Natural Peanut Butter Vs Processed Peanut Butter
In most instances, I try to err on the side of less processed ingredients. But not peanut butter. You can pry Skippy out of my cold, dead hands. Something about natural peanut butter is just so peanutty. Haha. Im talking about the peanut butter that only has peanuts and salt in its ingredients. I just cant do it. I need sugar. That being said, I made this recipe with delicious processed Skippy, BUT you absolutely can use natural peanut butter if thats what you prefer/have. If you are going to use natural peanut butter, I recommend doubling the sweetener in the recipe. Or maybe nottaste as you go and do what tastes right to you. All natural peanut butters are different, so if your mixture is dry and crumbly, you may need to add a little bit of coconut oil to smooth it out so that you can mix the oats & Rice Krispies in. I havent tested the recipe with natural peanut butter, but similar recipes use it and it seems to work fine.
Easy No Bake Oatmeal Bars
But, heres my favorite part: this is NO BAKE Peanut Butter Bars RECIPE. That means that youll just have to bring to boil brown sugar, butter, milk and peanut butter. Then, stir in oatmeal and vanilla and spread the mixture in the pan. When its chilled and firm, top with fudgy and smooth chocolate frosting, slice into bars or squares and enjoy.
You should also check following
Are These Bars Healthy
Healthy depends on what you think and your own personal dietary needs. In this instance, I would not label these as a healthy snack option. While oats are in themselves healthy, combining with large amounts of butter, sugar, and chocolate, it isn’t exactly a healthy snack.
As with all foods, this should be eaten in moderation. Essentially, enjoy them, but don’t eat the entire batch in one sitting.
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Ingredients For Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars:
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars With Chocolate Frosting
Well, sometimes I carried away and turn an ordinary oatmeal bars in a very rich and decadent dessert. Im not going to convince you that this Reeses Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are good choice for breakfast. With a thick layer of chocolate frosting and chopped Reeses cups on top, they certainly are not healthy breakfast. But these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars with Chocolate Frosting are super delicious treat.
Peanut butter oatmeal bar layer is so flavorful and chewy. But, smooth peanut butter- chocolate frosting takes it over the top. And dont forgot the Reeses cups. These bars are peanut butter lover dream come true.
Speaking about peanut butter lovers, Im one of those, as well. So, these no bake Peanut Butter Bars recipe is my new favorite. It uses peanut butter for oatmeal bar layer, but for chocolate frosting, too. Plus, Reeses peanut butter cups on top. And they taste so good!!!
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Can I Lighten These Up To Make Them Healthier
If you are concerned about the sugar, fat, or calories in this recipe, you can lighten it up a bit with a few changes. While they are delicious just as they are, a few changes can make a difference that will make them more appealing for your meal plan.
- Use vegan butter or margarine in place of regular butter.
- Choose reduced-fat peanut butter or sugar-free peanut butter.
- Use sugar-free chocolate chips in place of traditional ones.
- Replace the milk-chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate with dark chocolate chips.
- Use a brown sugar substitute in place of brown sugar in the oatmeal mixture.
What Kind Of Oats Should I Use
For this recipe, old-fashioned rolled oats are best. They will absorb the butter and sugar mixture well and still maintain the texture you want when they harden after refrigeration. Steel-cut oats are not good as they will be too hard and not soften for this, and instant oatmeal is too powdery and won’t hold the texture you want in these bars.
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How To Soften Medjool Dates
For this recipe youll want to make sure your dates are nice and soft so they blend and break down well. If your dates feel a little hard, I suggest softening them up by soaking them in water. Simply add dates and warm water to a bowl and let them sit for 5-10 minutes, then drain water and use dates in the recipe as directed.
Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter In This Recipe
Natural peanut butter can be used in this recipe. Sometimes the oil in the peanut butter can begin to separate in the bars. Separation can especially happen if the peanut butter hasnt been mixed well, but it can vary from brand to brand. Ive had mixed results using natural peanut butter in this recipe.
Love peanut butter for snack time, not just dessert? Try my peanut butter oatmeal snack bites or my banana chocolate chip bites!
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More Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert Recipes
As I said before, chocolate + peanut butter holds a special place in my heart. So if youre looking for more of this power couple in desserts, check out my favorites below!
Peanut Butter Kitchen Sink Cookies These cookies have everything in them for the ultimate sweet and salty combo. The peanut butter cookie is filled with melty chocolate chips + toffee chips, vegan marshmallows, and gluten free chip crumbles!
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies A classic oatmeal cookie with my favorite combo, these cookies are simple yet delicious. They remind me of these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars actually because of the oat-y texture and classic flavor.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Seed Pudding The perfect way to enjoy chocolate + PB for breakfast! This chia seed pudding is creamy and absolutely delicious with some crunchy granola, chocolate chips, and peanut butter drizzled overtop.
If you try this recipe, please let me know by leaving a comment and rating in the boxes below! I always love to hear from you, and it also helps other people find this recipe when they search online for the BEST No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars
How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
1. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Add all wet ingredients to a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, cook for 1 minute, scraping along the bottom of the pan to ensure mixture does not burn. Remove from heat and stir in dry ingredients.
3. Add of the PB Oat mixture to the parchment-lined 8×8 pan and press in a single layer with your hands or a spatula. Move to the freezer to set while making filling and set aside remaining of mixture to use later.
4. Start on your filling add chopped chocolate bar and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl and cook in 30 second increments until melted .
5. To a food processor, add 1 ¼ cup pitted medjool dates and process ~1 minute, or until dates form into a ball. Add your melted chocolate to the blended dates and process until smooth.
6. Remove the 8×8 pan from freezer and top with chocolate date filling. Spread in a single smooth layer.
7. Top with remaining cup of PB Oat mixture, using your fingers to firmly press mixture into chocolate date filling.
8. Move to freezer to harden, about 30-45 minutes.
9. Cut into squares and enjoy! Store in the fridge in airtight container for up to a week.
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No Bake Cookies In Bar Form
If there is a saying out there that starts with “A buckeye a day…” I would like to know!
Certainly, there isn’t a doctor condoning such dietary habits, but I would be happy with it no doubt! I could seriously live on peanut butter and chocolate–it’s the truth. A day without peanut butter especially is unheard of for me! Don’t believe me? Check all of these recipes out!
Do you remember those no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies your mom may have made as a kid?
I remember being blown away by the fact that we could make a cookie without the oven. The original recipe usually has you spooning the little cookies into blob like pieces.
These No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars basically are the same concept but I find them much prettier.
To be honest, these No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars can be made into cookies or even rolled into balls. I just thought the bars looked a little more presentable.
You can also use any kind of nut butter or even sunflower seed butter. Feel free to use regular or gluten free oats. Also, while I used dark chocolate chips, it’s not a must. I hope you enjoy these as much as I do.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar Ingredients
There are only 5 ingredients required for no bake chocolate peanut butter bars and I bet you have each one in your kitchen right now.
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Can I Freeze These Vegan Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Yes! I actually have a batch of these vegan peanut butter oatmeal bars in my freezer as we speak. To Freeze: after chilling and slicing, carefully place chocolate peanut butter oat bars in a freezer-friendly container or bag. Freeze oat bars for up to 2 months. Remember to thaw the oatmeal bars before enjoying!
Ingredients In No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
These healthy no bake peanut butter oatmeal bars use super simple ingredients that you might even have on-hand right now. Theyre packed with nearly 8g protein per serving, almost 5g fiber and only 7 nourishing ingredients making them the perfect snack. Youll need:
- Natural, creamy peanut butter : this adds healthy protein to the bars and helps them stick together well.
- Medjool dates: for natural sweetness, fiber and chewiness. They will also help the bars stay together. Youll want to make sure your dates are nice and soft! If youd rather use maple syrup or honey, I have instructions for that in the note section of the recipe.
- Vanilla extract: adds a little flavor boost. Feel free to skip if you dont have.
- Chia seeds: I love adding these for the fiber, omega-3s and protein.
- Flaxseed meal: great for nursing mamas to boost milk production and a wonderful addition of omega-3s.
- Old fashioned rolled oats : for additional fiber and iron. Be sure to use a certified gluten free kind if need be.
- A dark chocolate bar or dark chocolate chips: because chocolate = love! Feel free to use a vegan or dairy free chocolate bar.
These easy ingredients make the vegan chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars dairy and gluten free for the perfect snack or healthy dessert.
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Ingredient Healthy No Bake Peanut Butter Cup Oat Bars Vegan Gluten Free
4 Ingredient Healthy No Bake Peanut Butter Cup Oat Bars: this vegan peanut butter oatmeal bars recipe is so easy to make & tastes like peanut butter cups! Chewy peanut butter oatmeal bars with a thick, chocolate topping. Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Healthy.
What are your favorite snacks to bring with you on-the-go? Erik and I love walking all over the place, so were always searching/looking for ways to make healthy vegan treats that stay yummy without a fridge and are super portable.
I mean unless youve got a teeny-tiny, like nearly microscopic mini-fridge/purse you can recommend? J/K!
Ive noticed over many, many meal preps/snack preps for our excursions that no bake snacks truly fit the bill. Theyre so easy to make, easy to customize with gluten free ingredients, and are seriously yummy.
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Tips For Making No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars:
Did you make this? Leave a review below and tag me on , , or !
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Protein Bars
These super healthy protein bars taste like a chewy no-bake oatmeal cookie, covered in smooth dark chocolate!
If youre looking for a new favorite protein bar recipe, this could be the one.
With just 6 ingredients, the oatmeal bars are easy to make at home, and they give you endless flavor options for customization.
Chocolate brownie? Mocha coconut? Peanut butter cookie dough? Almond butter chocolate chip? Have fun turning this base protein bar recipe into any flavor you wish!
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To make the bars, simply stir all of the ingredients except the chocolate together in a mixing bowl.
Transfer to an 8-inch pan thats been lined with parchment paper or wax paper, then place a second sheet of the paper on top to spread the mixture into the pan until it evenly fits into the bottom of the pan.
Melt the chocolate, either in the microwave or on the stove.
I like to stir in 2-3 teaspoons of oil for a much smoother sauce that is easier to coat the bars, but this is not required.
Either spread the melted chocolate on top of the pan and refrigerate or freeze until the oatmeal mixture is firm, then cut into bars, OR freeze the filled pan before adding the chocolate topping, cut into bars once firm, and then dip each bar into the chocolate and chill until the coating is set.
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How To Make Peanut Butter Oat Bars
Like I’ve said, these no bake chocolate oat bars are so easy to make. We’ll walk through the process together step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Something to note is that this recipe moves quickly. Laying out all your ingredients and supplies before starting is important so the oatmeal cookie layer doesn’t cool and harden before it can be pressed into the pan and crumbled on top. Line the baking dish, grease a spatula, etc. before you begin.
Ingredients Youll Need For This Oatmeal Bars Recipe:
- Unsalted Butter
Saturday 15th of December 2012
What is the nutria all value on these? It looks very good 🙂 thanks for sharing
Samantha
Monday 17th of December 2012
I just calculated it via myfitnesspal.com and it was roughly 450 calories per bar. 49g carbs. 30g fat. 7g protein. Hope this helps. 😀
No-Bake Peanut Butter & Chocolate Oat Bars | Flashinghands
Monday 1st of October 2012
No-Bake Peanut Butter & Chocolate Oat Bars adapted from Sweet Remedy
Wednesday 19th of September 2012
So very good…It’s amazing how good. Doesn’t last long in this house, and so very easy to make. Thanks so much for sharing.
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