Quick, no bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars are made with oats, peanut butter, and some protein powder for a filling snack with 10 grams of protein in each bar. Vegan friendly and gluten-free.
Get ready for the easiest, quickest, and best peanut butter protein bars around!
Making your own snacks with protein couldn’t be easier with this recipe!
Peanut butter and oats are making up the base of these homemade protein bars today, which means these are definitely going to be a crowd-please.
Why You’ll Love These
- Quick and easy. This oat protein bar recipe can be made in just one bowl without any fancy equipment.
- Just 7 ingredients, most you probably already have in your pantry!
- Vegan friendly using maple syrup and plant based protein powder.
- Gluten free using certified gluten free rolled oats.
- Tastes like healthy dessert! The combination of peanut butter and chocolate will have you thinking these healthy oatmeal bars are dessert.
Oat Bar Ingredients
- peanut butter – I used a 100% pure peanut butter, nothing added – these tend to be on the drippy side be sure to give the jar a good stir.
- honey or maple syrup – feel free to use maple syrup to keep this recipe vegan friendly.
- coconut oil – just a little bit helps set the bars
- rolled oats – be sure to use rolled oats here, not quick oats, to get the right texture.
- hemp hearts – these are optional but you could also use flaxseed meal instead.
- chia seeds – I like adding chia seeds as well for additional fiber and heart healthy fats.
- protein powder – you can use whey protein or plant based. If using plant based, you will likely need to add a couple splashes of water and some more coconut oil.
Ready in 30 Minutes
These peanut butter oat bars are SO EASY and take about 5 minutes to throw together. You just need some mixing bowls and a parchment lined square baking pan.
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a bowl add together the oats, chia seeds, hemp hearts and protein powder.
Protein Powder Options
Whey protein powder can be used, or collagen peptides with no substitutions necessary.
If using plant based protein powder, add a few splashes of water and a little extra coconut oil to help the mixture come together. Plant based protein will absorb liquid more than other kinds.
Mix together wet ingredients
In a medium microwave safe bowl, melt together the peanut butter, honey or maple syrup and coconut oil.
Or use a saucepan on stovetop over low-medium heat.
Combine
Add the peanut butter mixture to the oat mixture until combined, using your hands at the end as necessary to make sure it is evenly mixed.
Press into Pan & Chill
Then press the mixture into your lined baking pan and chill in the fridge for about 45 minutes.
Chocolate Topping
You can add a chocolate topping to these bars for the ultimate healthy treat. Simply microwave some chocolate chips on half power, mix with a little bit of peanut butter and drizzle on the chocolate-peanut butter melty goodness.
Storing
These peanut butter protein bars should be stored in the fridge in the fridge, but are fine to set out at room temperature before enjoying.
If freezing, be sure to store in an airtight container, and use within 3-4 months.
If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and review below! It helps others learn more about the recipe and I always appreciate your feedback!
PrintPeanut Butter Oat Bars
Making your own protein snack bars couldn’t be any easier with this recipe! These quick, no bake Peanut Butter Oat Bars are made with rolled oats, peanut butter, and some protein powder for a filling snack with 10 grams of protein in each bar. Gluten free and vegan friendly.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: snacks
- Method: Fridge
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
for the bars:
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 3 tablespoons hemp hearts or flaxseed meal
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1/2 cup organic protein powder*
- 3/4 cup all natural peanut butter*
- 1.5 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1/3 cup + 1 tablespoon raw honey (use brown rice syrup or maple syrup for vegan)
chocolate topping
- 3 tablespoons mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 tablespoon peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil
Instructions
- Line 8×8 pan with parchment paper, set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together oats, protein powder, hemp hearts and chia seeds; set aside.
- In a medium microwave safe bowl, add peanut butter, coconut oil, and honey. Microwave for 10-15 seconds, and stir until evenly combined. Add to dry ingredients, mixing with hands at the end as needed. Mixture will be thick.
- Press oat mixture into prepared pan, using hands to press evenly into all corners. Place pan in refrigerator for about 45 minutes to set (or 20 minutes in freezer).
- Once bars have set, melt chocolate: melt chocolate chips and coconut oil in microwave on half power in 15-20 second intervals. Once completely melted stir in peanut butter until no lumps are present. Drizzle peanut butter chocolate on bars and allow to set, about 15 minutes at room temperature.
- Lift parchment paper from pan and place on cutting board. Using a large sharp knife, cut bars into 12 servings.
- Store Peanut Butter Protein Oat Bars in airtight container in fridge up to 2 weeks, or in store in freezer for up to 3 months. Enjoy!
Notes
If using plant protein, you may need to add about 2 tablespoons of water or plant milk to help bring the mixture together so it isn’t as dry – plant protein will absorb the dry ingredients differently compared to whey or collagen. And different plant proteins will work differently. Once you start mixing all of the ingredients together, you just want the mixture to be able to hold. Adding a little extra coconut oil will help as well.
For the peanut butter I used a “drippy” kind with no added ingredients
Total time includes chill time in freezer.
Nutrition approximate; does not include chocolate topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 212
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 72
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Unsaturated Fat: 1
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 21
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: peanut butter protein bars, homemade protein bars, no bake peanut butter oat bars
Pal says
I’m so far behind on my blog comments, bud. These are TREMENDOUS. Really SO tasty. I used flax instead of hemp hearts and they turned out perfect. Yesterday I asked Andy how his lunch was and he said “Those protein bars are really, seriously good.” 😀
★★★★★
Ashley says
lol YAY. They’re so simple too! Glad Andy enjoyed 😀 ly <3
Alison says
Yum! And every family member loved too! I used vegan protein powder (TJ’s pea protein powder) as that’s what I had on hand. Also put the choco chips inside to help encourage my son.
Love what you do and want to make everything!! Keep up the amazing recipes, positivity and humor!
★★★★★
Ashley says
Wow thank you so much for your comment Alison! I am so glad your whole family enjoyed them 🙂 And thank you for your kind words! They truly mean so much 🙂 Let me know if you make anything else!
Brandy Smelcer says
These are my go to bars for my kids and husband. He loves to take these hunting…I ended up adding coconut flakes, smashed up pretzels, and sometimes peanut M&M’s on my last batch. I also use vegan protein powder. THANK YOU!
Ashley says
Yay so glad you love them! Thank you so much for your comment 🙂 I love the addition of pretzels and m&ms –My husband would love that!
Nyla says
How many carbs and protein
Ashley says
Hi there Nyla, nutrition information is going to be approximate, and will vary depending on products and protein powder used. But roughly 1/12 of the recipe is : Calories 240. Fat 14. Carbohydrates 21. Sugar 10. Fiber 3. Protein 10.
Hope that helps!
Anthony says
Will they melt or get disfigured if i take them out in room temperature because i plan on bringing them to work
Ashley says
They should stay pretty well together! Room temp should be fine, just don’t let them sit out in the heat 🙂
Jenna says
Just finished making these!! omg they are awesome and super easy. I added melted dark chocolate on top. I even think next time i will add shredded coconut to the mixture.
Thanks for the awesome recipe!
Ashley says
Hi Jenna, so glad you love the bars and thanks for your feedback! I appreciate you taking time to stop by and leave a comment – it means a lot 😀
Anne says
My husband and I love these. You have to have exactly the right peanut butter or else they are crumbly.
Mary Lee Lux says
I like the idea of the topping but I don’t have peanut flour can 1 tablespoon of peanut butter be used instead of the peanut flour.
Ashley says
Hi Mary, You could likely mix in Peanut butter but probably only 1/2 Tablespoon with the chocolate chips when melting. I don’t think you need a full tablespoon here. Or you can just stick with a melted chocolate topping. Hope that helps!
Liv says
Do you have any suggestions to substitute out the coconut oil? Want to try these but don’t have the oil at home!
Ashley says
You should be fine to sub with another oil actually! I just made these recently and subbed with sunflower oil because I’m sensitive to coconut right now 🙂
Linda Kerris says
Omg, these are fantastic! I do meal prep every week so I’m alway scouring the internet for various recipes. These will become a regular thing for me and my clients!
Ashley says
So glad you love them, Linda! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and share here 🙂