Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are loaded with wholesome oatmeal and whole wheat flour, flavored with peanut butter, and sweetened with honey, for a yummy, on-the-go breakfast or snack!

I've been trying to perfect a peanut butter version of my baked Oats & Honey Granola Bars for awhile now, and along those lines, I was tinkering with the recipe several weeks back. While my resulting concoction didn't exactly turn out like the crunchy granola bars I envisioned, it did end up resembling soft-baked oatmeal bars. So I suppose in this case, a kitchen fail of one sort turned into a kitchen triumph of another...Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars!

I've made this recipe a couple of times since and my family really enjoys it. I love that it's a ready-made breakfast, because during the summer at Casa de Five Heart Home, three young individuals eagerly wake up at the crack of dawn. And you see, this foils Mama's plan of indulging in the luxury of "sleeping in" (until a whopping 7 a.m.) so long as school is out.

So when the toddler pries open my eyelid at 6:30 a.m. with a "Mama, I hungry," I can simply whisper, "Okay, baby...go ask your brother to get you a peanut butter bar." And when she scampers off, it's at least five full minutes before she pries open my eyelid again.

"Mama. He got me a pee-buh bah."

Glad to hear it, sweetie. Now why don't you go ask him to pour you some milk, thereby allotting me five more precious minutes...?

In all seriousness, though, these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are the definition of honey-sweet, soft-baked yumminess. They're great for breakfast, at home or on-the-go, and they're a perfectly portable snack. They're also somewhere in between the Chewy No-Bake Granola Bars and the crunchy baked granola bars that I typically make, so it's always fun to change things up.

Ingredients

The ingredients for these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are simple, straightforward, and wholesome!

• Old-fashioned rolled oats. I prefer making this recipe with rolled oats for their chewier texture. However, if you only have quick oats on hand, they should work fine...you just may want to use slightly less since they're packed more densely.
• Whole wheat pastry flour. I love whole wheat pastry flour because it's 100% whole wheat but with a lighter taste and texture (more akin to that of all-purpose flour) than regular whole wheat flour. If you wish to make these gluten-free, you may use oat flour instead. (You can find instructions for how to make oat flour under Tips & Tricks below or in the Notes section at the bottom of the recipe card.)
• Brown sugar. Just a smidge! Feel free to use light or dark.
• Cinnamon. Tweak the amount to your liking.
• Salt.
• Coconut oil. Make sure it's melted and cooled. Alternatively, if you wish, you may use any other neutral-flavored oil or even melted butter.
• Honey. Maple syrup may be substituted.
• Egg.
• Pure vanilla extract.
• Peanut butter. Any type of peanut butter should work. I prefer using a natural peanut butter, and I've made this recipe with both crunchy and creamy. You may also choose to use another type of nut (or non-nut) butter if you like, such as almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
• Chopped peanuts. These are optional -- but recommended -- for sprinkling over the top of the bars before baking.

How to Make Them

This recipe is so simple that my biggest boy can practically whip it up by himself.

See? Easy-peasy!

I hope you get to try these Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars soon, because I think you'll enjoy them.

And if you're lucky, they may even buy you an extra five minutes of sleep.

Now that's what I call magic. 😉

Tips, Tricks, & Equipment

• To make oat flour, use a blender or mini food processor to grind 1 ¾ cups oats into a fine powder. Measure out 1 ¼ cups of oat flour for the recipe after grinding. If you have leftover oat flour after measuring, you can always save it for a Blueberry Muffin Healthy Oat Smoothie. 🙂
• If desired, you may reduce the brown sugar.
• To save a dirty dish, I melt the coconut oil in a measuring cup in the microwave and then measure the honey and vanilla on top. The coconut oil helps the honey slide out of the measuring cup.

More Ready-Made Breakfast Ideas

• Overnight Oats, 3 Ways
• Peanut Butter Granola
• Oatmeal Cookie Energy Bites
• Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
• Wholesome Breakfast Cookies
• Freezer Breakfast Sandwiches

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups rolled oats
• 1 ¼ cup whole wheat pastry flour, or oat flour -- see Tips & Tricks below
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup coconut oil, melted
• ½ cup honey
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup peanut butter, crunchy or creamy
• ¼ cup chopped peanuts

Instructions

• Arrange oven rack in center position and preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9- by 13-inch baking dish with coconut oil or softened butter, or coat with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Stir in the coconut oil, honey, egg, and vanilla. Add the peanut butter and mix until well combined.
• Scrape the batter into prepared baking dish and smooth the top so that it's an even thickness. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and lightly press into the surface. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until the edges just start to turn golden brown. Allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing into bars.
• Cool completely and store in an airtight container.

Notes

• To make oat flour, use a blender or mini food processor to grind 1 ¾ cups oats into a fine powder. Measure out 1 ¼ cups of oat flour for the recipe after grinding. If you have leftover oat flour after measuring, you can always save it for a Blueberry Muffin Healthy Oat Smoothie. 🙂
• If desired, you may reduce the brown sugar.
• To save a dirty dish, I melt the coconut oil in a measuring cup in the microwave and then measure the honey and vanilla on top. The coconut oil helps the honey slide out of the measuring cup.

Nutrition

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