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About This Recipe
A cross between a cookie and a blondie, these Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars are so decadent and SO delicious. Crispy, golden brown on the edges and a yummy gooey center, these cookie bars are seriously perfection!
These easy oatmeal bars are made with simple ingredients and are bursting with the most delicious chocolate and peanut butter flavor.
They are also are gluten free as written (just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats) and can easily made vegan as well. So everyone can get on board with this easy dessert recipe!!
Other than being insanely delicious, the best part about the Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars is, they freeze SO well! And we all know how great freezer desserts are. It’s always the BEST having freezer desserts on hand!
Want more sweet, healthy treats? Don’t miss my Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars, Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars or Lightened up Cranberry Bliss Bars!
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars
- Basically peanut butter oatmeal cookies, but in gooey cookie bar form!
- They’re healthy and made with wholesome ingredients!
- Naturally gluten-free and easy to make vegan – so everyone can enjoy these!
- Easy ingredients + easy clean up – minimal ingredients used and only ONE bowl required!
- Macro-balanced & a perfect healthy snack to won’t spike blood sugar levels.
- Satisfies your sweet tooth, in a healthy way, without the sugar crash!
- CHOCOLATE + PEANUT BUTTER – enough said! One of my favorite combos EVER!!
- Peanut Butter– since peanut butter is the main ingredient in this recipe, you want to make sure to use a peanut butter you love the taste of! Since the flavor will shine through the cookie bar base. I love using natural peanut butter and also American Dream nut butters (which are a little sweeter). The taste of both are a little different, so use use whatever you think makes sense for how you want your cookie bars to taste! You could also easily sub for almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter. Just know that they will change the overall flavor some too.
- Sweetener– I used Monk Fruit granular sweetener and Monk Fruit golden sweetener. Regular sugar and brown sugar also work!
- Eggs – I haven’t tried personally, but I would think subbing eggs for flax eggs would work for this recipe. If you try it, let us know in the comments!
- Baking essentials – vanilla extract, baking soda and salt
- Oats– I used old fashioned rolled oats. Quick oats would also work. I would not recommend using steel cut oats here as that will really throw the texture off.
- Oat Flour – I love the oat-ey flavor the oats bring but you could also use all-purpose flour, gf flour or almond flour. You could even just use more oats in its place.
- Chocolate chips– I used Enjoy Life. You could also use chopped chocolate or chocolate chunks here!
How To Make
The full printable recipe is below, but let me walk you through the process so you know what to expect when you’re making it!
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8×8” square pan or dish with parchment paper. To a large bowl, add the wet ingredients- peanut butter, both sweeteners, eggs, and vanilla.
2. Whisk to combine.
3. Add the dry ingredients- oats, oat flour, baking soda and salt and mix using a spatula or spoon (an electric mixer also works here) until all ingredients are incorporated.
4. Then fold in half of the chocolate chips.
5. Transfer mixture to the lined dish and smooth the top so it’s even using a rubber spatula. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top.
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden brown. It will still look underdone when you take it out, but it will set as it sets and this is how you keep it gooey! Let cool for at least 30 minutes then cut into bars and enjoy!
Store an airtight container or with plastic wrap in the fridge for up to 7 days or room temperature for 1-2 days. Since they have eggs in them, I would recommend storing in the fridge. They taste better chilled anyway!
To freeze: let the bars cool, then cut into 9 bars. For best results, wrap each bar individually in wax paper then place all the bars in a freezer-safe ziplock bag. The bars will stay good for 3-4 months.
Don’t Have Any Oat Flour?
Make your own! Simply add rolled oats to a blender and blitz for about 15 seconds until you have a fine, powdery flour.
Can I freeze these oatmeal peanut butter bars?
Yes, these are a great recipe to freeze! I would suggest wrapping them individually and freeze. For best results, store in a freezer-safe ziploc bag and remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. The bars will stay good for 3-4 months.
Can I make these peanut butter cookie bars vegan?
I haven’t tried personally, but I don’t see why a flax egg wouldn’t work for this recipe. Just replace the egg and make sure your chocolate chips are vegan-friendly.
Can I use a different flour besides oat flour?
If you don’t have oat flour you can easily make some by grinding up some oats in a food processor or blender! OR you can simply use all-purpose flour, gf flour or almond flour in it’s place. You could also just use more oats in place of the oat flour. For any substitutions made, it would be gram for gram, an equal amount!
Can I use a different but butter other than peanut butter?
You can! I would suggest using creamy peanut butter here if possible, but you could easily sub for almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter. Just know that it will change the flavor a little bit.
More Delicious Peanut Butter Desserts To Try
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure leave a review, tag me on Instagram or TikTok at @LaurenFitFoodie or hashtag #LaurenFitFoodie so I can see your creations!
Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars – Easy, Chewy, So Good!
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter (224g)
- 1/4 cup granular sweetener or sugar (48g) I used Monk fruit sweetener
- 1/4 cup brown sugar sweetener (48g) I used Monk Fruit golden classic
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup old fashioned rolled oats (80g)
- 1/2 cup oat flour (64g)
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (60g) divided
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8×8” dish with parchment paper.
- To a medium-sized bowl, add the peanut butter, both sweeteners, eggs, and vanilla and whisk to combine.
- Add the oats, oat flour, baking soda and salt and mix using a spatula or spoon until all ingredients are incorporated. Then fold in half of the chocolate chips.
- Transfer mixture to the lined dish and smooth the top so it’s even. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the edges start to turn golden brown. It will still look underdone when you take it out, but it will set as it sets and this is how you keep it gooey!
- Let cool for at least 30 minutes then cut into bars and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition is hand-calculated and accurate. No autocalulations! However, note that values can vary based on the brands you use and if you substitute ingredients.
