These no-bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal bars are the perfect gluten-free sweet treat. They are made with simple, clean ingredients but taste incredibly decadent!
Want to know something interesting? I hated peanut butter my entire life until I was about 21. Say what? I know. Absurd right? Well, it’s true. As a kid, I hated peanuts, peanut butter and all nuts (almond and cashew butter weren’t exactly as popular back in the 90’s 😉 ). The only time I made an exception was to eat Reese’s peanut butter cups or peanut butter cookies. So basically I needed all of the sugar to tolerate the flavor. 
Fast forward to my senior year of college when I stopped eating meat. I figured it was time to give peanut butter (without copious amounts of sugar) another try. And guess what happened – I LOVED IT. In fact, I perhaps loved it a little too much because I have managed to eat about 21 years’ worth of peanut butter in the last six years. Don’t even worry about it.
The reason I shared that story, was to remind you to routinely try [healthy] foods you think you don’t like. Our bodies are constantly changing, and our taste buds change every few years. So if growing up you didn’t like eating vegetables or anything that tasted “healthy,” don’t be afraid to give them a try as an adult. You just might discover a new favorite food!
Thankfully, now that I have tried and loved peanut butter, I can bring you this recipe. These bars are downright addicting. They are my copycat version of the amazing Peanut Butter Joy Bars from Flying Apron (a vegan/gluten free bakery here in Seattle). A coffee stand right by my work sells the Flying Apron bars, and I tend to treat myself to them a little too often. After becoming completely addicted to them, I had to recreate them for myself!
They are beyond easy to make and are the perfect treat to satisfy a peanut butter/chocolate craving (especially with Halloween right around the corner). My version isn’t 100% vegan because I used honey as a sweetener, but you can also use maple syrup or brown rice syrup if honey isn’t your thing. I mean it when I say these bars are amazing. Normally when I make things for the blog I’ll share it with family and friends, but I have been hoarding these all for myself because they are that good. #stingy #sorrynotsorry
So your homework is to 1) Make these bars and tell me how much you love them and 2) Try a food you previously thought you hated, and report back. Enjoy!
- 1 Cup of Natural Peanut Butter (I used smooth)
- ⅓ Cup + 2 Tablespoons of Honey (Can sub maple syrup or brown rice syrup for a vegan version)
- 1½ Cup Rolled Oats, Gluten Free if needed
- ⅓ Cup Raisins
- ¼ Cup Shredded Coconut + 1 Tablespoon, divided
- ¼ Cup Sunflower Seeds
- ⅔ Cup Chocolate Chips
- 1 Teaspoon Coconut Oil
- Line an 8x8 inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a food processor, pulse the oats, ¼ cup of coconut flakes and sunflower seeds until roughly chopped. I literally pulsed it all together 3-4 times - you don't want to create a flour, you just want to chop these ingredients into smaller pieces. Place the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, combine the peanut butter and honey. Allow the peanut butter and honey to melt together for a few minutes and stir until smooth and combined.
- Pour the peanut butter and honey mixture into the bowl with the oats, coconut and sunflower seeds. Add the raisins and stir until well combined. The mixture should be pretty sticky.
- Pour the mixture into the lined pan and spread until it is in an even layer. Set aside.
- Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave or over low heat. Once melted and combined, pour over the peanut butter/oat mixture and use a spatula to smooth into an even layer. Sprinkle with additional coconut flakes, and place in the refrigerator for about an hour or until set. Cut into bars, and store in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic wrap or in a sealed container until ready to eat.
Your Turn:
- What is a food you hated as a kid, but now love as an adult?
- What is your favorite type of nut butter?
Oh em gee! It’s all my favorite things in one bar! Haha these look so delicious!
Thanks Liz! It really doesn’t get better than PB and chocolate in one bar!
Seriously oats, PB and chocolate can do no wrong. But I am glad to hear there may be hope for my little sister, she swears she hates PB… but I can kind of get her to tolerate almond and cashew. However apparently Justin’s tastes way too much like peanut butter for her *eyeroll* :-p
There is totally hope for her if she’s open to it! Can’t lie, almond and cashew butter miiiiight surpass PB for me
Mmm…. It’s so funny, because I don’t think I really loved peanut butter (I liked it) until after struggling with an ED for years. It was like I craved it after restricting things like fat and carbs and such. Now I love it… I’m kind of an a mission to find and try the many varieties in the U.S. I’m not sure I’ll ever accomplish that.
And PB, Chocolate, and Oats are like an unbeatable combo.
<3<3 I am so glad you're in a better space now. And trying as many varieties of peanut butter as possible sounds amazing!
<3<3 I am so glad you're in a better space now. And trying as many varieties of peanut butter as possible sounds amazing!
You had me at peanut butter and chocolate! I just absolutely love anything with peanut butter and chocolate together.
They make the best combo don’t they? <3
I love nut butters! I used to not eat them as much cause of all the fat (back when I thought fat was bad for you), but I def get in a good serving each day now. These look perfect for a weekday snack!
So glad you’re embracing those healthy fats!
I also hated peanut butter growing up and it wasn’t until I tried natural peanut butter in my 20s that I learned to love it. I guess I just really love straight peanuts without the added ingredients? Still not a huge fan of almond butter tho, natural or not :/
These bars on the other hand 😍😍👌
That’s how I feel too! Conventional peanut butter is gross to me – give me the natural stuff!