Description
Easy and healthy peanut butter oatmeal bars that are perfect as a snack or breakfast option.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup (240g) creamy peanut butter
- 2 large (about 100g) eggs
- 1/2 cup (120ml) honey or brown sugar
- 2 tsp (10ml) vanilla extract
- 1 tsp (5g) baking soda
- 1/21/2 teaspoon (2.5g) ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 cups (135g) old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup (60g) whole wheat flour
- 1/4 cup (45g) dark or semi-sweet chocolate morsels
Instructions
- Mix & Stir Well: Start by mixing your oats, peanut butter, and sweetener together in a bowl until it is all nicely blended. It will become thick and sticky. If it feels too dry, add a bit more peanut butter.
- Press Into Pan: Once mixed, press the mixture into a lined baking dish. Use the back of a spoon or your hands to ensure it is evenly spread and compacted down. It should feel firm under your fingers.
- Bake & Set Timer: Pop it in the oven and bake for about 17 minutes. You will start to smell the peanut butter aroma wafting through your kitchen. Keep an eye on it; if you leave it in too long, it will dry out.
- Cool & Slice Bars: When done baking, let your bars cool completely in the pan before slicing them. Cutting while they are still warm may make them crumble. Once cooled, use a sharp knife to cut them into squares.
- Store Properly: After cutting, store your oatmeal bars in an airtight container. They keep fresh in the fridge for about a week. Layer them with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Notes
- Layer bars between waxed paper in an airtight container; store in the fridge for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- For chewier bars, underbake slightly; for crunchier bars, bake a bit longer.
- If your peanut butter is thick, microwave it for about 20-30 seconds to soften.
- Ensure bars are fully cooled before cutting them to maintain structure.
- If the bars taste too sweet, reduce the amount of honey or sugar and add a drizzle of dark chocolate for sweetness.
- Mix thoroughly before pressing into the pan to ensure even distribution of ingredients.
- There are no reheating instructions as these bars are best served at room temperature or chilled.
- Pair with yogurt for a balanced breakfast.
- Serve alongside fresh fruit for a nutritious snack.
- Enjoy with a smoothie for a quick meal replacement.
- Replace peanut butter with almond or sunflower seed butter for different flavors.
- Add dried fruits like cranberries or apricots for extra sweetness.
- Incorporate nuts or seeds for added crunch.
- When selecting peanut butter, if you only have crunchy on hand, it can be substituted for creamy peanut butter.
- Coconut sugar can be used as a substitute for honey or brown sugar.
- Regular white flour can replace whole wheat flour.
- Dark chocolate can be used as a substitute for semi-sweet chocolate morsels.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 194
- Sugar: 11g
- Sodium: 161mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 21g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 20mg