These No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are an easy no-bake treat made with just 3 ingredients: peanut butter, honey, and old-fashioned oats. The whole batch costs about $6.58, or just $0.55 per bar for 12 servings.
My kids love granola bars, but I don’t like all the processed ingredients in them. Plus, those boxes add up if you have a large family like I do. These no bake peanut butter oatmeal bars are my homemade swap. They’re chewy, filling, and perfect for breakfast on the go, lunchboxes, or an after-school snack.
For the holidays, try our Peanut Butter Snowballs dipped in white candy coating.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe!
- Cheaper than boxed granola bars – especially for a big family.
- No processed ingredients: Just peanut butter, honey, and oats.
- 10 minutes of hands-on time and no oven.
- Easy to customize with chocolate chips, raisins, or coconut.
I have been making homemade snacks for my family for over 10 years. I love recipes that use simple pantry staples without requiring much effort. These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are easy to prepare ahead, and chilling them helps the bars hold their shape when sliced.
You may also like to try Banana Bars Recipe and No Bake Oreo Bars.
Homemade vs. Store-Bought: What You Save
A box of name-brand granola bars costs about $3–$5 for 6–8 bars. This whole batch costs about $6.58 and makes 12 bars, or roughly $0.55 each. For a big family packing lunches every day, that adds up fast, and these bars use just three simple ingredients.
Ingredients
- Peanut butter. Regular creamy peanut butter (like Jif or store brand) binds best. Natural peanut butter is runnier and the bars may not set as firmly.
- Honey. Warmed with the peanut butter, it turns thick and sticky and holds everything together.
- Old-fashioned oats. They give the bars a hearty, chewy texture. Quick oats work but make a softer, denser bar.
Get the entire recipe and ingredients at the bottom of the page.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Add the peanut butter and honey to a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir constantly for 2–3 minutes, just until the mixture is smooth, glossy, and runny. Don’t let it boil. (Or microwave in 30-second bursts, stirring in between.)
Step 2. Next, remove from heat. Pour the rolled oats into the mixture while it is still hot. Stir together until the ingredients are combined.
Step 3. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper (leave some hanging over the sides so you can lift the bars out). Press the mixture in firmly and evenly – the bottom of a measuring cup works great. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, until firm.
Step 4. Once the texture is firm, cut into squares or bars.
Pro Tips
- Clean cuts. Use a large sharp knife and wipe it between cuts.
- Adding chocolate chips? Let the mixture cool for 5 minutes first so they don’t melt into streaks.
- Cut into bars. If you have younger children with smaller appetites, cut into smaller portions. This recipe is easy to customize for your needs. I usually do some regular size granola bars and then a few smaller ones.
Variations
- Top with melted chocolate. I like to drizzle it back and forth into a pretty design.
- Add a handful of chocolate chips to the mixture. Kids will love Chocolate Chip Granola Bars. You can use milk chocolate or dark chocolate chips.
- Nuts- Add almonds, peanuts, pecans or walnuts to the recipe.
- Peanut Butter- Try different types: natural, creamy or crunchy.
- Nut Butter- You can substitute almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter.
- Maple Syrup- Try this instead of honey if you don’t like honey flavor.
- Dried fruit- add dates, raisins or even cranberries.
- Mini M&M’s- For a treat, add the small M&M candies to the bars.
- Sea Salt. Sprinkle sea salt on top of the bars.
- Coconut. Add coconut to the no bake peanut butter bars.
Storage
After you cut the bars, I like to stack them in an airtight container with lid or ziplock bag. I also use parchment paper in between the bars. This will prevent them from sticking to each other. You can also wrap them in plastic wrap.
Keep them in the refrigerator for up to 1 week – they get soft at room temperature. To freeze, wrap bars individually and freeze for up to 3 months; grab one frozen for a lunchbox and it’ll thaw by lunchtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
They weren’t chilled long enough, weren’t pressed firmly, or were made with runny natural peanut butter.
Yes, but the bars will be a little softer since honey binds better.
Only if you use oats labeled certified gluten-free.
More Peanut Butter Desserts
Try this delicious no bake recipe. Then please leave a comment and star rating.
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups peanut butter
- 1 cup honey
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
See how we calculate recipe costs.
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, mix peanut butter and honey over medium heat until melted (stir constantly).
- Remove from heat. While hot, mix in oatmeal until all ingredients are combined.
- Pour into well greased 8×8 baking dish and distribute evenly.
- Place in refrigerator until it firms up.
So easy and delicious!!!! Love the low amount of ingredients!!!!! Thanks for the easy, yummy recipes!!!
So glad you enjoyed it!