Healthy Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars
Posted Mar 10, 2019, Updated May 12, 2024
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This easy peanut butter breakfast bars recipe is made in one bowl in 30 minutes, and is loaded with fiber, protein & omega-3s to keep you full all morning long!
When I decided to start this website in 2016, I knew right away that this would be my very first post. These Healthy Breakfast Bars have been my constant companion for the last 15 years are are, hands down, my favorite recipe of all time.
These breakfast bars gave me energy through my career as a high school chemistry teacher. They helped me grow all the necessary parts of our very first tiny little human, and the second, and the third, and the fourth, and the fifth, and the sixth.
These healthy oatmeal breakfast bars sustained me as we moved across the country away form all our friends and family. Every night when my head hits the pillow and I close my eyes, I know one of these beauties will be waiting for me when I wake up. I love them. Truly I do.
I mean, what’s not to love? These breakfast bars are full of fiber, protein, potassium, omega-3s, and are SO delicious. They are gluten, dairy and refined sugar free, but they are hearty enough to keep you full for hours. And they’re easy to make! To me, they are perfect.
Healthy Breakfast Bars: Ingredients & Substitutions
I get a lot of questions about possible substitutions for this breakfast bar recipe, so let’s chat about them now! A great thing about this recipe is that it’s fairly customizable.
- Quick Cooking Oats. Old fashioned oats work well, using them will result in a chewier texture.
- Almond flour/meal: If you’d prefer to not use almond meal, omit it and increase the amount of oatmeal by ½ cup.
- Ground Flaxseed: You may substitute ½ cup of almond meal or extra oats in place of the ground flaxseed.
- Protein Powder: This is an optional ingredient. I love using Vanilla Protein Powder for a little flavor and protein boost, but you can omit it entirely if you don’t keep this ingredient on hand!
- Honey: maple syrup is a good substitute. Or, add an extra banana or an extra ¼ cup applesauce instead if you’d prefer a less-sweet, sugar free option.
- Peanut Butter: I use creamy or crunchy and choose your favorite variety.
How to Make Breakfast Bars
Since I have made this breakfast bar recipe every week for 15 years now, I’m pretty sure I could make them in my sleep! However, in order to be helpful I want to walk through all the steps in this recipe for you.
Combine Wet Ingredients
To make these breakfast bars in one bowl, start by mashing the banana. I use a potato masher, but a fork would work as well.
Then add the rest of the ingredients and stir until the mixture is uniform throughout!
Add Dry Ingredients
Next, add all the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir to combine.
As you can see, the final mixture should not be runny. It should be moist but not at all liquidy.
Bake for 20 Minutes
This healthy breakfast bars recipe requires two sessions of baking. First, bake the breakfast bars naked (without any peanut butter on top) for 20 minutes.
The top should be slightly firm when the breakfast bars are removed from the oven. Since all ovens are different your baking time may vary slightly. However, it is important that the top isn’t mushy and that you can spread peanut butter around on it without it becoming a mess!
Top With Peanut Butter
After 20 minutes of baking, remove the oatmeal breakfast bars from the oven and spread a layer of peanut butter on top. The amount you use will depend on your taste.
I enjoy a super thick layer of peanut butter, so I use about 1/4 to 1/2 cup. Use as much or as little as you’d like!
Bake for 10 Additional Minutes
Return the breakfast bars topped with peanut butter to the oven for 10 more minutes. This step sets the peanut butter and finishes baking the bars.
As you can see, the final product will have nice little sinkholes of peanut butter on top! YUM!
Chill Overnight
These breakfast bars are best served cold. I always make them the day before I want to eat them and let them cool in the refrigerator overnight.
I have eaten them warm when I didn’t have my act together and they’re still good, but not as good if catch my drift!
Cut & Enjoy
Finally, once the breakfast bars have cooled in the pan overnight, cut them into squares and enjoy! Or you can cut them and save them for later! I always cut them into 9 breakfast bars, because it’s the perfect size breakfast for me to enjoy with a green smoothie.
Store/Freeze
I make a large batch of these (sometimes a double batch) to eat all week long. Wrap them individually in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator (do not microwave).
Breakfast Bars Recipe FAQs
To store these breakfast bars, simply cut them and put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If you think it will be over a week before you finish them all, I recommend wrapping them individually in plastic wrap and then putting them in an airtight container.
If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator these breakfast bars will last for up to one week!
Yes, double the ingredients and bake in a 9×13″ pan. You may need to bake them 5 minutes longer.
If you make something from JoyFoodSunshine I would love to see your creations. Follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. Tag me in your photos #joyfoodsunshine @joyfoodsunshine Don’t forget to rate this recipe and leave a comment below.
Healthy Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup quick cooking oats
- ½ cup almond meal
- ½ cup flaxseed meal
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons vanilla protein powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 overripe bananas (mashed)
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons honey (or maple syrup)
Topping
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8 square baking dish
- In a small bowl combine the dry ingredients (oats, almond meal, flaxseed, salt, cinnamon and protein powder if using), set aside. (alternately add the dry ingredients after mixing the wet ingredients).
- In a large bowl mash the banana. Add applesauce, honey, 1/4 cup peanut butter and vanilla. Mix well.
- Stir dry ingredients into wet until combined. Spread mixture into the pan (should be moist but not soupy).
- Bake 20 minutes (should be slightly brown around the edges and top should be set), remove from oven and spread peanut butter over the top of the bars (I like a really thick layer of peanut butter but it’s to your own preference)
- Continue baking for 10 minutes more or until firm and lightly browned around the edges. At this point the peanut butter layer will have tiny little bubbles in it.
- Cool completely in the refrigerator and cut into 6 or 9 bars. Wrap each with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the fridge for a quick grab and go breakfast!
Video
Notes
- Quick Cooking Oats. Old fashioned oats work well, using them will result in a chewier texture.
- Almond flour/meal: If you’d prefer to not use almond meal, omit it and increase the amount of oatmeal by ½ cup.
- Ground Flaxseed: You may substitute ½ cup of almond meal or extra oats in place of the ground flaxseed.
- Protein Powder: This is an optional ingredient. I love using Vanilla Protein Powder for a little flavor and protein boost, but you can omit it entirely if you don’t keep this ingredient on hand!
- Honey: maple syrup is a good substitute. Or, add an extra banana or an extra ¼ cup applesauce instead if you’d prefer a less-sweet, sugar free option.
- Peanut Butter: I use creamy or crunchy and choose your favorite variety.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I made these with just one change – subbed the honey for extra applesauce – and they were super tasty 🙂
Yay Grace!! I’m so glad you liked them! I’m not joking when I say I eat one every. single. day!!!!! LOL!
My mouth is watering! Am going to make these for son who wants to eat healthier. He is a plumber’s helper and needs a good breakfast. Thanks
These are so hearty and delicious! Great for digestion, too. I accidentally left one out on the counter–but in a sealed plastic baggie–for about two and a half days (in my rush to get out the door for travel!). Would this still be safe to eat?
Hey Amy! I am kind of crazy about food safety….so I’d probably not eat it if it has been sitting on the counter for 2 days!
Love these! I’ve made these 4 wks in a row and have been eating one every morning with my tea. They’re a lot more pillowy than I expected. I ordered your recommended protein powder but they’re very filling as is. I’m also using up some crunchy peanut butter and I like that crunch in it. Chocolate chips are great too :D. Thank you so much for this recipe. I have finally found a way to enjoy oatmeal!
I am SO glad you love them! I eat one every day too! 😉 they are so versatile and I’m so glad you’re having fun with lots of different options! <3
Is there a substitute for the flaxseed meal? Can I just use some plain flour? Also, for the almond meal, can I just grind some almonds in a mortar and pestle? I’ve seen that people use melted butter/oil as a substitute for applesauce. Can I use that for this recipe? Thanks, this recipe looks great!
Hey Cath! I always recommend making the recipe as written! You can grind your own almond meal! As for the other substitutions…if you would like to skip the ground flaxseed I recommend simply increasing the amount of oats by 1/2 cup. I think my little sister has used coconut oil in these bars but again, I haven’t tried it and I would highly recommend making the recipe as written! If you try any of these substitutions please report back and let me know how it goes!
Hi – these look delish! My team and I are competing in a dragon boat festival this weekend and I’m thinking of making these for snacks; can I substitute the PB with another nut butter ie almond/cashew? Thanks so much! Can’t wait to make these!
Absolutely you can!! I’ve made these with almond butter before with fantastic results! Cashew butter sounds amazing too!
Oh How yummy are these! I will be making this for sure. Thank you so much for linking up at #healthyliving link party. I will be featuring you for tomorrow’s party. I hope to see you again and you can grab a featured button too!
Thank you so much Cristina! I can honestly say this is my favorite recipe ever. I eat one every single day (no joke)!
Hi there, Laura! I love the looks of this recipe, all but one ingredient. I have an allergy to almonds. What could I replace this with to make it as close to the recipe as possible?
Thanks, Leanna.
Hey Leanna! You absolutely can replace the almond meal! I have made these without it and simply increased the dry ingredients by 1/2 cup! I recommend increasing the amounts of ingredients you’re already using (e.g. add an extra 1/2 cup quick-oats, or 1/2 cup flaxseed, or 1/4 cup of each, or mix in a few more TBS of protein powder)! I have also used oat bran in place of almond meal! These bars are SO versatile! Truly you really can’t go wrong! 🙂 If you try it report back and let me know how it goes!
Great! Thankyou for such a prompt reply. I do believe those bars may easily become a staple around our home. I’ll let you know how it goes. Thanks again! -Leanna.
Leanna! I have literally eaten one of these every day for almost 8 years…except for a few months during some of my pregnancies when I couldn’t eat anything! 😉 I hope you love them as much as we do!
Have you tried making these without the sweetener? I’d like to save some calories and that’s the easiest way usually, eliminating sweeteners. Plus do you ever sub the flax for anythig? Hubby isn’t a fan of flax.
Hey Jessica! Yes! I have made these without the sweetener and they’re still great! The bananas and applesauce provide just enough sweetness! 🙂 Plus, the protein powder (if you choose to use it) adds great flavor! These bars are SO versatile…I have used other ingredients in place of flax before! You simply need to replace that 1/2 cup of dry ingredients with other dry ingredients! I’d recommend either adding an extra 1/2 cup oats or almond meal (or 1/4 cup of each) since you’re already using them! You can use oat bran (just make sure it’s gluten-free)!
What protein powder do you use that is dairy free?
My favorite is Orgain Vanilla bean protein powder. There are many brands that make plant-based dairy free protein powders though! 🙂 Vega, Garden of Life, Sunwarrior, Orgain, etc! 🙂
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Can these be frozen? I want to make them for easy take to work breakfast and they look delicious.
Hey Ali! These bars last for one week in the fridge! That being said…I have never had any hang around longer than that so I haven’t needed to freeze them! 😉 They’re best when eaten cold or at room temperature, so if you do try freezing them I do not recommend putting them in the microwave to reheat. If you do that you could run the risk of melting the peanut butter topping! If you freeze some I’d love for you to report back and let me know how they thaw! 🙂
Thanks! I will let you know soon.
They froze just fine and are great for a grab and go breakfast. Thanks!