Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars recipe was developed and photographed by Jackie Silver MHSc, RD
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No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars
Who doesn’t love a chocolate and peanut butter combo?!? The flavour combination is totally divine, in my opinion. These chocolate peanut butter oat bars are something I make very often in my home. I like to make a batch, cut them into squares, and store them in the freezer for whenever hunger strikes.
I personally enjoy these chocolate peanut butter oat bars for an evening snack before bed with a glass of soy milk. They are fabulous all year long and are also meal-prep friendly. They are high in fiber from the oats and flax meal and are low in added sugars too. Plus, they’re naturally vegan.
These chocolate peanut butter oat bars taste like a peanut butter cup but they are more nutrient-dense. They are super quick and simple and use only 6 ingredients. You may want to make a double batch because they won’t last long in your house!
I hope you enjoy these bars as much as I do.
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars are:
- High in fiber (from the oats and flax meal)
- A source of healthy fats from the peanut butter
- Vegan and plant-based
- A delicious snack, breakfast, or dessert
- Low in added sugars
- Great to bring in your purse or bag for when you are on the go
- Easy and quick to make
- 6-ingredients
- No bake
- Freezer friendly
- Perfect for meal prep
- Can be made gluten-free if you use certified gluten free oats
Benefits of Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars for Disabled People
These bars are great for people dealing with constipation in general or from neurogenic bowel (such as those with paralysis from spina bifida, spinal cord injury, or multiple sclerosis) who need the extra fiber boost in their diet.
The oats and flax meal are excellent sources of fiber that helps soften stool and make it easier to pass through your gastrointestinal tract. Remember to drink plenty of water or fluids with the extra fiber to help it pass through.
Clients often ask me what to do with flax meal. These bars are a fantastic way to get that extra fiber in with flax meal without compromising taste. The flax meal blends in super well with the peanut butter and oat mixture. You won’t even notice it.
Chocolate peanut butter oat squares are also an excellent meal prep snack and ideal for people who tend to feel fatigued or have low energy levels to avoid having to cook everyday. Just make a large batch, cut into squares, and store in your freezer and you have a snack ready in a pinch. They’re also excellent to bring with you when you’re on the go as they are easy to pack.
Storage Tips
Fridge: You can store these chocolate peanut butter oat squares in the fridge for about 3-4 days. You can use storage containers such as these or these.
Freezer: You can freeze these squares for about 1 month. Let thaw at room temperature for a few minutes to soften them before eating. They freeze very well.
Recipe Variations and Substitutes
- Peanut Butter: If you are allergic to peanuts, feel free to use any other nut butter such as almond butter, cashew butter, tahini, or Wow butter. Note that I haven’t tested out the recipe with almond, cashew or Wow butter but I presume it will work. This recipe is delicious with tahini instead of peanut butter.
- Maple Syrup: If you do not have maple syrup then you can totally substitute it for honey.
- Rolled Oats: To make it gluten-free, use certified gluten free oats such as these.
- Flax Meal: Flax meal is flax seeds ground into a powder form, which enables the body to absorb the fibre. If you don’t have flax meal then you can omit and add an extra ¼ cup of oats. You can also use chia seeds if you’d like but it will add a bit of a gritty texture whereas you won’t notice the flax meal.
- Chocolate Chips: Feel free to use dark chocolate instead of chocolate chips. You can also be creative and try carob chips, milk chocolate chips, or peanut butter chips. Whatever tickles your fancy!
- Oil: You can use most types of oils here, such as avocado oil, coconut oil, or sunflower oil. I wouldn’t recommend using olive oil as that may give it a strong taste. I personally typically use avocado oil.
Equipment Suggestions
- Large mixing bowl
- Medium-sized microwave-safe bowl
- Mixing spoon
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- 8×8” square baking pan or loaf pan (if you want to make thicker bars, I recommend using a loaf pan but if you’re okay with the bars being a bit on the thinner side then use an 8×8 pan)
- Parchment paper
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars (Vegan)
Ingredients
- ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or honey)
- 1 ¼ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup ground flax meal
- 1 cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp oil (such as avocado oil, sunflower oil, or coconut oil)
Instructions
- Take out your 8×8” square loaf pan and line it with parchment paper.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the peanut butter and maple syrup together until combined.
- Now add in your oats and flax meal and mix until it forms a uniform mixture.
- Pour the peanut butter mixture into your baking pan and press down evenly with a spatula or clean hands.
- Place chocolate chips and oil in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 15 second increments. Stir in between to allow the chocolate to melt and mix evenly.
- Pour the chocolate layer on top of the peanut butter layer and stir evenly.
- Store in the fridge for 1-2 hours until the chocolate firms up. Cut into squares and store in the fridge or freezer. Enjoy!
Notes
Please note: Nutrition facts are provided for Google and SEO purposes only. There is no right or wrong serving size and I do not preach counting calories. You get to decide how much you want to eat.