TikTok Oatmeal Bars

No bake TikTok oatmeal bars with peanut butter and chocolate are our newest obsession. Like our lunch lady bars with the addition of Old Fashioned oats. A sweet treat for breakfast or dessert, they’re packed with protein.

No Bake Oatmeal Bars Recipe

There are no nut allergies in this house so we eat a lot of creamy peanut butter. If you do need nut free but want to try these too you could substitute it for sunflower butter. The consistency may be a little bit different and may need to be frozen longer but other than that you should be good to go.

Want to cut the calories a bit, leave out the chocolate. A good alternative for that could be dried cranberries. That will add a different trail mix sort of flavor to it, and texture.

If you want to start baking with kids these are great start to that tradition. They can say “I made it myself” and be more inclined to continue on to other dishes. Mine love watching videos on this social media channel and made these after Tik Tok Korean Cucumber Salad which they loved too.

Can I make oats without cooking?

Yes, make these with them!! Since this grain is not being boiled or cooked in any way it has a lot of grit and chew to it. Of course you can make a batch of boiled Instant Pot oatmeal with them but since these are not cooked at all they pack a lot more nutrition and fiber in each bite this way.

Is it OK to eat old-fashioned oats raw?

Yes you can, you may have made peanut butter oatmeal cookies or porridge before but you can add them to no bake recipes like this one too. When left alone they are actually more fibrous which helps lower cholesterol and creates more of a chew to your treats.

Raw Oats Nutrition

The nutrition is different when left alone. As you can imagine, raw oats maintain all the fiber (8 grams per cup) you want to lower your cholesterol and keep you regular. That’s important too. 😉 It packs 11 grams of protein in each serving too!

The only downside to consuming it this way vs. cooked is the calorie content. It is about double if not boiled with water. You have to weigh which is more important to you for your diet really. The other popular way you can keep it whole in a sense is when you make simple overnight oats. That isn’t cooked either but is mixed with milk.

My middle daughter actually made this batch, and the ones before it. Each one was tweaked slightly to get it to the perfect consistency, tested with different add ins, and timed to know exactly how long (or short) it needed in the freezer before it could be sliced.

Ingredients

1. Old fashioned oats not instant
2. Honey for sweetness
3. Creamy peanut butter seems to work best
4. A pinch of salt will make all the flavors more intense
5. Cinnamon is optional
6. Semi sweet chocolate chips or dried cranberries can be added into the mix

What is the best way to melt chocolate chips?

For the top drizzle on your energy bars, you’ll want CHOCOLATE, follow our how to melt chocolate chips in the microwave for that. If you’ve ever tried to do this and it becomes a hard clumpy mess, this hack when adding a bit of coconut oil will fix all of that!

How to make oatmeal bars stick together

Peanut butter and/or honey are great ways to keep everything together so you can slice into squares and pick them up to enjoy. There is NO need to bake these protein bars. Another step to have success is to stick your pan for 15 minutes in the freezer when done. It is best to keep them there and take out one at a time to enjoy.

How to Make No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars

• Get out a large bowl and mix together all ingredients EXCEPT your chocolate chips and coconut oil. Blend just until oats are well coated.
  • I typically add 1 cup peanut butter and test
  • if it isn’t coated well enough I add the remaining 1/4 cup
  • Now is when you would stir in 1/2 c. of your chips, raisins, or dry cranberries into the mix
• Line a square 8×8 pan with parchment paper. Dump out and press this mixture inside so it is the same thickness all the way across.
• Put peanut butter mixture into the freezer for at least 15 minutes.
• Pour remaining 1/4 cup of chocolate chips and your coconut oil on top.
  • Microwave for 1 minutes, stir and add 30 seconds if necessary until it is smooth without any chunks.
• Take cooled bars out of freezer and drizzle chocolate on to the top. Freeze again for another 15 minutes.
• Lift out parchment paper with mix on top and use a knife, cutting into bars that are easy to pick up. Makes about 12 equal oat bar pieces.

We made haystacks recipe a few years back in a similar way. Enjoy right now as a snack. If you don’t eat every piece then slide into a freezer bag and lay into the freezer again. When you want another piece take one out but leave remainder zipped in the freezer to keep their shape.

How long can you keep homemade oat bars?

Since we keep these in the freezer when done they will last for a few months if stored properly. You can leave in the pan but a lot of air will get trapped unless wrapped totally in foil. I will freeze, break apart the bars, put those in a freezer bag and then take one out at a time. If left in the fridge they’d need to be consumed within the week.

This is not a one time try Oatzempic type of recipe where you drink a wierd cinnamon oatmeal drink once and never again. This will be a win for your fam for sure.

The cold air is what is setting these up so you can pick them up in a bar or square shape. If you leave them out it will warm and at room temperature it will look like it did when you mixed it in your bowl. That is why you need to keep them in the cold always.

If you are looking for a few more snacks for your kids, in the morning we’ve make a batch of oatmeal raisin muffins or Costco chocolate muffins for everyone.

Chocolate chips and peanut butter are also used to make scotcheroos. That requires a bit of boiling the setting ingredients but doesn’t need the heat of an oven either.