Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

These Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars are full of protein, taste perfectly sweet, and are topped with melted dairy-free semi-sweet chocolate! They are similar to Reese’s peanut butter cups, but are so much healthier and taste better too! The peanut butter filling is a combination of natural peanut butter, coconut sugar, coconut oil, and oat flour. So, not only are these made with whole ingredients, they are dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free!

No-Bake Bar Recipe Inspiration

Like most people, I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate! I’m always trying to come up with healthier recipes that put the two together. I make a similar recipe to this one, but I make them into peanut butter balls. Which are absolutely delicious, but I wanted to make these bars more like a protein bar, and they are also slightly less time-consuming.

This recipe turned out great because they not only taste amazing, but they have a good balance of sweetness and healthy ingredients. Honestly, I eat these after I get back from the gym! They have protein and carbs to keep me fueled until my larger meals. They are also great for dessert too.

Peanut Butter Bar Ingredients

• Natural creamy peanut butter
• Coconut sugar
• Coconut oil
• Pure vanilla extract
• Oat flour
• Sesame seeds 
• Dairy-Free Semi-sweet chocolate chips 
• Chopped pecans

The ingredients are so simple, whole, and minimal too!

Ingredient Substitutions

One of the great things about these bars is that they are very allergen friendly! They are gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan. But for someone that has a peanut allergy, you can definitely use almond butter in its place.

To make sure they are gluten-free and dairy-free, buy gluten-free oat flour and dairy-free chocolate chips. I recommend Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oat flour. Or you can buy their oats and make your own oat flour, which is what I usually do. Also, my dairy-free chocolate chip recommendation is the Enjoy Life brand.

For this recipe, I used coconut sugar, but you can replace it with honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar. Also, the sesame seeds can be left out of this recipe, but I love the texture and health benefits they provide.

Recipe Equipment

• 2-Quart glass baking dish
• Parchment paper
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spatula
• Microwave safe bowl

You won’t need a lot for this recipe, which is another plus. For the easiest cleanup and to make sure the bars don’t stick, line your baking dish with parchment paper. You can always spray the pan with non-stick baking spray, but it’s messier, and the bars won’t come out as neat.

Recipe Tips and Notes

• Make oat flour by blending 3/4 cup of oats in a Ninja blender for about 15 seconds or until it reaches a flour texture. I use the smoothie attachment because it’s easier to clean.
• Use natural peanut butter and not plain. It should only have 2 ingredients, salt, and peanuts.
• If the peanut butter batter is too thick, add 1 tbsp of melted coconut oil.
• Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at 30-second second intervals. Or use a small saucepan and heat it on the stove at low heat until it’s completely melted.
• To set the bars, freeze them for 30 minutes, or in the fridge for an hour. Before cutting them into squares, let them sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes, so the chocolate doesn’t break.
• Keep these bars in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Or wrap them in wax paper, place in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.

I hope you love these Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars! If you try them out, make sure to comment and let me know how they turned out! Or tag me on Instagram.

Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars

Alyssa

These Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars are protein-filled, perfectly sweet, and are topped with semi-sweet chocolate! The combination of natural peanut butter, coconut sugar, and oat flour creates a delicious filling snack.

4.95 from 18 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Chilling Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 194 kcal

Equipment

• 2-Quart glass baking dish
• Parchment paper
• Large mixing bowl
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Spatula
• Microwave safe bowl

Ingredients

  

• 3/4 Cup Natural creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 Cup Coconut sugar
• 1 Tbsp Coconut oil melted
• 2 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 Cup Oat flour
• 1 Tbsp Sesame seeds optional
• 1/3 Cup + 1 Tbsp Semi-sweet chocolate chips dairy-free
• 1 Tbsp Chopped pecans

Instructions

 

• Prepare a 2-quart baking dish with parchment paper lined in the bottom and sides.
• In a medium bowl mix together peanut butter, coconut sugar, coconut oil, and vanilla until smooth. Add in the oat flour and sesame seeds, and stir with a spatula until combined. You may have to finish mixing with your hands.
• The batter should be similar to cookie dough. Then press it into the glass baking dish and smooth it with a spatula.
• Make the chocolate layer by adding the semi-sweet chocolate chips to a small a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 30-second intervals until it’s completely melted.
• Pour the melted chocolate over the peanut butter layer and smooth it over the peanut butter layer entirely with a spoon.
• Top the chocolate with chopped pecans.
• Place in the freezer for 30 minutes or in the fridge for 1 hour before slicing into squares.
• Take the bars out of the freezer and leave them for a couple of minutes before cutting. Then slice the bars into 12 even slices.
• Store covered in the fridge until ready to eat. Bars will keep for up to two weeks.

Notes

• Make oat flour by blending 3/4 cup of oats in a Ninja blender for about 15 seconds or until it reaches a flour texture. I use the smoothie attachment because it’s easier to clean.
• Use natural peanut butter and not plain. It should only have 2 ingredients, salt, and peanuts.
• If the peanut butter batter is too thick, add 1 tbsp of melted coconut oil.
• Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl at 30-second second intervals. Or use a small saucepan and heat it on the stove at low heat until it’s completely melted.
• To set the bars, freeze them for 30 minutes, or in the fridge for an hour. Before cutting them into squares, let them sit at room temperature for a couple of minutes, so the chocolate doesn’t break.
• Keep these bars in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Or wrap them in wax paper, place in a freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months.

Keyword Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars, Healthy No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars, No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars, Protein Bars