3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars (No bake!)
Hands down, the most simple and easy no bake granola bar recipe made with just 3 healthy ingredients! These peanut butter granola bars are the perfect filling snack or wholesome dessert, and take 5 minutes to make!
3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars Recipe made with oats, peanut butter, and maple syrup. Vegan, Gluten-Free, Refined Sugar Free.
My go-to breakfast all throughout highschool always involved at least these 3 ingredients- oatmeal, peanut butter, and either maple syrup or honey.
While these days breakfasts are STILL very similar, my snacks seem to incorporate them too, in the form of this 3 ingredient no bake granola bars.
It’s funny, as, throughout school and high school, I was NEVER a fan of packaged granola bars. My mum would always pack them for me and 9 times out of 10, they’d still be in my lunch box when I got home.
Now that I’m older and make an effort to have a wholesome, healthy and filling snack between meals, homemade peanut butter granola bars have become my go-to.
Peanut Butter No Bake Granola Bars in 5 Minutes!
When I say these bars are easy and simple to make, I’m not kidding you at all. They literally take 5 minutes to make, and it’s the simple process of just mixing together your ingredients and waiting for them to firm up, either via the fridge or freezer.
They also are healthier than store-bought peanut butter granola bars, and use just 3 simple ingredients, with plenty of ingredient substitution ideas.
These bars have a soft and chewy texture, almost like a thick, portable piece of peanut butter cookie dough! They have a strong peanut butter flavor, and adequate sweetness, without being overpowering.
Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar free, they can easily be made nut-free, too. Packed with protein, fiber, and natural sweetness, who knew something so healthy and wholesome could be delicious too!
How to make 3 Ingredient No Bake Granola Bars
Making these no bake granola bars are ridiculously simple and follow a 3 step process
- Melt your peanut butter and syrup– Either use a microwave-safe bowl or saucepan. Heat up your syrup and peanut butter until warm. Whisk together.
- Mix in the oats– Combine all the ingredients and mix well.
- Transfer to pan and refrigerate– Transfer your mixture into a lined pan and spread out evenly. Refrigerate until firm.
Ingredients and Substitution Ideas
- Rolled Oats (Old fashioned oats)– I used gluten-free oats, to ensure that they are gluten-free. You can use quick-cooking oats (instant oats) or oat bran, but I find those both lack the texture we want.
- Peanut Butter– I get it. Not everyone is a peanut butter lover like me, or is allergic. I’ve got you covered! Other nut-based spreads that work include drippy almond butter or cashew butter. If you’d like these no bake oat bars to be nut-free, use smooth tahini or smooth sunflower seed butter.
- Maple Syrup– Another vegan substitute for maple syrup is agave nectar. It isn’t as sweet but would suffice. If you aren’t strictly vegan, I recommend using honey. As a last resort, you can use brown rice syrup or rice malt syrup, but this isn’t super sweet, and also will yield a more chewy bar.
Can I bake these granola bars?
I wouldn’t try baking these bars, as while the ingredients are bakeable, the proportions used in them aren’t developed to be baked!
You may enjoy oatmeal cookie bars, flourless peanut butter oatmeal cookies, or oatmeal breakfast bars instead.
How to make no bake granola bars stick together
My secret tip for ensuring no bake granola bars stick together is to microwave or heat up (on the stovetop) the peanut butter with syrup (or honey/agave).
Melting them together ensures a smooth, warm, and thin texture, making it easier to mix into bars. Once the bars have been refrigerated, they will be incredibly thick and sturdy!
Storing and Freezing bars
- To store: Place leftover bars in a sealable container and keep in the fridge at all times. They will remain fresh for at least 2 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 Delicious No Bake Snacks you’ll enjoy
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
- Puppy Chow
- 5 Minute Protein Energy Balls
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Cereal Bars
WATCH HOW TO MAKE A SIMILAR RECIPE BELOW
3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Granola Bars (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
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
Key Recipe Equipment and Ingredients
Nutrition
My kids can’t bring nuts into their classroom for snack and these looks great to try as a homemade option 🙂 I have no food allergies but might have a few people allergies, you bring up a good point!
Thanks so much, Michele- IT’s crazy how things have changed!
These are great for kids to bring to school since most schools now are going nut free. I do have some allergies including almonds and walnuts which gets really annoying! It’s not a severe nut allergy but I do need to be careful.
Thank Goodness- I can only imagine candy stores suffering without your consumption 😉 (still in fudge mode)
When I was a kid, I didn’t know anyone who had food allergies. Now it seems like everyone has one! I’m very lucky that I can eat whatever I want. These look delicious and crazy easy!
Right? Hi 5 to us (imagine if tomorrow we both couldn’t eat cheese)
I definitely thought I was allergic to my older brother at times when I was growing up, but it turned out that I was only allergic to grass/dust/pollen. I still avoided him at all costs though.
I love easy/no bake recipes! Keep them coming!
Thanks so much, Heather- Appreciate it!
Hahaha…”Keep quiet and eat pie. Minus the pie.” I love it! I just got back from visiting my sister, and I would have loved to use that line on her. Also, these bars look awesome. I’ve never used sunflower seed butter before, but I am totally intrigued. I need to check it out. And then I need the pie that Niki didn’t eat.
With your sister, I would have kept my mouth shut…Those desserts!!! (I may have stalked her IG).
Loving these oatmeal bars Arman! My kids will too. Can’t believe they are only three ingredients. Delicious!
Hope you try them out on them, Allie 🙂
I’m allergic to people who are allergic to peanut butter.
Kidding, of course. I guess I could live off of sunflower seed butter or almond butter while sneaking spoonfuls of peanut butter in a bush somewhere.
But seriously, these look mighty tasty. Hooray for three ingredients!
Peanut butter is allergic to you. You said you’ve never had a boyfriend before.
I just ran out of the fudge. Okay I just ate 4 pieces of fudge for breakfast and need substitutes now. I love that you used sunbutter as this is the only nut butter I still have at home. Yes I completely ignore that sunflower seeds are no nuts. Luckily I am not allergic to any nuts or seeds so I can afford the ignorance!
So this was basically the longest possible way to say that I am making those tonight 😉
YAYYYYY 😀 And tomorrow’s recipe….have peanut butter ready.
Allergic….yes….to gluten (is that even an allergy?), dairy, eggs, soy, apples, oranges. mangoes, cocoa, coffee, seafood, and intolerant to all types of sugar minus agave and stevia. HELP! But I did used to tell my parents that I was allergic to a popular hardware store chain here in the USA. I used to sneeze every time I went in there so my sis was convinced too!
Oh wow hope that it works out- No sugar? Dang!
Yum! These sound great and I can’t believe how simple they are!
Thanks so much, Rachel! 🙂
No Bake… 3 ingredients… Oat Bars… could this recipe be any more perfect?? I think not!! Making them this weekend.
Thanks so much, Elizabeth- Hope you try it out!
thankfully i dont have any allergies because i love nutzzzzz…:P
these look like something I can whip up because #sweettooth. When are you coming to Dallas?
That’s so good- A life without nuts is delicious! Come visit NYC!
Isn’t it so cool how sunflower seed butter turns stuff green? Apparently, the seeds contain chlorophyll so when it is exposed to air or heat, it turns green! It really is no surprise I’m going into Biology at uni #proudsciencenerd
Right? I’ll never forget the first time I made muffins……and I thought I put spinach in it!
Sadly, I am allergic to dairy, but I would be devastated if I were allergic to nuts! I do love sunflower seed butter, so I will try these as is!
Please do, Jessica 🙂
Haha – too funny Nikki claimed she was allergic to YOU! I’ve have a co-worker who says that to me – guess I shouldn’t share these bars with him!
These sound perfect for back-to school snacks or even after school treats!
Hahahaha good point, Shashi! Thanks heaps 🙂