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These no bake oatmeal bars are thick, soft, chewy, and made with just 3 ingredients. I love how customizable they are!
Keen on more healthy snacks? Try my larabars, apricot delight, and peanut butter protein balls!
Inspired by my healthy granola bars, I made a no-bake version using the same wholesome ingredients. The results speak for themselves: soft, chewy, flavorful bars made to be enjoyed in minutes.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Cost-effective. Is it just me, or are granola bars getting more expensive every day? These no bake oatmeal bars are made with simple ingredients you probably already have on hand, and they cost a fraction of the price of store-bought bars.
- Just 3 ingredients. Honestly, these could not be any easier!
- Easy to customize. Switch up the base ingredients or add an endless number of mix-ins. There’s no limit to how you can jazz up these bars.
- They make the perfect no-bake snack. Like homemade protein bars, these bars are perfect for breakfast, a midday snack, or a post-workout treat.
Ingredients needed
- Rolled Oats– I used gluten-free old-fashioned oats to ensure that they were gluten-free. You can use quick-cooking oats (AKA instant oats) or oat bran, but I find that both lack the texture we want.
- Peanut Butter– Smooth and creamy peanut butter with no added sugar. If you don’t want to use peanut butter, any nut butter, like almond butter or cashew butter, will work.
- Maple Syrup– Gives the oatmeal bars sweetness and holds them all together.
How to make no bake oatmeal bars
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Prep. Line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
Step 2- Combine ingredients. In a microwave-safe bowl or saucepan over low heat, melt the peanut butter with syrup. Add the oats and stir until fully incorporated.
Step 3- Shape. Pour the peanut butter mixture into the prepared pan and press firmly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up before slicing into bars.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Leave some parchment paper sticking out. So they’re easier to pop out of the baking dish when it’s time to slice.
- Melt the peanut butter and maple syrup together. This will guarantee a smooth, warm, and thin texture, making shaping the bars easier and making them much thicker and sturdier.
- Make them nut-free. To make these bars nut-free, swap the peanut butter for sunflower seed butter or tahini (or try nut-free granola bars).
- Adjust the consistency. Depending on the other ingredients, sometimes my bar mixture doesn’t develop the right consistency. If your bar mixture is super thick, add a splash of almond milk. If they’re thin, add 1-2 tablespoons of almond flour or coconut flour.
- Use a warm, sharp knife. To make cutting the bars more manageable, run the knife under hot water, dry it, then clean it between each slice.
Flavor variations
As much as I love the OG bars, sometimes I want to jazz them up with fun mix-ins. Here are some ideas:
- Drizzle with chocolate. Melt chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl, then drizzle them over the bars before letting them set in the fridge.
- Make a layered bar. Top the bars with a mixture of melted chocolate and peanut butter, then pour it over the oat mixture and let it set in the fridge.
- Add dried fruit. Like raisins, dried cranberries, or dried blueberries.
- Or experiment with different mix-ins. Like chopped-up chocolate, candy bars, M&Ms, or crushed cookies.
Swap the nut butter. Try homemade Nutella, protein cookie butter, or Biscoff cookie spread.
Storage instructions
To store: Place leftover bars in a sealable container and keep them in the fridge at all times. They will remain fresh for at least two weeks.
To freeze: Chill your bars and then freeze them by placing them in a ziplock bag. They will keep well frozen for up to 6 months.
More healthy snack recipes to try
3 Ingredient No Bake Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats gluten-free, if necessary
- 1 cup peanut butter * See notes
- 1/2 cup maple syrup ** See notes
Instructions
- Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl or stovetop, melt the peanut butter with syrup until combined. Add the oats and mix well, until fully incorporated.
- Transfer the mixture into the lined pan and press into it firmly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, to firm up, before slicing into bars.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published July 2015, updated April 2021, and republished April 2024
Easy and awesome.. 2 of my favorite combinations!!!!!
1/2 cup maple syrup .can you use honey 3 Ingredient No Bake Oatmeal Bars
Yes you can!
Awesome! So easy and prefer to make these as a snack for myself and my kids.
I eat one each afternoon or between my customers who are horses. I’m a farrier 🐎🙌
I see you store these in the fridge, but how are they if packed in an unrefrigerated lunchbox for a couple hours? I’d also love to add protein powder to the mix…have you tried this?
Yes it’s fine- the prior chilling time keeps them firm. And yes- def add protein powder, I typically add 1/4 cup and some water/milk if the mixture is too crumbly.
Not sure why mine didn’t firm up but it tasted fantastic as a cereal. The next time, I plan to be more accurate in my measurements and use a bit less oats which may be the problem. What do you think?
Sure! They are quite sturdy, but some brands could impact how they set etc 🙂
Would honey work? I always have that on hand.
Absolutely!
I am going to try the original recipe (as my child has IBS), but just interested if can you substitute golden syrup for maple syrup?
Yes you can!