These 5 ingredient peanut butter bars couldn’t be easier to make. They are fudgy and delicious and taste a bit like a Reece’s peanut butter cup!
It is no secret that I’m a massive nut fan! And peanut butter with chocolate is the ultimate combination, in my opinion.
I’m also a fan of quick, nutritious no-bake snacks, and these peanut butter bars tick all the boxes.
It’s a great recipe to make ahead. The bars will last for up to 10 days in the fridge. They can be frozen too! They are perfect for easy post-work, after-school treats or for an easy dessert.
Are peanut butter bars easy to make?
With just five ingredients, they are super simple to put together.
The first step is to make the base. Simply mix oats with smooth peanut butter and maple syrup (and some optional coconut oil). This will form the dough for your base. Press this dough into a loaf pan and refrigerate whilst you melt some chocolate.
Next, melt the dark chocolate and mix through some peanut butter until fully combined. Pour on top of the base.
Finally, you can add some optional peanuts to the top of the bars. Pop the bars in the fridge to harden and you are good to go.
How to make an easy chocolate fudge topping
Making a fudgy chocolate topping couldn’t be easier. By adding peanut butter to the melted dark chocolate ensures it has a much softer, fudgier texture. Just ensure the peanut butter is fully mixed in to the melted chocolate then pour on top of the base.
Once refrigerated it will harden. However, it won’t be as hard as just chocolate. This means that the bars will be easier to cut. It also adds to the peanut butter flavour of the finished bar.
Are these 5 ingredient peanut butter bars nutritious?
They have about 6g of protein per mini bar so are a great snack for keeping your hunger at bay!
They also have lots of healthy fats from the peanut butter and contain 3g of fibre per small bar.
What makes even more nutritious is what they don’t contain! There are no emulsifiers, no thickeners or artificial colours or sweeteners in these homemade bars.
The 5 easy ingredients you will need are:
- Peanut butter
- Oats
- Maple syrup
- Dark chocolate
- Coconut oil
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is definitely the main ingredient! It can get a bad press but I’m still a fan! If preferred you can, of course, sub for another nut butter. Peanut butter is a great source of protein, healthy fats, and fibre. Try and opt for a natural, organic one – it should only contain nuts and maybe some salt. Avoid the ones with extra sweeteners and oils, if possible.
Oats
Again this can be a controversial ingredient for some! Lots of people love them but there are many haters! Oats are a whole grain, which means they are packed with fibre. Fibre is crucial for digestive health. Oats are also a good source of complex carbohydrates, which provide a steady release of energy. Additionally, oats are rich in essential minerals like manganese, phosphorus, and magnesium, all of which play roles in bone health and energy production. Try and buy organic if you can – oats are renowned for being heavily sprayed with pesticides.
Maple Syrup
You can use any liquid sweetener for these bars, but I love the flavour you get from maple syrup. It’s not just about flavour though—maple has some great nutritional benefits too. Unlike white sugar, maple syrup contains antioxidants. It’s also a source of essential minerals like zinc and manganese.
Dark Chocolate
For the topping I’ve used a 70% dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, as well as being a source of iron, magnesium, and copper. Perhaps more importantly though – it contains less refined sugar than other chocolates. If you are vegan, just check there is no milk. Some brands still put a small % of milk in their dark bars.
Coconut Oil
I’ve added a bit of coconut oil as it can help keep the bars solid after refrigeration. It’s only 1 tbsp so you have leave out if you prefer. Your bars may be a little crumblier when cutting, but they will stay taste amazing. I prefer coconut oil as it is solid at room temperature (so helps with hardening). It’s a saturated fat so you don’t want lots and lots of it. However, it has antimicrobial properties due to its lauric acid content, which can help boost your immune system, so it one of my preferred fat sources.
Storage and Shelf Life
Once prepared, refrigerate these 5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Bars for about an hour until firm. Once they have firmed up, you can cut into small bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 10 days.
If you prefer a firmer texture, you can store them in the freezer, where they’ll keep for up to three months. This makes them a great option for prepping ahead. Just ensure to take a bar out of the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for a while, to soften slightly.
Try them for yourself and let me know what you think in the comments!
Recipe Tips
- I use gluten-free rolled oats for these bars. I like to toast the oats in the oven for 10 minutes before making but this is entirely optional. I just think it gives them a slightly nuttier flavour. If you would rather avoid oats you can use buckwheat or millet flakes instead.
- I grind 1 cup of the oats into flour. This isn’t compulsory but I think it helps with the finished texture. If you are using oat flour rather than grinding your own oats, just use about two-thirds of a cup. You can replace this with protein powder or with ground almonds, if you prefer.
- I have used peanut butter but if you prefer another nut or seed butter, then please substitute with that. Just keep the quantities the same. Try and use quite a smooth and runny one so the base is sticky as you mix it. If it doesn’t seem very sticky as you mix with the other ingredients, then add a little more so it comes together.
- I have used dark chocolate which is at least 70% cocoa solids. This way it’s more chocolatey and less sugary! The base is sweet so the dark chocolate balances this out beautifully.
- If you want them slightly less sweet, then reduce the maple syrup and add a little more nut butter. The maple not only adds a sweeter, but it adds to the flavour and texture of the bars.
If you enjoyed these peanut butter bars, why not try these other nutty recipes?
3 Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
Base ingredients:
- ½ cup smooth, natural peanut butter (120g)
- 2 cup oats grind one cup into flour (160g)
- ⅓ cup maple syrup (80ml)
- 1 tbsp coconut oil melted
Topping ingredients:
- 100 g dark chocolate
- 3 tbsp smooth, natural peanut butter
- Peanuts to top optional
Instructions
- To make the base, grind half the oats into a flour and mix with all the other base ingredients until fully combined.
- Press the mix into a greased, lined loaf tin. Press down so it is tightly packed. Refrigerate whilst you make the topping.
- For the topping, melt the chocolate in a bowl over a pan of hot water. Stir through the peanut butter and mix together. Pour onto the base and smooth out so fully covered. Top with some optional peanuts. Refrigerate again. After an hour you can cut into bars.
Notes
- Store in the fridge, to keep them nice and hard, and they will last for about 10 days.
- They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
- I use gluten-free rolled oats for this recipe. I like to toast the oats in the oven for 10 minutes before making but this is entirely optional.
- I have used smooth peanut butter in this recipe. If you prefer another nut or seed butter, then please substitute with that. Just keep the quantities the same.
- The coconut oil in the base is optional. However, I think it helps keep the base less crumbly.
These sound amazing. Can’t wait to try them.
Thanks! Let me know what you think once you’ve made them.
Tried this recipe. Love it. Turn out great . I did toast oats a bit (it adds to flavor and texture) . Did not have coconut oil , so I did without it. Used toasted pumpkin seeds in a chocolate topping instead of peanuts as did not have it either . Turned out great Thank you for recipe 🙂👍
Glad you liked them. And great idea with the pumpkin seeds.
Can I substitute almond flour instead of oats?
I haven’t tested it with almond flour but probably yes.
This is so good! I used see butter mix from Costco and walnuts on top (no peanuts in the house because of an allergy).
The recipe is a keeper.
Amazing! So glad you liked them! And love the swaps too.
These are amazing!! I’ve made the three times!
Glad you are enjoying them!
Merveilleuse recette, j’ai adoré! Surtout avec du sirop d’érable du Québec! Merci! 🙂
Thank you! Yes I bet that tastes lovely with Quebec maple syrup!
Made them today. So delicious! I backed off the maple syrup a bit and put a squeeze of date syrup as I love the richness. I will toast the oats next time. My husband raced!!!
So glad you liked them! And yes if I have time, I like to toast the oats too.