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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I just made the bars , my husband loves them . I added 1/3 cup of unsweetened shredded coconut , 1/3 cup roasted walnuts and 1/4 cup cranberries . I used half smooth and half chunky organic peanut butter …very easy and quick bars with no preservatives …keep them frozen when you need them just get them out of the freezer .
Love these!!!! I added a little agave, coconut oil and flavored oats to these it was amazing thank you!!!
Sooooo delicious!!! I love how the honey and peanut butter stand out while the oats give it texture!
I made it exactly as the instructions indicate, and they came out just fine! I was prepared to put in less oats, but 3 c. were definitely needed. I did press the mixture into the pan, too. Like rice crispy treats, this keeps them moist and chewy. I can taste the honey as well as the peanut butter…so good and easy!
I made these for girl scouts a loonnnggg time ago. They’re so good! I was just wondering if you really need honey. Would it be possible to do it without it? I would even do it if it wouldn’t be hard, without putting it in the fridge.
These look amazing and I will definitely try them, do you have the calorie information on a serving size you suggest?
It automatically put 5 stars but this recipe is a 1 star. I made these and they turned out bad!!! Turns out 3 cups of oats to 1 cup of peanut butter was not a good ratio. The mixture was dry! Must be a typo. I will try again but with 1 cup of peanut butter to 1 1/3 cup of Oates.
These were wonderful! My boys couldn’t get enough of them! Thanks!
Ok, so this recipe is bogus.
First of all, it says it makes 20 squares. The problem is that if you use a square 9×9 pan you would have to cut the bars either 4 rows by 4 rows which would make 16 squares or cut it 5 rows by 5 rows which of course would make 25 squares. There is no way to get 20 square bars from a 9×9 pan. You could only get rectangles, yet all the pictures are of square bars.
Secondly, I’m making this right now. I had to use equal parts oats and peanut butter to get a good consistency.
I just bought so many extra oats for no reason.
I’m pretty sure the person who posted this stole it from a cookbook and didn’t bother to actually try it out for themselves.
Hi there… I posted this recipe, have made it so many times and the pictures you see are what I made in my own kitchen of these bars using this very recipe. Sorry you had trouble, but it sounds like you worked it out in the end.
Why worry about size as long as they taste good? Quit complaining!
Does anyone know the calorie count or sugar per bar we are trying to find healthy snack