No Bake Peanut Butter Bars

The best snacks taste like a treat but they’re secretly healthy. My chocolate granola and banana peanut butter oatmeal bars are packed with whole grain oats so they’re nice and satisfying, they’re packed with fiber, and they satisfy my sweet tooth.

I’m a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter, so these No Bake Peanut Butter Bars really hit all the marks for me.

They have big peanut butter flavor, a nice chewy texture from rolled oats, and crunchy cacao nibs. They’re topped off with a layer of dark chocolate that makes them sheer heaven!

Like my peanut butter rice krispie treats, these bars are perfect for summer because they don’t require turning on the oven.

They come together in just a few minutes, then they go in the fridge to chill.

The hardest part is waiting for them to set, but they’re completely worth the wait. 🙂

Why you’ll love this recipe

• These easy peanut butter bars make a healthy snack that tastes like a treat.
• They’re a good source of protein, fiber and they’re dairy and gluten-free.
• They include just 6 ingredients and they come together in about 10 minutes.
• They’re easily customizable with ingredients that you have in your pantry.

Recipe ingredients

What makes these no bake peanut butter bars healthy?  They contain wholesome ingredients that you can pronounce, with no refined sugar or artificial ingredients. 

• Peanut butter. I prefer to use natural peanut butter for this recipe as there are no preservatives and the ingredient list includes just peanuts and salt.
• Pure maple syrup. Sub the maple syrup with honey if you prefer.
• Rolled oats. Old fashioned rolled oats give these peanut butter no bake bars a nice chewy texture. Quick oats may be substituted.
• Cacao nibs. These are great option for deep chocolate flavor without the additives. They add a great crunchy texture as well! If you don’t have any on hand, they can be substituted with mini chocolate chips if desired.
• Dairy free dark chocolate chips. Sub with your favorite chocolate chips or omit entirely as desired.
• Coconut oil. A bit of coconut oil thins out the chocolate chips for a nice drizzling consistency.

See the recipe card for ingredient quantities.

How to make chocolate peanut butter bars

These chocolate peanut butter bars are so easy to make, and only require 5 minutes of prep time. 

Pro tip: Use natural peanut butter for the most health benefits. There are no artificial ingredients or preservatives, just peanuts and salt.

See the recipe card for full instructions.

1. Place the peanut butter, maple syrup and cacao nibs in a medium bowl and stir to combine. If the peanut butter is too solid, melt it slightly in the microwave to make it easier to stir.
2. Add the oats to the peanut butter mixture and stir until combined.
3. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
4. Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil in small microwaveable bowl. Heat for one minute, then stir. Heat another 30 seconds, then stir until smooth. Drizzle the chocolate over the bars and chill for a minimum of 3 hours or until set.

Recipe FAQs

Recipe notes

• Pro tip: Use natural peanut butter for the most health benefits. There are no artificial ingredients or preservatives, just peanuts and salt.
• The chocolate drizzle on top of these bars is optional, but highly recommended.  It is included in the nutrition information.  Regular chocolate chips may be substituted for dairy free.
• The cacao nibs add a nice crunchy texture that I love.  If you don’t have any on hand, omit them or substitute with chocolate chips or even chopped dried fruit.
• Store bars in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.