut butter bars with cake mix, prepare a sheet cake and freeze it until it becomes firm. Then spread the peanut butter mixture on top of the cake. Chill again until the peanut butter layer sets and then cut slices.
- To make peanut butter bars with cream cheese frosting, omit the chocolate layer and replace that with this my best cream cheese frosting recipe. Similarly, you can make peanut butter bars with peanut butter icing, if you want to satisfy major peanut butter cravingsā¦hehe.
- To make simple peanut butter bars without chocolate, just omit the chocolate layer completely.
- To make peanut butter bars with pretzels, add ā cups roughly chopped salted pretzels on top of the chocolate layer before it has a chance to set.
- To make peanut butter bars with peanut butter chips, you can add ā cup peanut butter chips in the peanut butter mixture.
- To make peanut butter chocolate chip bars, you can add ā cup dark chocolate chips in the peanut butter mixture.
- To make peanut butter bars with white chocolate, you can omit the dark chocolate layer and replace that with melted white chocolate or white chocolate ganache.
- To make peanut butter bars with salted chocolate ganache, prepare salted ganache. Then, pour it on top of the chilled bars and spread it evenly with a spatula. Chill the bars until the ganache sets.
- To make peanut butter protein bars (no bake), you can use protein powder of your choice or use collagen peptides like me. Vital proteins has one with no flavor and they also carry a few with some yummy flavors.
- To make gluten free, vegan peanut butter bars, stick to using oat flour, almond flour or coconut flour and omit the collagen peptides and replace honey with vegan sweeteners like maple syrup.
- How to make peanut butter bars with cereal like Cornflakes, Cheerios? Frosted flakes? Rice crispy? Easy! You can reduce oat flour to Ā¼ cup and add Ā½ cup cereal of your choice.
Here are some tips for making PERFECT peanut butter bars from scratch:
- Use pure peanut butter without any processed additives.
- You can use creamy or chunky peanut butter. I also highly recommend using unsalted peanut butter.
- If you donāt have oat flour, you can just pulse some quick cooking oats in a food processor for a few seconds to make your own homemade version.
- If you donāt have honey, you can use maple syrup too.
- I have tried a couple of recipes for peanut butter bars with coconut oil but I find them to be too unstable. They melt too fast and are a little messy to eat. So, I donāt recommend that modification.
- To make perfect slices, remove the pan from the fridge and keep it a room temperature for 10 minutes. Then, run a sharp knife under warm water and wipe it clean with a towel and cut slices.
- Leftovers should be kept in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Here are some common questions and answers about these bars:
Are peanut butter bars healthy?
It all depends on what ingredients you are using to make these bars. There should be NOĀ processed sugars or syrups or any unhealthy oil or butter. The recipe for no bake chocolate peanut butter bars that I am sharing today is as healthy as it gets yet they still taste as good as the regular full-fat version!
What is a peanut butter bar candy?
They are bars that taste just like the popular Reeseās peanut butter candy. Now, you can enjoy a healthy copycat recipe and indulge whenever you like š
How to make peanut butter bars without graham crackers/No graham crackers?
Classic bars are made with graham crackers but you can replace that with oat flour, almond flour or even coconut flour. That would thicken the mixture and you can still easily cut the bars.
How to make healthy peanut butter bars (no bake/no cook)?
The process is very simple. Start off by preparing the peanut butter mixture by mixing together the oat flour, collagen peptides and peanut butter. Spread it in a square pan, lined with wax paper. Chill for 20 minutes in the fridge. Then, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together and pour this mixture on top of the bars and spread evenly.
No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
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Ingredients
Peanut butter layer:
- 2 cups Peanut butter Unsalted creamy
- Ā½ cup Honey
- Ā¾ cup Oat flour
- 1 Packet collagen peptides Optional
Chocolate layer:
- 2 cups Dark chocolate chips
- 1 cup Peanut butter Unsalted, Creamy
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, mix together peanut butter, honey, oat flour and collage peptides until smooth.
- Spread this mixture in a square cake pan (Dimensions: 6x6).
- Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together and mix until smooth and glossy.
- Pour this chocolate mixture on top of the peanut butter layer and spread with a spatula.
- Chill overnight or at least 6 hours. Cut slices and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
Until nexty time, tata my lovelies!
Patricia
These looks super scrumptious and how great that you remade this with healthy ingredients! Love all the options you've included, too! Nice!
Abeer Rizvi
I am glad you liked the flavor options. You can truly do so much with these bars and get as creative as you like!
Jessica
We LOVE the collagen peptides! Use them in so much! These peanut butter bars look SO GOOD!
Abeer Rizvi
I am obsessed with them too! Have you tried their new flavors? That vanilla flavor is to die for!
Amanda
Oh wow these look so amazing!! I'm a sucker for anything peanut butter
Abeer Rizvi
hehehe... me too! I already ate 3 pieces today
cathy
Loving the simplicity of this recipe. Makes dessert even better.
Abeer Rizvi
I hear ya! Simple desserts are the BEST!
Sabrina Snyder
These are the perfect texture! My husband and kids are going to love these!
Abeer Rizvi
They really are! So soft and creamy...Mmmmm!
Catalina
I love how healthy this No Bake Peanut Butter Bars are. I love also how easy and simple is this recipe. Thanks!
Abeer Rizvi
The great thing about these bars is that they are healthy but don't taste healthy at all... they are just as fudgy as my other "full fat" recipe...hehehe.
Dara
Love the list of healthy ingredients for these bars! These would make the perfect after school snacks for my boys.
Abeer Rizvi
It's surprising how similar they taste to my regular bars. They are just as fudgy and just as creamy. Hope your boys enjoy them!
Bee
Thanks for the recipe! I really like the suggestion of processing regular oats into oat flour. I never tried that before, and it came out great!
Abeer Rizvi
I am so glad to hear you tried them and liked them.
JAMES
love every bit.