Healthy Peanut Butter Bars

These no-bake bites are incredibly easy to prepare. None of the sweetness or richness required!
Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe Ingredients Needed Recipe Substitutions What a delicious treat! Here’s a recipe that’ll have you hooked: To make these scrumptious peanut butter bars, follow these easy steps: 1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving some overhang for easy removal. 2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup creamy peanut butter and 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened. It’s essential these ingredients are at room temperature; otherwise, the mixture won’t come together smoothly. 3. Next, add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Stir until they’re fully incorporated into the peanut butter mixture. 4. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter. The crumbs should be well coated with butter to prevent them from crumbling during baking. 5. Press the graham cracker mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. You can use your hands or the back of a spoon for this task. 6. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the crust, spreading it smoothly with an offset spatula or knife. Make sure you cover the entire surface. 7. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the bars are lightly golden brown around the edges and set in the center. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. 8. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together beautifully. Enjoy your scrumptious peanut butter bars!Brittany’s Tips How to Store Frequently Asked Questions More Healthy Treats

Indulge in the rich, creamy goodness of these nutritious peanut butter bars – a game-changing snack for dedicated fans of the iconic spread. These no-bake treats are reminiscent of classic homemade peanut butter cups, reimagined in a convenient and effortless bar format that’s sure to please. With its indulgent peanut butter core and velvety-smooth chocolate topping, this bar is a straightforward yet irresistible treat that will leave you wanting more.

These indulgent treats are crafted with an unassuming simplicity, relying on a mere few authentic, high-quality components: rich peanut butter that oozes with each morsel, wholesome oat flour, and the subtle sweetness of genuine maple syrup, allowing you to savor every satisfying bite guilt-free. Indulge in a laid-back culinary experience: simply mix, layer, and refrigerate for effortless enjoyment. If you’re craving additional no-bake indulgences, explore my recipes for wholesome peanut butter balls and revitalizing date energy balls.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

You don’t have to preheat the oven for this recipe. The bars assemble rapidly with minimal effort required. Layering ingredients and allowing the refrigerator to meld flavors is a great approach!
Made with wholesome ingredients such as natural peanut butter, oat flour, and pure maple syrup, these bars offer a nutritious alternative to traditional store-bought snacks.
If you’re a fan of the classic combination of rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter, get ready to indulge in a delightful experience! With its velvety top layer of chocolate-peanut butter, each bite is indulgently rich and utterly satisfying.
– Store these bars well in the refrigerator, perfect for a snack or dessert that can be savored throughout the week.

Ingredients Needed

The true star of the show, shining bright in every bite! You can use Trader Joe’s natural peanut butter with no added sugar, or substitute in another smooth and unsweetened variety for this recipe. Ensure that the syrup is thoroughly blended to achieve a consistent consistency.
naturally sweetens the bars, imbuing them with a rich, subtle caramel-like flavor that perfectly complements the other ingredients.
– helps hold everything together. If you lack oat flour, you can readily substitute it with homemade oat flour, created by blending rolled oats in a food processor until they reach a fine and powdery consistency.
Crushed graham crackers infuse these bars with a delightfully chewy texture and a subtle nod to the timeless charm of traditional s’mores. Approximately 0.2 kilograms of paper products are required to contain 1 standard serving of crushed food particles.
The velvety richness of the chocolate layer crowns the dessert. If you prefer a deeper flavour, consider substituting the semi-sweet chocolate chips with dark or dairy-free alternatives.

Recipe Substitutions

For a peanut-free alternative, consider substituting with almond, cashew, or sunflower seed butter instead. Ensure that the glaze is applied generously to maintain cohesion throughout.
While you can substitute maple syrup with honey or agave to alter the flavour, Considering dietary restrictions, opt for maple or agave sweeteners to ensure a vegan-friendly option when working with honey isn’t feasible.
Almond flour makes an excellent substitute for oat flour, imparting a subtle nutty flavour. The plus side to this recipe: it’s completely free from glutenous elements.

What a delicious treat! Here’s a recipe that’ll have you hooked:

To make these scrumptious peanut butter bars, follow these easy steps:
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil, leaving some overhang for easy removal.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup creamy peanut butter and 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened. It’s essential these ingredients are at room temperature; otherwise, the mixture won’t come together smoothly.
3. Next, add 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Stir until they’re fully incorporated into the peanut butter mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together 2 cups graham cracker crumbs and 1/4 cup melted unsalted butter. The crumbs should be well coated with butter to prevent them from crumbling during baking.
5. Press the graham cracker mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. You can use your hands or the back of a spoon for this task.
6. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the crust, spreading it smoothly with an offset spatula or knife. Make sure you cover the entire surface.
7. Bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the bars are lightly golden brown around the edges and set in the center. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean.
8. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together beautifully.

Enjoy your scrumptious peanut butter bars!

Processing graham crackers in a food processor fitted with the S-blade, I continue to pulse until their texture transforms into fine crumbs.

Combine peanut butter, maple syrup, crushed graham crackers, and oat flour in a mid-sized mixing bowl. Stir until combined.

Microwave chocolate chips in 30-second increments, stirring well between each interval, until smooth, then blend with peanut butter.

Use your palms to gently press the peanut butter mixture into a square-shaped baking dish, striving for uniformity by smoothing out any wrinkles or ridges that may form. Melted chocolate mixture poured generously atop the creamy peanut butter layer. Allow the dessert to chill in the refrigerator for at least one to two hours to allow the flavors to meld together and the texture to set, before cutting it into bite-sized squares and serving.

Brittany’s Tips

– The drippier, the better! Using a smooth, naturally sweetened peanut butter without any added sugars yields the most favorable results in this context. If the batter is overly viscous, you’ll encounter difficulty combining all the ingredients smoothly.
By firmly pressing the peanut butter mixture into the pan, ensure a cohesive texture for your bars. To avoid sticky fingers and successfully flatten your paper, consider placing a sheet of parchment paper on top.
Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave using 30-second increments to prevent overheating and potential burning. Stir in between – a gentle reminder to avoid overheating precious chocolate by stirring frequently, as it burns quickly and none of us want to sacrifice its rich flavor to the hazards of a scorching microwave.
– Patience, friends! Allow the bars to chill in the refrigerator for a duration of at least one to two hours prior to slicing. This ensures that the fruit is precisely firm, allowing for effortless cutting into uniform squares with minimal risk of a messy, gooey aftermath.

How to Store

Store your homemade peanut butter bars in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 7 days for optimal freshness. These snacks will remain conveniently accessible, poised to meet your sudden cravings with a swift grab-and-go solution at any moment.

– These bars freeze beautifully! To store them effectively, place the items in a single layer on a baking sheet, allowing them to freeze initially before transferring them to an airtight container or freezer bag for long-term storage. Frozen for up to three months. Simply store them in the refrigerator for a later indulgence or allow them to come to room temperature whenever you’re ready to savor their deliciousness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Crushing graham crackers with a food processor or a rolling pin in a plastic bag makes the task incredibly swift. To achieve the optimal texture, carefully grind the ingredients to a precise consistency.

Semi-sweet and dark chocolate chips are excellent options, but feel free to experiment with milk chocolate or dairy-free alternatives for a unique twist. Ensure that the chosen chocolate has excellent melting properties and harmonizes seamlessly with peanut butter’s rich flavor profile.