Simple 7-Ingredient Recipe

Golden Peanut Butter Oat Bars

A chewy-crisp, sweet-salted snack bar you can whip up with nothing but pantry staples.

Estimated time
Prep: 10 minutes
Bake: 18–20 minutes
Cool: 15 minutes
Total: ≈45 minutes

The 7 ingredients

1. 1½ cups quick-cook or old-fashioned rolled oats
2. ½ cup creamy peanut butter
3. ⅓ cup honey (or maple syrup)
4. 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil)
5. ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
6. ½ tsp ground cinnamon
7. ¼ tsp fine salt

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Line an 8-inch square pan with a strip of parchment, leaving “handles” to lift the bars out later.
2. In a medium bowl, stir together the oats, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In a small microwave-safe bowl, gently warm the peanut butter, honey, and melted butter for about 20 seconds—just until pourable. Stir until smooth.
4. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oats and fold with a spatula until every flake is coated. The mix will be sticky and thick.
5. Tip the mixture into the prepared pan. Press it down very firmly and evenly—use the bottom of a measuring cup or damp fingers to compact it well (this helps the bars hold together).
6. Sprinkle chocolate chips over the top and lightly press them in so they adhere.
7. Bake for 18–20 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center looks set.
8. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then lift out by the parchment handles and cut into 8–12 bars while still slightly warm. Let cool completely to firm up.

Serve as breakfast-on-the-go, an afternoon pick-me-up, or crumble over yogurt for a speedy dessert. Bars keep 5 days airtight or up to a month in the freezer.