• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Our Plant-Based World
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About Us
  • Books
  • Juices
  • Categories
  • Mains
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • About Us
    • Books
    • Juices
    • Categories
    • Mains
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » All Recipes

    Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

    Updated: Mar 22, 2024 by Gustavo De Obaldia

    Written by Gustavo De Obaldia

    Do you ever wonder what the best snack is when feeling peckish? Look no further – these healthy Baked chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars are easy to make and offer an irresistibly delicious taste that will leave your taste buds tickled. Combining the creamy richness of peanut butter and the sweetness of chocolate and bananas makes these bars a dreamy and decadent treat while still being nutritious!

    easy healthy chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars.
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe Comments

    These delicious and healthy banana peanut oatmeal bars are perfect for a quick snack or breakfast on the go, made with wholesome ingredients and no added sugar. The recipe is dairy-free and gluten-free so that the whole family can enjoy it.

    These chunky bars are easily customizable! For example, you can use any type of nut butter or seed butter that you prefer.

    Oatmeal bars are a delicious and healthy snack option for vegans who want something sweet and satisfying. Made with oats, peanut butter, maple syrup, and vegan dark chocolate chips, these bars are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings.

    We like to have them as a simple snack while we sip on tea or as a quick breakfast with a cup of pumpkin spice latte or vegan golden milk.

    Jump to:
    • 💚 Why you will love them
    • 🧾 Ingredients
    • 🍽 Equipment
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💡 Top tip
    • 📖  Variations
    • 📚 More oatmeal recipes
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQ
    • 📚 More healthy snack recipes
    • 📋 Recipe
    • 💬 Reviews and Comments

    💚 Why you will love them

    • Easy to make
    • Healthy ingredients
    • Deliciously satisfying
    • Perfect for snacking
    • Vegan-friendly

    🧾 Ingredients

    This baked peanut butter oatmeal is made with just a few delicious ingredients.

    ingredients for chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars.
    • Gluten-free Old-fashioned oats - add texture fiber, iron, and zinc to these oatmeal bars.
    • Raw cocoa - brings color and flavor to an oatmeal bar. If you use vegan chocolate chips, you can skip it, but remember that raw cacao brings not only flavor but also great properties. The cocoanut is an excellent source of antioxidants, iron, and magnesium and provides vitamins B1, C, and E. Its consumption helps improve mental clarity, reduce fatigue and stress levels, provide energy, and help with digestive problems such as constipation.
    • Creamy peanut butter - adds a nutty, creamy taste with protein and healthy fats.
    • Vanilla extract - add depth and flavor.
    • Baking Powder - to achieve a softer texture.
    • Ripe bananas - naturally sweeten the bars and add moisture.
    • Pure maple syrup - increases the sweetness, adds autumn flavors, and is a great natural binding agent.

    Optional ingredients

    optional ingredients for chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars.
    • Baking powder - a rising agent made from cream of tartar, bicarbonate of soda, and usually cornflour - is essential for making cakes and other baked goods light and fluffy. It's also great for adding body to pancakes and muffins. Using a pinch on this recipe helps to make the bars chewy. If you prefer a dense bar, you can skip it.
    • Ground cinnamon - imbues the bars with a warm flavor.
    • Vegan dark chocolate chips - yum! Add another layer of deliciousness with melty and chewy textures.
    • Fine sea salt - helps to balance the flavor of a dish and brings out the natural sweetness in all the ingredients.

    See the recipe card for quantities.

    Substitutions

    Original IngredientSuggested Substitutes
    Rolled OatsSteel-cut oats, Quick oats (Note: Results in a denser and less chunky texture)
    Natural Peanut ButterAlmond butter, Sunflower seed butter, Cashew butter, Hazelnut butter (Nutella-like), (Optional: Skip sea salt if using salted nut butter)
    Vanilla ExtractAlmond extract
    Vegan Chocolate ChipsRaisins, Goji berries, Dried cranberries (Note: Adds chunkiness and a bit of acidity, similar to Cadbury's dried fruit and raisin chocolate candy bar)
    Ground CinnamonNutmeg, Pumpkin pie mix (Note: For a warm spice alternative)
    Maple SyrupAgave syrup, Brown sugar mixed with a tablespoon of melted coconut oil, Homemade date paste (Note: Avoid using refined sugar to maintain moisture)

    🍽 Equipment

    1. Baking pan- you can use any size, like 9" x 9", or 12" x 8". Just try to press the bars to reach a ½" inch thickness.
    2. Bowl - to avoid making a mess and mix all of your ingredients in a single container.
    3. Spatula - to mix and press the oatmeal mixture against the baking dish.
    4. Parchment paper - to line baking pans or wrap food items - is an absolute must in my kitchen. It's great for making clean-up a breeze and keeping the delicate flavors of whatever I'm cooking intact. In addition to being easy to use, it's also environmentally friendly since it's made from natural materials such as manila hemp and cotton fibers.

    🔪 Instructions

    This creamy peanut butter-baked oatmeal involves just a couple of simple steps.

    mash bananas until smooth.

    Step 1: Peel and mash the bananas using a large bowl.

    add peanut butter and mix well with the mashed bananas.

    Step 2: Add the peanut butter.

    stir in the remaining ingredients into the mixing ball.

    Step 3: Stir in the remaining ingredients in the mixing bowl.

    fold well until an uniform dough is formed.

    Step 4: Fold well until a uniform dough is formed.

    spread the mixture evenly onto a pan.

    Step 5: Pour the oatmeal mixture into a prepared baking dish lined with parchment paper.

    optionally press chocolate chips on top.

    Step 6: Press down the oatmeal mixture with the spatula or the bottom of a glass. Spread evenly. Optionally, press chocolate chips on top.

    Hint: I like placing an extra piece of parchment paper on top before pressing.

    Step 7: Bake for 18-25 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

    Let cool down in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before portioning the bars.

    Hint: to make the best out of your ingredients' nutritional benefits, it is better to steam cauliflower than to boil it; otherwise, some of the nutrients will end up in the water.

    single peanut butter oatmeal portion.

    Read on: brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal breakfast and our brown sugar candied walnuts.

    chunky peanut butter oatmeal bars.

    💡 Top tip

    Measure your ingredients accurately. Precision is key in baking, so use a kitchen scale for dry ingredients if you can. This guarantees that the balance of oats, peanut butter, and cocoa powder is just right, leading to the perfect texture and flavor balance.

    Use quality, natural peanut butter. The type of peanut butter you use can significantly impact the bars' flavor and texture. Opt for natural peanut butter with no added sugars or oils for a richer, more authentic peanut taste and a healthier snack.

    Don't overbake. Keep an eye on your oatmeal bars as they bake to prevent them from drying out. They should be slightly soft to the touch when you take them out of the oven; they'll firm up as they cool.

    Let them cool completely before slicing. It's tempting to cut into your chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars right away, but patience pays off. Allowing them to cool completely helps them set, giving you cleaner cuts and a better texture.

    📖  Variations

    • Nuts - add chopped nuts, like almonds, cashews, or walnuts.
    • Coconutty - add three tablespoons of shredded coconut into the oatmeal mixture, or add one tablespoon on top halfway through the baking process.
    • More antioxidants - add two tablespoons of flax meal or chia seeds into the mixture.
    • More bananas - add ½ cup of unmashed additional banana slices. Dried bananas work as well.

    📚 More oatmeal recipes

    If you like oatmeal as an option for a healthy breakfast or snack, you should try our tasty granola, the pumpkin spice granola, our homemade granola bars made with hazelnut butter, and the granola bars made with peanut butter.

    If you like a bowl of creamy and warm goodness, this brown sugar cinnamon oatmeal is for you; otherwise, if you love meal-prepping your breakfast, you can make the oats and chia pudding, an oat milk smoothie with peanut butter, a lemon blueberry or pumpkin overnight oats.

    hand picking a chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bar.

    Hint: you can use cooking spray or olive oil instead of parchment paper.

    🥡 Storage

    Store this and any baked oatmeal recipe using a BPA-free airtight container lined with parchment paper to keep them fresh for up to one week. Enjoy!

    storing chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars in airtight container with parchment paper.

    ❓ FAQ

    Is this a vegan peanut butter-baked oatmeal?

    Yes. There are no animal products used, so they are 100% vegan-friendly. We do not test any of our products on animals, and we only use ingredients that have been ethically sourced from sustainable sources. Our mission is to create a world where people can enjoy delicious plant-based foods without any compromise on taste or quality.

    📚 More healthy snack recipes

    • plate with two empanadas, one of which exposing the apple filling.
      Vegan Apple Empanadas
    • chocolate pumpkin cake portion on a serving plate.
      Vegan Chocolate Pumpkin Cake(No-Bake, Only 5 ingredients!!)
    • Baked Vegan Sherry Pie with a Slice Removed - A fully baked pie with a slice removed, showing the cherry filling and golden crust.
      Vegan Cherry Pie
    • carrot hummus without tahini.
      Creamy Carrot Hummus without Tahini

    ⭐ If you try this recipe, let us know! 💬 Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag us @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram. Cheers!

    📋 Recipe

    easy healthy chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars featured.

    Easy Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

    Author: Gustavo De Obaldia
    These delicious and healthy chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars are perfect for a quick snack or breakfast on the go.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Final Cool Down 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Snack, Sweet
    Cuisine American, Healthy
    Servings 16 bars
    Calories 146 kcal

    Equipment

    glass mixing bowls.
    (affiliate link)
    Glass mixing bowl (affiliate link)
    white ceramic casserole dish.
    (affiliate link)
    Ceramic baking dish (affiliate link)
    potato-masher
    (affiliate link)
    Potato masher (affiliate link)

    Ingredients
     
     

    • ½ cup creamy peanut butter or any nut butter
    • 1 tablespoon cocoa powder raw
    • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
    • 3 ripe bananas 1 ½ cups mashed
    • 3 tablespoons pure maple syrup separated into 1 and 2
    • ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

    Optional (recommended)

    • ½ cup vegan chocolate chips or dried cranberries, raisins
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice, or nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

    Optional variations

    • ½ cup walnuts pecan, almonds, cashews. Chopped.
    • 1 tablespoon flax meal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Directions
     

    • Preheat the oven to 350 ºF (175 ºC) and line a 9"x 9" baking sheet with parchment paper (any pan work, just make sure you press the mix to have a ¼" inch layer)
    • Mash the bananas in a medium bowl until most nice and creamy.
    • Stir in the peanut butter until it combines with the mashed banana.
    • Mix the rolled oats and the remaining ingredients (except for 2 separate tablespoons of maple syrup) until everything is well-combined.
    • Transfer the bar mixture to the prepared baking pan and press it into an even layer.
    • Bake on the center rack of the oven for 18 to 25 minutes or until the edges of the bars are golden-brown.
    • Let cool. Once the bars are fully cooked, remove them from the oven and let them cool for 15-30 minutes before slicing them into the desired shape and serving.
    • Please wait at least 30 minutes before cutting the bars so they don´t crumble. I recommend waiting hours or overnight to ensure they cut well. Don't use a sewed knife. Use a chef´s knife and make sharp cuts.
      If you don´t use chocolate chips, I recommend drizzling a tablespoon of maple syrup on top, to give it an extra sweetness touch.

    Video

    Notes

    You can use any kind of nut butter, such as almond, cashew, and hazelnut/cocoa (AKA Nutella).
    If you like salty chocolate you can sprinkle salt flakes into the mixture before baking it.
     

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 146kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 4gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 85mgPotassium: 171mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg
    Did you make this recipe?Tag @ourplantbasedworld on Instagram and Hashtag it #ourplantbasedworld so we can see what's cooking!!

    Nutritional Disclaimer

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist's advice. See our full Nutritional Disclosure here.

    Affiliate Disclaimer

    Please note that some of the links here are affiliate links, and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. I recommend all of the products listed because they are companies I have found helpful and trustworthy.

    gustavo de obaldia headshot.
    Gustavo De Obaldia
    Website |  + postsBio

    As the lead content writer and recipe developer at Our Plant-Based World, he combines his passion for health and sustainability with a Plant-Based Nutrition Certification to create accessible, delicious vegan recipes. His expertise in plant-based cooking supports the blog's mission of fostering a healthier, environmentally conscious lifestyle through simple and seasonal dishes. His commitment to making vegan cooking enjoyable and inclusive for everyone shines in each recipe and article.

    • Gustavo De Obaldia
      https://ourplantbasedworld.com/author/gustavodeobaldia/
      Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing
    • Gustavo De Obaldia
      https://ourplantbasedworld.com/author/gustavodeobaldia/
      Creamy Carrot Hummus without Tahini
    • Gustavo De Obaldia
      https://ourplantbasedworld.com/author/gustavodeobaldia/
      Easy and Protein-packed Yellow Lentil Wraps
    • Gustavo De Obaldia
      https://ourplantbasedworld.com/author/gustavodeobaldia/
      Juice for Bloating Relief Shots

    More All Recipes

    • Another angle of the vegan shepherd's pie slice on a plate with salad and pickled red cabbage.
      Vegan Sheperd's Pie
    • 12 Plant-Based Recipes for every Chinese Zodiac
    • 6 close up pictures of the soup featured in this round up
      6 Must-Have Cozy Vegan Soups for Chilly Days
    • elegant table set up for thanksgiving with candle sticks and cutleries
      A Plant-Based Thanksgiving: Feast Without the Fowl

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

      Leave us a comment or feedback Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Holly

      February 19, 2023 at 11:51 am

      5 stars
      Very good! We love these bars for snacking and packing in lunches. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Gus

        February 20, 2023 at 8:09 am

        Great use for these bars! thanks for taking the time to review them, Holly!

        Reply
    2. Anna

      February 19, 2023 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      My favourite healthy treat. These choco peanut butter oatmeal bars are the best, easy to prepare and delicious.

      Reply
      • Gus

        February 20, 2023 at 8:08 am

        Very glad you enjoy them, Anna! Thanks for your review!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Natasha and Mitri headshot. Modern Sidebar.

    Welcome To

    Our Plant-Based World!

    Natasha and Mitri here, dishing out a bounty of easy, wholesome and tasty vegan recipes along with some natural alternatives to nourish and care for your hair and skin. Brace yourselves for a delightful journey!

    More about OPBW →

    Trending Recipes

    • crispy mediterranean tofu air fryr recipe fatured.
      Crispy Air Fryer Tofu Nuggets with Mediterranean Marinade

    • Vegan Empanadas
      Vegan Empanadas

    • juice pulp in jar featured.
      What to do with Juice Pulp + Recipes

    • Indian style Brussels sprouts curry featured.
      Indian Style Spiced Brussels Sprouts Curry (Vegan)

    Winter Hits

    • drink to boost immune system, and fight cold and flu
      Drink to boost Immune System, Best Juice for Cold and Flu

    • lemony winter risotto featured
      Lemony Winter Risotto

    • beet carpaccio salad with vinaigrette.
      Beet Carpaccio Salad

    • Coconut pineapple Thai Curry featured image.
      Vegan Coconut Pineapple Thai Curry

    Footer

    Subscribe for latest recipes!

    Sign Up!
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • Accessibility Policy
    • Affiliate Links Disclaimers
    • Nutritional Disclaimer

    ↑ back to top

    Copyright © 2025 Our Plant-Based World

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.