Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Bars

Looking for a healthy snack? These peanut butter oatmeal protein bars are quick and easy to make, high protein, and kid-friendly!

We served these peanut butter oatmeal protein bars to our kids ages 2-17 and they were a huge hit with everyone, making a great after school snack or healthy treat when that chocolate craving hits 😉

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Stores well in fridge or freezer-great for meal prep!
No food processor or other equipment needed, just a bowl and spoon.
Only takes 10 minutes to make.
Tastes like a treat, but made with real ingredients and lots of protein!

This was inspired by these oatmeal peanut butter cups from Fresh Cut Basil. We cut down the coconut oil because it felt like too much, and increased the oats which led to the perfect granola bar texture.

We also added a teaspoon of coconut oil to the melted chocolate to make it a bit softer for cutting and eating.

If you like healthy snacks and treats, be sure to check out our no-bake date brownie bites...

Important Ingredient Notes

If you're making this recipe gluten-free, be aware that there is a lot of controversy surrounding the safety of oats. While oats are naturaly gluten-free, they're often cross-contaminated. We used Zego brand oats because they have double the protein of ordinary oats and are one of the only safe gluten-free options (they test every batch)

Pro Tips

Flaky salt makes these bars next-level good.
When melting chocolate, always heat until the chocolate is almost melted, then remove from heat and stir until it's smooth. Overheated chocolate gets hard to work with and doesn't taste as good. Less is more!
You can double or triple this recipe to have extra on hand for easy grab-and-go breakfasts, or to put in lunch boxes.

chocolate covered oat bars in a parchment lined pan

Change it Up!

Use a mini or regular-sized muffin tin to make individual peanut butter cups.
Make it vegan: Swap real maple syrup for the honey, powdered peanut butter (PB Fit) for the protein powder, and use vegan chocolate.

Try these other favorites from the Taste Test Tribe kitchen!

Easy No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Bars

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: gluten free recipes, healthy breakfast, high protein recipe, quick recipes

Prep Time: 10

cooling time: 3

Total Time: 3 10

Servings: squares

Author: Celeste Noland

Ingredients

½ cup creamy peanut butter (You can use crunchy if you like)
1 tablespoons coconut oil (soft, but not melted)
¼ cup honey (sub maple syrup for vegan)
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (sub PBFit peanut butter powder for vegan)
2 tablespoons ground flax seeds
1 cup rolled oats
¾ cup dark chocolate chips (use dairy-free for vegan)

Notes

Store Peanut Butter Oatmeal Protein Bars in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. Place parchment paper between layers so the bars don't stick together.

These will keep well for 5-7 days in the fridge or for several months in the freezer.

FAQ

Do peanut butter and oatmeal make a complete protein?

Yes, peanut butter and oatmeal form a complete protein when consumed together. This means that when you eat peanut butter and oats together, you're getting all nine essential amino acids that the human body needs but can't produce on its own.