Healthy Peanut Butter Bars
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Published Nov 18, 2024, Updated Dec 10, 2024
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These no bake healthy peanut butter bars are made with 5 simple ingredients and super easy to whip up. No powdered sugar or butter needed!
If you’re a peanut butter lover, get ready—these healthy peanut butter bars are about to be your new favorite treat! They’re like homemade peanut butter cups but in easy-to-make bar form. With a chewy peanut butter base and a rich chocolate layer on top, these bars are simple yet totally crave-worthy.
And they’re made with just a handful of real, wholesome ingredients like drippy peanut butter, oat flour, and pure maple syrup, so you can feel good about every bite. Just mix, layer, and chill—no baking required! If you’re in the mood for even more no-bake treats, check out my healthy peanut butter balls or date energy balls.
I’m telling you, these peanut butter bars will be a go-to for satisfying your sweet tooth while keeping things simple and delicious!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- No-bake & easy – No need to turn on the oven! These bars come together quickly with minimal fuss. Just mix, layer, and let the fridge do the rest.
- Wholesome ingredients – Made with simple ingredients like natural peanut butter, oat flour, and pure maple syrup, these bars are a healthier alternative to store-bought treats.
- Chocolate-peanut butter heaven – If you love the chocolate and peanut butter combo, you’re in for a treat! The top layer of chocolate-peanut butter makes every bite perfectly rich and satisfying.
- Perfect for meal prep – These bars store well in the fridge, making them great for a snack or dessert you can enjoy all week.
Ingredients Needed
- drippy peanut butter – the star of these bars! I used Trader Joe’s natural peanut butter with no added sugar, but any smooth, unsweetened peanut butter will work. Just make sure it’s drippy so it mixes well!
- maple syrup – naturally sweetens the bars and adds a subtle caramel-like flavor.
- oat flour – helps hold everything together. If you don’t have oat flour on hand, you can make your own by blending rolled oats in a food processor until fine and powdery.
- graham cracker crumbs – crushed graham crackers give these bars a deliciously chewy texture and just a hint of classic s’mores flavor! Use about 8 full sheets for 1 cup of crumbs.
- chocolate chips – the rich chocolate layer on top. I used semi-sweet chocolate chips, but feel free to use dark chocolate or even dairy-free chocolate chips if needed.
Recipe Substitutions
- Peanut butter: For a peanut-free option, swap in almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter. Just make sure it’s nice and drippy so everything holds together.
- Maple syrup: You can easily sub maple syrup with honey or agave for a different flavor. Just keep in mind honey isn’t vegan, so stick with maple or agave if that’s a priority.
- Oat flour: Almond flour is a great stand-in for oat flour if you want a little nutty undertone. Plus, it keeps the bars gluten-free!
How to Make Peanut Butter Bars
Step 1: Add graham crackers to your food processor fitted with the s blade and process until they’ve turned into crumbs.
Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl add peanut butter, maple syrup, graham cracker crumbs and oat flour. Stir until combined.
Step 3: Melt chocolate chips in the microwave on 30 second increments, stir in peanut butter.
Step 4: Press peanut butter mixture into a square baking dish using your hands to make it as even as possible. Pour melted chocolate mixture on top of the peanut butter layer. Place in the fridge to set (at least 1-2 hours), then cut into squares and enjoy.
Brittany’s Tips
- Go for drippy peanut butter – The drippier, the better! A smooth, natural peanut butter with no added sugar works best here. If it’s too thick, you’ll have a hard time mixing everything together.
- Press firmly – When pressing the peanut butter mixture into the pan, really pack it down so the bars hold together nicely. A piece of parchment paper over the top can help you press it flat without getting sticky hands.
- Melt chocolate carefully – Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second bursts to avoid burning. Stir in between—chocolate burns fast, and nobody wants to lose good chocolate to a hot microwave.
- Chill before cutting – Patience, friends! Let the bars chill for at least 1-2 hours in the fridge before slicing. This makes sure they’re perfectly firm and easy to cut into clean squares without a gooey mess.
How to Store
In the fridge – Store your peanut butter bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. They’ll stay firm and ready for a quick grab-and-go snack or treat whenever you need one.
In the freezer – These bars freeze beautifully! Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze initially, then transfer to an airtight container or freezer bag. They’ll last up to 3 months in the freezer. Just thaw in the fridge or at room temp when you’re ready to enjoy them again!
Frequently Asked Questions
A food processor makes it super quick, but you can also crush the graham crackers in a plastic bag using a rolling pin. Just get them as fine as possible for the best texture.
Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips work wonderfully, but feel free to use milk chocolate or even dairy-free chocolate chips if you prefer. Just make sure it’s a chocolate that melts well and complements peanut butter!
More Healthy Treats
- 5-Ingredient Healthier Peanut Butter Cups
- Vegan Rice Krispie Treats
- Healthier Magic Cookie Bars
- Healthy Cheesecake with Cottage Cheese
- Chocolate Covered Snickers Stuffed Dates
- Date Bars
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Healthy Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup drippy peanut butter, no added sugar (I used Trader Joe’s)
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup oat flour
- 8 full sheets of graham crackers, crushed (about 1 cup of crumbs)
Chocolate Layer
- ½ cup chocolate chips
- 2 Tablespoons peanut butter
Instructions
- Add graham crackers to your food processor fitted with the s blade and process until they’ve turned into crumbs.
- In a medium mixing bowl add peanut butter, maple syrup, graham cracker crumbs and oat flour. Stir until combined.
- Line an 8×8 baking dish with parchment and press peanut butter mixture into it using your hands to make it as even as possible.
- Melt chocolate chips in the microwave on 30 second increments, stir in peanut butter. Pour melted peanut butter chocolate mixture on top of the peanut butter layer.
- Place in the fridge to set (at least 1-2 hours), then cut into squares and enjoy.
Notes
- Storing: Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious! And easy to make! I made these as part of a holiday cookie plate using Sunbutter and carob chips. Very rich! So I cut them smaller into bite sized pieces. Everyone loved them! Big hit!!
Yay! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a review. I appreciate it!
Hi Brittany,
First, thanks for all the delicious recipes. I have tried many of them and they’re good. For this one, you say to use “drippy” peanut butter. I have some natural peanut butter, but it’s not drippy. In fact, I wouldn’t know how to buy drippy peanut butter. Would it work for me to add a bit of peanut oil? Or is there another trick for making normal peanut butter into drippy peanut butter. Any suggestions?
Hi Alex. Thanks so much for trying my recipes. I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying them! For drippy peanut butter, look for natural ones with just peanuts (and maybe salt) listed as the ingredients. If yours isn’t drippy, you can stir in a little peanut oil or warm it in the microwave for a few seconds to thin it out. Hope that helps!