Healthy No-Bake Oatmeal Bars

Jump to Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These chocolate peanut butter no-bake oatmeal bars are an easy & healthy dessert or snack! They only take 5 minutes to make, and are gluten and dairy-free! Plus they have no refined sugar and are vegan-friendly!

front view of a stack of three No-Bake Oatmeal Bars with Peanut Butter & Coconut, the top one has a bite taken out of it


These No-Bake Oatmeal Bars with Peanut Butter & Coconut are one of our favorite healthy treats! They are made with only 7 ingredients and come together in 10 minutes and are so delicious your kids will think they’re eating dessert when they’re really eating a wholesome snack!  

These No-Bake Oatmeal Bars are a combination of all my favorite things…Peanut butter, chocolate, coconut, and honey. YUM! Plus they are no bake, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free and SO easy to make!

Seriously, combine the wet ingredients then add the dry ingredients, mix it up, press into pan.  Melt some chocolate & peanut butter then drizzle or spread it on top and you’re done. The longest (and most challenging) part of this no-bake oatmeal bars recipe is letting the bars cool enough to eat without making a mess.

overhead view of seven No-Bake Oatmeal Bars with Peanut Butter & Coconut laid out on a white surface with chocolate chips around them.

I just have to tell you, that these No-Bake Oatmeal Bars are so delicious that my daughter Bethany (age 8) ate one and said, “MOM, next year on my birthday I want these instead of cake.”

That girl lives for dessert, especially, birthday cake. She starts brainstorming ideas for her cake in July…and her birthday is in January. (Priorities) So needless to say, when she says “I want these instead of a birthday cake,” it means that we have a seriously rockin’ recipe on our hands.

No-Bake Oatmeal Bars: Ingredients & Substitutions

As always, I recommend making this recipe exactly as it’s written, but here are a few possible substitutions!

  • Old-fashioned oats. Quick-cooking oats can be use here you just might need to add 1-2 TBS extra peanut butter to keep the bars from becoming too crumbly! 
  • Almond meal. If you have a tree-nut allergy in your family simply increase the amount of oats by 1/4 cup and omit the almond meal. You can also substitute all-purpose gluten-free flour!
  • Peanut Butter. Any nut or seed butter should work well in this recipe, however depending on the consistency you may need to adjust the amount used.
  • Honey. Any liquid sweetener will work well in this recipe, however honey is my favorite! For a vegan version use pure maple syrup. 

How to make No-Bake Oatmeal Bars 

These No-Bake Oatmeal Bars with Peanut Butter & Coconut are SO easy to make, but let’s walk through the process step-by-step to ensure your success!

Combine the wet ingredients

Combine the honey, peanut butter together and the vanilla and stir to combine. I use natural peanut butter so it’s very smooth, liquidy and easy to stir.

If you are using a firmer peanut butter (one that is solid at room temperature), I recommend gently melting it with the honey either in the microwave or on the stovetop until it’s easy to stir! Then add the vanilla once the honey and peanut butter are combined!

Two overhead photos of a glass mixing bowl on a white surface, the left shows a hand pouring vanilla into the bowl that has peanut butter and honey in it already, the right shows hands stirring the ingredients with a white spatula to make these No-Bake Oatmeal Bars

Add the dry ingredients 

Next, add the dry ingredients and stir until everything is combined and the mixture is uniform throughout. As you can see below, the mixture should be firm but not soupy. 

  • If the mixture is too wet add more oats 1 TBS at a time until it reaches the correct consistency. 
  • If the mixture is too dry add more honey or peanut butter until it reaches the correct consistency. 

Hopefully you won’t run into either one of these issues! But in case you do there are some solutions for you!

Two overhead photos of a glass mixing bowl on a white surface, the left shows a hand pouring salt into the bowl that contains the wet mixture, oats and coconut, the right shows hands stirring the ingredients with a white spatula to make these No-Bake Oatmeal Bars

Press mixture into a baking dish

Using a spatula or your greased hands, press the mixture into the bottom of an 8×8″ baking dish and set aside but do NOT chill. 

overhead view of a hand pressing the No-Bake Oatmeal Bars mixture into a white 8x8" baking dish with a white spatula

Make the Chocolate Peanut Butter Topping

Simply melt chocolate and peanut butter together in the microwave or on a stovetop over low heat until the mixture is smooth and glossy. See the recipe card for a refined sugar free version (not using chocolate chips)!

two overhead photos of a small glass bowl, the left shows unmelted chocolate chips and a glob of peanut butter, the right shows a spatula stirring the melted chocolate peanut butter mixture

Pour the chocolate/peanut butter mixture on top of the bars in the baking dish and use a spatula to spread it out evenly.

Chill

Place the bars in the refrigerator to harden, or let them sit at room temperature until the chocolate is set (this takes significantly longer). 

two photos, the right is a front view of melted chocolate being poured onto No-Bake Oatmeal Bars in a white square baking dish. The right photo shows the No-Bake Oatmeal Bars with the chocolate spread on top in a square white baking dish

Cut and Serve

Be sure to remove the No-Bake Oatmeal Bars from the refrigerator before the chocolate is completely set, otherwise they will be difficult to cut.

Store/freeze

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly at room temperature – do not microwave.

Overhead photo of No-Bake Oatmeal Bars with a chocolate topping in a white square baking dish after they have been cut.

Recipe FAQs

Can I double this recipe?

Yes, double the ingredients and use a 9×13″ baking dish.

Can I halve this recipe?

Yes, halve the ingredients and use a 9×5″ loaf pan.

front view of a stack of four no bake oatmeal bars with chocolate coconut and peanut butter

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!

No-Bake Oatmeal Bars (with Peanut Butter & Coconut)

Laura
These chocolate peanut butter no-bake oatmeal bars are an easy & healthy dessert or snack! They only take 5 minutes to make, and are gluten and dairy-free! Plus they have no refined sugar and are vegan-friendly!
4.98 from 92 votes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 16 bars
Calories 188
Prep Time10 minutes
Chill time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes

Ingredients 
 

For the bars:

For the chocolate topping:

Refined-sugar free topping option:

Instructions 

For the Bars:

  • In a small bowl mix together oats, coconut and almond meal. Set aside
  • In a large, microwave safe bowl or in a pot on the stove, gently melt the peanut butter and honey together until smooth. (If your peanut butter is liquid at room temperature, simply mix the honey and peanut butter together without warming). 
  • Add vanilla and salt (to taste…I love sweet/salty so I use ½ tsp) and stir until combined.
  • Add the dry ingredients and mix well.
  • Spread into an 8×8” pan and set aside.

For the topping:

  • Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together on the stovetop or in the microwave (start by heating for 60 seconds. Stir then heat in 30 second increments until smooth).

Refined-sugar free topping:

  • In the microwave or on the stovetop, gently melt together the chocolate, honey (or maple syrup) and peanut butter.

Putting it together:

  • Drizzle or spread melted chocolate/peanut butter over bars.
  • Let the bars setup on the counter or in the fridge until the chocolate sets.
  • Cut and serve at room temperature or cold!
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Video

Notes

Ingredient Substitutions

  • Old-fashioned oats. Quick-cooking oats can be use here you just might need to add 1-2 TBS extra peanut butter to keep the bars from becoming too crumbly! 
  • Almond meal. If you have a tree-nut allergy in your family simply increase the amount of oats by 1/4 cup and omit the almond meal. You can also substitute all-purpose gluten-free flour!
  • Peanut Butter. Any nut or seed butter should work well in this recipe, however depending on the consistency you may need to adjust the amount used.
  • Honey. Any liquid sweetener will work well in this recipe, however honey is my favorite! For a vegan version use pure maple syrup. 

Store/freeze

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 5-7 days or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly at room temperature – do not microwave.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3.6g | Sodium: 35mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 2.7g | Sugar: 11.4g | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Have a question? Leave a comment below!

More delicious recipes:

Front view of a stack of three Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bars on a plate

The links in this post are affiliate links, thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine.




latest recipes

Post a Comment or Ask a Question!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




135 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is my go to recipe for sweet cravings! I don’t typically have almond meal, but use ground flaxseed instead since I have it on hand and it’s good fiber. I also add a little coconut oil instead of a sweetener to the topping since the chocolate is sweet enough. I make this at least once a month when I am craving chocolate. 😜