Oatmeal Bars Recipe inspired by Nature Valley’s soft baked bars, but even better homemade with a thick, chewy texture and rich peanut butter flavor.
author’s note
Homemade Oatmeal Bars That Beat the Box!
When I road tripped to California (DISNEY!!!) with my family a few years back, I grabbed a stash of snacks for the drive. One of them was Nature Valley’s® Peanut Butter Oatmeal Squares.
I’m usually a traditional granola bar girl, but I was instantly hooked on how soft these were and how strong the peanut butter flavor was. I also couldn’t help thinking I could make them even better at home. Or at least with better ingredients 🙂.
After a little testing, I finally got it right, and honestly, I’m way more excited than I probably should be about this recipe. These bars turned out so much better than anything from the store.
I’m truly obsessed. Like best breakfast bar I’ve ever had and I don’t say that lightly. They’re soft, chewy, and taste like a cross between a peanut butter cookies and oatmeal, but they’re made with minimal refined sugar, no flour, and plenty of peanut butter to keep them filling with a boost of protein.
Oatmeal Bars Recipe Ingredients
| Ingredient Group | Helpful Tip |
|---|---|
| Peanut Butter | Use creamy peanut butter for the smoothest texture and best binding. Avoid no-stir peanut butters since they can be inconsistent in baking. |
| Sweeteners | Honey adds chew and moisture while brown sugar boosts that classic soft baked flavor. |
| Oats and Oat Flour | Old fashioned oats give structure while oat flour keeps the bars tender. Measure oat flour after blending up the whole oats. |
| Egg and Vanilla | These help bind the bars and add richness. Make sure the egg is at room temp for easier mixing. |
| Peanut Butter Chips | This Oatmeal Bars recipe is easy to switch up by using semi sweet, milk, or dark chocolate chips instead. |
Featured Comment
“These are so good! My family loves them and they never last in our house. Definitely recommend!”
– Lu
How To Make This Oatmeal Bars Recipe
- Prep pan: Heat oven to 325°F and line a pan with parchment, leaving an overhang.
- Mix batter: Beat until smooth, then gently fold in the chips.
- Bake: Spread evenly and bake until edges are lightly golden and the center is set.
- Cool: Let bars cool completely in the pan so they fully set.
- Slice: Lift out using the parchment and cut into bars.
The BEST Baking Pan!
My Favorite Pan
I swear by this 8 x 8-inch pan when baking. It’s made from heavy aluminized steel, which means heat spreads quickly and consistently so you don’t get burnt edges or underbaked centers. The corrugated bottom helps with airflow and release, so bars lift out clean and bake with the perfect texture.
Storage
Let bars cool completely, then wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap. Store at room temperature for 2 to 3 days or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
More Easy Snack Recipes:
Oatmeal Bars
Video
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (like Skippy)
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup old-fashioned oats
- 1/2 cup oat flour (blended oats) see note 2
- 1 cup peanut butter baking chips
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter optional
Instructions
- Heat oven to 325°F and line an 8 x 8-inch pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
- Add all ingredients except the peanut butter chips to a large bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth, then gently fold in the chips with a spatula.
- Spread batter evenly in the pan and bake for 18 to 25 minutes until the edges are lightly golden and the center is set with very little jiggle.
- Remove bars from the oven and let cool completely in the pan so they fully set.
- Optional: For extra peanut butter flavor, place 1/4 cup peanut butter in a small resealable bag, snip a small corner, and drizzle over the bars.
- Lift out using the parchment and cut into 16 bars with a sharp knife.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I really liked the Nature Valley bars, but my body didn’t agree with the chicory root fiber. I will definitely be trying these!
Hope you love this recipe!
Just tried this recipe and it’s so delicious. Just like Natures Valley without all the chemicals.
So glad to hear you enjoyed these bars! Thank you for the comment 🙂
I was looking for a Nature Valley copycat recipe, when i found yours. The only question I have is can you replace the old fashion oats with quick oats? Thanks in advance.
Sorry, no. They don’t work the same in this recipe; quick oats act more like flour and will make the bars dry
Made these last night they are amazing ! Super simple & quick . My teenage son and I think they are better than nature valley ones!! Thanks so much for sharing.
I am thrilled to hear this! Thanks so much Laurie! 🙂
I’ve made this recipe 5 or 6 times this month! So delicious.
So happy you’ve enjoyed these 🙂
Made these yesterday and they are AMAZING. Didn’t add peanut butter or chocolate chips. Next time might skip the brown sugar as I’m not a fan of anything too sweet. Loved how soft and chewy they are. Way better than the packaged store oatmeal bars!
So happy to hear you enjoyed these! 🙂 Thanks Maja!
I mean, didn’t add peanut butter chips! Definitely added actual peanut butter! Haha
Hi Chelsea. Can these bars be made ahead of time and frozen? Would like to make for road trips! Thank you for the wonderful recipe, I can’t wait to have my kids try them out!
Absolutely! I would just freeze them in an airtight bag and leave out to defrost the night before the road trip! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Sounds yummy. Do you think it would be possible to add some protein powder?
Without personally testing, I’m not sure. I think you’d need to add in some additional wet ingredients so it wouldn’t be too dry.
I tried these minus the PB chips simply because I forgot to buy them but the bar was very sweet and filling!! My husband thought it was just okay but I enjoyed it! Also, I’ve decided to keep them in the fridge as they were crumbly and after being in the fridge all night helped a lot with that! If you’re looking for something sweet without feeling super guilty, this is the way to go! I grabbed it on my way out the door this morning and was satisfied till lunch. Thank you for the recipe!!
Ahh i’m soo happy to hear this! These are some of my favorite grab and go breakfasts as well. Thanks for your comment Anna! 🙂
I live abroad… so unfortunately Nature’s Valley isn’t readily available to me. 🙁 So you can imagine that I was soooo excited when I found this recipe after my box went empty! Made them today and they came out great!! These are totally going to be my crack snack haha. Thanks!!
Didn’t have peanut butter cups so I just added 1/2 cup milk chocolate chopped up and 1/2 cup chunky PB. Worked fine!
Oh yea, and you were right. They ARE crumbly.
I’m thrilled that you enjoyed these! 🙂 Thanks for the comment Caryn!