These simple 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Squares can be thrown together in minutes. Use all natural/organic ingredients, if you prefer, for a healthier version! Either way, this oatmeal bar recipe is easy, delicious, and the best snack or dessert.
This recipe was originally posted in 2015. The images and recipe have been updated in 2021 to include tips and tricks based on reader feedback!
These 3 Ingredient No Bake Oat Squares Are Easy and Delicious!
Easy can not even describe these 3 Ingredient No Bake Oat Bars! I would say they’re simple to make, but “simple” is so over-used…by me especially…that I’m afraid you might not buy it. Regardless, they are the simplest, easiest, no brainiest bars ever to be.
There are literally 3 ingredients, no baking…only measuring. And you only have to measure 3 things, so…
PLUS, these Oat Bars are kinda-sorta not even that bad for you!
Oat Squares Quick and Healthy Snack Idea!
I know the word healthy is extremely overused, but the simplicity of the ingredients, plus the fiber and protein these contain make them a more healthful option in my house than a cookie. They’re a great option to have on hand for a snack or even a grab and go breakfast!
What Are the 3 Ingredients You Need?
- Old Fashioned Oats
- Peanut Butter
- Honey
Add-In Ideas:
The great thing abut this recipe is that while they are perfect in their 3 ingredient simplicity, you can also add in other ingredients for flavor or health benefits.
- Flax seeds. A tablespoon or two will add fiber, protein, and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Coconut. 1/4 cup or so will add texture, flavor, and sweetness!
- Chocolate Chips. Peanut butter and chocolate are the perfect combo!
- Crunchy Peanut Butter. This will add texture when swapped out for creamy!
- Raisins or dried fruit. 1/2 cup would be delicious!
- Chia seeds. a few tablespoons will add high quality protein and antioxidants.
Tips for Making No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Squares
- If your honey isn’t brand new it might be a little crystallized, which makes it hard to pour. BUT heating honey weakens the ingredients rendering the health benefits ineffective…so if you’re just in it for the taste you can heat it a bit. But if you’re looking for the good stuff that comes along with honey, heating it might not be the option.
- Use Old Fashioned (or rolled oats). I find that they work for the texture and stability of these bars a little better. If you only have Quick oats on-hand, it will be fine, it’s just a texture thing.
- Use whatever kind of peanut butter you prefer! If you love Skippy, use it! If you like natural peanut butter, use that! It’s completely up to you!
Do You Need To Chill These Oatmeal Bars?
Chilling these bars is part of the process to aid in them setting and becoming firm. But do you need to store them int he refrigerator? You can! If you want your bars to stay extra firm, keep them chilled! If you allow them to come up to room temperature they will be softer, but also delicious!
Looking For More Oatmeal Bar Recipes? Try These!
- Salty Caramel Oat Bars
- Homemade Granola Bars
- Peanut Butter Passion Bars
- Salty Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Squares
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 20 squares 1x
- Category: Snack
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
These simple 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Squares can be thrown together in minutes. Use all natural/organic ingredients, if you prefer, for a healthier version! Either way, this oatmeal bar recipe is easy, delicious, and the best snack or dessert.
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 3/4 cups rolled oats
Instructions
- Line an 8×8 pan with foil. Spray lightly with non-stick spray.
- Melt the peanut butter and honey together until smooth, either in the microwave or stove top. Combine mixture with oats.
- Press into prepared pan. Place in refrigerator until set. Cut into squares.
Notes
I like to store mine in the refrigerator because they can get a bit soft.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 square
- Calories: 148
- Sugar: 8.3 g
- Sodium: 55.3 mg
- Fat: 6.6 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Protein: 4.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
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Yes, this recipe is from Chocolate Covered Katie. A simple internet search would have revealed the source.http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2015/09/10/peanut-butter-no-bake-bars/
Thanks for your input, however my recipe was posted almost a year before Katie’s. A simple check of the date shows that 🙂
I don’t like people that copy either Kristin but it is best to check the dates to confirm whether one came before the other or not. But I am sure that there will be plenty of other people going back years and years decades even that would have had a similar version Its 3 ingredients or a variance on it and like all recipes there is always a variant from recipes handed down Put this in google and you will see a truck load of recipes with variants
https://www.google.com.au/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Oats+Honey+Nut+Butter&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=qRPDVprvCK7u8we_iqnQCw
In fact this recipe was from 2012 before either. Recipes evolve and get shared around all the time
http://thejoyofeverydaycooking.com/3-ingredient-no-bake-peanut-butter-bars/
These are so good. Half are gone already. I did add some chopped pecans an 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. I will have to make some more soon.
love those add-in ideas!
I bet this would be yummy with almond butter also. 🙂
I love the people that say I loved them…I just changed the recipe a bit, and the entire recipe was modified. Hilarious. I always snicker at those ‘changes’. This is a great recipe. As is.
Anyway you can do this recipe without honey? maybe date puree instead??
I don’t have honey, can I substitute with real maple syrup?
LOVE THIS!! Trying these today and could NOT be more excited! I bet adding some cocoa powder to these would be delish, too!
I used Costco organic creamy pb, trader joes honey, and trader joes rolled oats. I didn’t have much honey so I halved the recipe. I heated it up til it was really smooth, and decided to use just one c. of oats to see how well it spreads. It instantly became a pile of dry oat crumbles. Had to keep messing with it to eventually get it to be somewhat soft/smooth and resemble your photos in the slightest, but now there are hardly any oats and my bars are mostly pb filling. What could have been my mistake? I’d really like to try again, but not sure what the problem was.
These are very good…but add the oatmeal abit at a time…then stir….add more etc. Three cup of oats would have been too much for me…the bars would have been too dry. Food is a science and I guess it just depends what brands, types of ingredients are used.
Do you think maple syrup would work instead of honey?
if it’s real maple syrup, it will be a little thinner than honey, so I would add less. If you are using the Aunt Jemima type syrup it will be a fairly equal substitute.