Healthy Peanut Butter Oat Bars Recipe

It’s no secret in my family that I have a sweet tooth. I purposely don’t buy sweets (most of the time) because I don’t need that temptation, okay? For several months now, I’ve been working to perfect a healthier dessert that is refined sugar free and tastes great. After several rounds of recipe testing, I’ve found the winner! You’d never know it was a “healthier” treat and it’s so good, the whole family can enjoy it.

It starts with a flavorful base of oats, peanut butter, maple syrup and some cinnamon, which gives it a richer flavor. It’s then topped with a magic shell-type chocolate topping, which really sets this treat over the edge. If you’ve been looking for a way to reduce your sugar intake, but still enjoy your dessert time, then this is for you!

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• Food processor
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Small sauce pan
• Microwave safe bowl
• Mixing spoon
• 8 x 8 baking dish

• 1 1/3 cup oat flour (2 cups ground oats ground into oat flour)
• 2 tbs ground flax meal (optional)
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Pinch salt
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 tbs coconut oil

Add oats to food processor and pulse until ground and set aside.

In a saucepan, heat peanut butter, maple syrup or honey, cinnamon and salt until all combined and runny. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Mix in oat flour and flax meal until you form a dough.

Place the dough into a lined 8 x 8 baking dish.

Place the chocolate chips and coconut oil into a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until completely melted. Then pour and spread the chocolate on top of the peanut butter dough.

Place in refrigerator for 2 hours or the freezer for 1 hour, then cut into squares and serve.

NOTES

• You can use any nut butter you enjoy in this recipe.
• Although these bars don’t need to be refrigerated, I recommend it because that will ensure everything binds together well and the chocolate doesn’t melt.
• Oats are naturally gluten free, but they can be contaminated so if you need 100% gluten free, make sure you use certified gluten free oats in this recipe.

Looking for more simple recipes like these peanut butter oat bars? Check these out:

• Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Sourdough Crackers
• 10 Minute Small Batch Granola
• Everything Bagel Sourdough Crackers
• Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola

Did you try this healthy peanut butter oat bar recipe? If you did, I’d really appreciate if you came back and gave the recipe a five star rating! Tag me on Instagram (@thesimplehomeplace) to show me your own recreation of this recipe!