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6-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal bars/ flapjacks are sweet and salty, soft and chewy, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and a crowd-pleasing breakfast or snack!

completed Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars [Flapjacks] on a white surface
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Sweet and Salty 6-Ingredient Peanut Butter Oat Bars

For fans of oatmeal cookies and Rice Krispie treats, these peanut butter oatmeal bars (also called peanut butter flapjacks) fall somewhere in between. Now, with the rich and creamy addition of peanut butter, they are a truly moreish, sweet, salty, ‘buttery’, soft, chewy, yet somehow melt-in-the-mouth treat.

Best of all, theyโ€™re one of the simplest snacks to throw togetherโ€”even kids can get involved. All you need are 6 simple, inexpensive ingredients (you can easily adapt them with your favorite mix-ins), a few minutes of prep, and 15 minutes of baking time.

Enjoy these grab-and-go peanut butter flapjacks at potlucks, parties, in lunch boxes, and at home โ€“ theyโ€™ll be gone in minutes! You might also enjoy PB sandwich cookies, chocolate peanut butter pretzel bars, and peanut butter granola bars.

The Ingredients and Substitutes

ingredients for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars [Flapjacks] measured out on a white surface
  • Quick oats: If necessary, use certified gluten-free oats. Rolled oats also work for a chewier texture (or a blend of both) in this peanut butter flapjacks recipe.
  • Peanut butter: Itโ€™s best to use creamy peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, though youโ€™ll need a little extra of the latter), as thereโ€™s less chance of it separating than natural peanut butter. Other nut butter โ€“ like almond butter – may work, too.
  • Vegan butter: Use good quality vegan butter, like Miyokoโ€™s or Earth Balance, for vegan peanut butter flapjacks. Avoid low-fat/margarine-style options.
  • Golden syrup: Use golden syrup to make a classic peanut butter flapjacks recipe, or enjoy them with unrefined maple syrup or agave.
  • Sugar: We used turbinado sugar, though demerara sugar, light brown sugar, or coconut sugar also work.
  • Cinnamon: This complements peanut butter particularly well, though you could use chai spice or pumpkin pie spice instead.
  • Salt: (optional) To balance and enhance the flavors in these peanut butter and oat bars.

What Could I Add to Peanut Butter Flapjacks

There are several delicious mix-ins you could try in this recipe for peanut butter flapjacks. Add up to ยฝ cup of:

  • Dried Fruit โ€“ Raisins, cranberries, glace cherries, chopped apricots, dates, etc.
  • Chopped nuts โ€“ Peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pepitas, etc.
  • Crushed pretzels โ€“ To enhance the delicious sweet and salty flavor duo.
  • Banana chips โ€“ Finely chopped for flavor and crunch.
  • Coconut flakes โ€“ Raw or toasted.
  • Vegan chocolate chips โ€“ semi-sweet or bitter-sweet.
  • Jam/jelly โ€“ Swirl a few dollops into the flapjack batter before baking.
  • Chocolate coated โ€“ Dip or drizzle the oat and peanut butter bars in melted vegan chocolate and leave them to set for more decadence.

How to Make Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars

  • First, preheat the oven to 325F/163C and line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on at least two sides.
  • Then, combine the vegan butter, sugar, syrup, and salt in a small saucepan and heat over medium-low, stirring occasionally, only until the vegan butter melts.
  • Meanwhile, combine the cinnamon and oats in a large bowl. Pour in the melted mixture and stir until thoroughly coated.
  • Stir in the peanut butter until fully incorporated; this can take some time/effort.

Adding the peanut butter at the end of step two can make things easier, but itโ€™s very important not to overheat the peanut butter, as it can separate.

  • Transfer the mixture to the pan, press it in an even layer, then bake for 15 minutes, until golden around the edges but soft in the middle.
  • Finally, remove the peanut butter oatmeal bars from the oven and let them cool in their pan for 30 minutes before transferring them to a wire cooling rack.
  • Finally, slice the flapjacks to your desired size and, optionally, drizzle with more peanut butter. Enjoy!

FAQs

Can I use crunchy peanut butter?

Yes, but youโ€™ll need slightly more since the chunks will take the place of some liquid and may throw the ratio off. We recommend an extra 3-4 tbsp.

Can I reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe?

Yes, but keep in mind that it can affect the texture of the flapjacks. Itโ€™s best not to reduce the amount of liquid sweetener, though, unless you replace it with an alternative wet, binding ingredient (unsweetened applesauce or mashed banana cold work, but we havenโ€™t tried).

What is a flapjack?

The definition of a flapjack changes based on location. In the USA, itโ€™s a rustic, lesser-used term for pancakes. However, in the UK, flapjacks (also called cereal bars/oat bars) are soft and chewy baked bars typically made with rolled oats, butter, brown sugar, and golden syrup. They could be compared to North American granola bars, too.

Pro Recipe Tips

  • Heat over low: And only until the vegan butter has melted, and the ingredients combined. Overheating can cause the ingredients to separate.
  • Pack it well: Pack the mixture into the pan firmly to ensure itโ€™s compact before baking.
  • To adjust the texture: Adjust the baking time. We bake ours for soft, chewy bars. For a crunchier flapjack/oatmeal bar, increase by 3-5 minutes.
completed Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars [Flapjacks] on a white surface

Storage Instructions

Leave them to cool completely, then store the peanut butter flapjacks in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the refrigerator for 5-7 days.

You can also freeze the bars for 2-3 months, stacking them up in layers separated by parchment/wax paper. Leave to thaw at room temp for 15-20 minutes before enjoying one.  

completed Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars [Flapjacks] in a storage container

More Vegan Peanut Butter Recipes

Photos by Alfonso Revilla

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars [Flapjacks]

4.97 from 27 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Cool: 30 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 9
6-ingredient peanut butter oatmeal bars/ flapjacks are sweet and salty, soft and chewy, naturally gluten-free and vegan, and a crowd-pleasing breakfast or snack!

Ingredients 

  • ยผ cup of vegan butter
  • ยผ cup of turbinado sugar
  • โ…“ cup golden syrup (or sub maple syrup or agave)

  • ยผ teaspoon salt (optional โ€” only use if youโ€™re using unsalted vegan butter)

  • ยฝ teaspoon of cinnamon
  • 2 cups of quick oats
  • ยฝ cup of melted peanut butter, plus more for garnish

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. and line a 9×9 baking pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
  • In a small saucepan, mix the vegan butter, sugar, syrup, and salt. Mix just until the vegan butter is melted. Do not over mix.
  • In a large bowl, combine the cinnamon and oats, then add the vegan butter mixture. Mix well until the oats are fully coated with the mixture.
  • Add the peanut butter to the mixture and mix until fully incorporated. It will take some effort.
  • Put the mixture on the baking pan and press it with your hand until you have a very compact even layer.
  • Bake for 15 minutes.
  • Remove it from the oven and place it on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. Remove it from the baking pan and cut it into the desired size.
  • Drizzle some more peanut butter as garnish.

Notes

  • Heat over low: And only until the vegan butter has melted, and the ingredients combined. Overheating can cause the ingredients to separate.
  • Pack it well: Pack the mixture into the pan firmly to ensure itโ€™s compact before baking.
  • To adjust the texture: Adjust the baking time. We bake ours for soft, chewy bars. For a crunchier flapjack/oatmeal bar, increase by 3-5 minutes.

Nutrition

Calories: 257kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 6gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 165mgPotassium: 149mgFiber: 2gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 0.3IUVitamin C: 0.004mgCalcium: 17mgIron: 1mg

Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.

Additional Info

Author: Toni Okamoto
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Method: Oven
Diet: Vegan
Tried this recipe?Please tag us at @PlantBasedOnABudget! ๐Ÿ™‚
About

Toni Okamoto

“They say you are what you eat, so I strive to be healthy.
My goal in life is not to be rich or wealthy,
‘Cause true wealth comes from good health and wise ways…
we got to start taking better care of ourselves ” – Dead Prez

More about Toni Okamoto
4.97 from 27 votes (24 ratings without comment)

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  1. 4 stars
    Hello! This is absolutely delicious but it did not hold together for me at all and I’m 1000% sure my modifications are to blame, but FWIW I thought to share my experience!

    I swapped the sugar and syrup out for softened and blended medjool dates as an experiment ๐Ÿ˜‰

    I ended up with a giant batch of soft “granola” or “crumble”, which honestly wasn’t a big deal since I had planned to store these as bars for a rainy day. I wound up just stashing the granola/crumble in a mason jar in the freezer and scooped out some to add to other meals after thawing it for a few minutes (over fruit, yogurt, nice cream, etc). Again, super duper yummy, and very difficult to stop at just one scoop!! I went through the whole jar in 3 days, haha

    1. Thank you for sharing! Sugar definitely plays a role in texture so that’s probably what did it! Glad you enjoyed the flavor though! ๐Ÿ™‚