These No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Energy Bars are full nuts, dried fruit and are sweetened with a bit of maple syrup. The peanut butter oatmeal bars are a great addition to your list of healthy snacks for kids!
Though my kids don’t even want to think about it, back to school time is almost here. We’ve gone school shopping for supplies and clothes, which the kids didn’t enjoy that much. Now we’ve moved on to the one part of back-to-school that the kids do enjoy – planning new recipes for their lunches and after school snacks.
Finding healthy snacks for kids that they actually enjoy is not always an easy task. My kids are open to trying almost anything but, of course, prefer things that taste like a sugary treat while I want them eating something nutritious and healthy.
Is oatmeal and peanut butter good for you?
Yes! As I’m sure you guessed from the “healthy” above, oatmeal and peanut butter make a nutritious and healthy combo that help fill you up just by eating a small amount.
These peanut butter oatmeal bars satisfy both of us. They love peanut butter and the honey makes these sweet while the oats help provide them with a long-lasting energy boost that helps keep them focused during sports and homework.
They’re usually starving when they get home from school so keeping a container of these healthy no bake peanut butter oatmeal bars in the fridge means they’re reaching for something nutritious when otherwise they’d be wanting a sugary processed treat.
I won’t lie, though, I personally love these peanut butter oatmeal bars myself. Sometimes my day gets so hectic that I find myself borderline hangry by 3pm so I’ll grab one of these to hold me over to dinner.
The best part of all is that these healthy no bake peanut butter oatmeal bars is that they’re so simple to make, with no baking required, you’ll find yourself reaching for them whenever you need a quick pick-me-up snack!
The hardest part is just waiting for them to cool so we can eat them!
If you’re on the lookout for easy and healthy snacks for kids, definitely give these peanut butter oatmeal bars a shot!
More simple and Healthy Snack Ideas for kids:
- Easy Green Smoothie Popsicles
- Banana Nut Chia and Yogurt Parfait
- Baked Apple Chips
- 3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Dip
- Healthy Banana and Oatmeal Cookies (no butter, sugar, flour or dairy)
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Peanut Butter and Oat Energy Bars
This No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Energy Bars Recipe is easy to make, filling and is a great addition to your list of healthy snacks for kids!
Ingredients
- 1 cup, plus 2 tbsp creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 cups (cooled) toasted rolled oats (lightly toasted in a dry nonstick skillet over medium-high heat on your stovetop, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until they are golden brown.
- ½ cup craisins (or other dried fruit)
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (or your favorite nut)
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch pan with parchment paper (leave extra hanging over the side for easy removal from the pan)
- Lightly coat parchment with cooking spray.
- Add peanut butter and maple syrup to a large bowl, cover, and heat in the microwave for about 2 minutes, stirring at the halfway mark until they are thoroughly melted and mixed together.
- Stir in oats craisins, nuts and salt. Make sure all ingredients are thoroughly coated with the peanut butter mixture. (If not thoroughly mixed, you run the risk of the bar being a bit crumbly.)
- Spread mixture into pan and press firmly.
- Refrigerate til cold (at least an hour.)
- Remove from pan and cut into squares.
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Jeanne says
Bars came out great. Forgot to toast the oats but was delicious. Will toast oats next time.
★★★★★
Kristen Rhudy says
I’m confused on the oats. Do they need to be cooked first as the box says before toasting or toast raw oats?
Jamie says
just toast the raw oats
caitlyn says
This’s such an attracting blog and nice recipe. I will try doing this bake tommorrow..
★★★★★