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Yup! Just like Nature Valley’s, but better!
Now I know I posted these copycat Nature Valley Oat’s ‘n Honey Bars a few months ago, but those were just the original. I mean we love the original over here, but we equally love the peanut butter.
Really though, did you think we wouldn’t? They’re sweet, crunchy peanut butter bars!
And I mean it is pretty obvious we love us some peanut butter over here.
Wasn’t it just last week that I posted this heavenly, insanely delicious, perfect warm weather treat? Yeah, I am talking about you, Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Fudge Brownie Ice Cream! And exactly one week earlier I post this crazy Grilled Banana Bread Peanut Butter S’more Sandwich!
Oh fudge, this is getting embarrassing. Not even four days earlier I posted these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Special K-bars. Yeah, those bars have an entire peanut butter layer!
So I think I need to lay off the peanut butter for a while…..
Unless of course I come up with yet another delicious way to use it. Then I will just HAVE to tell you about it. Cause really I can’t hold in the excitement. It’s pathetic.
Really, sometimes after I take pictures and I feel like the picture turned out just the way I wanted them to, I get SO excited to share the recipe with you guys. Like I think to myself “oh, they are going to LOVE this!”.
Seriously, could I get any weirder?
I actually made these because Asher wanted some more bars to have as snacks. The girl loves her snacks. She has been asking for me to make these for days. I finally gave in……like always.
That girl knows exactly how to work me.
Really she has got me wrapped around her cute little muti-colored painted finger nails, that she keeps reminding me, “Tiegy, they really need to be redone”.
These are really simple.
No, really they are. Five minutes prep, one bowl and 20 minutes in the oven. DONE!
Really you can’t get to the store and back faster than that. Plus, these things are awesome! They taste better than the ones from the shelf. Asher approved. And trust me, she’d tell you if they were bad.
I know from experience.
Crunchy Oatmeal Peanut Butter Oats ‘n Honey Bars
Servings: 12 Bars
Calories Per Serving: 237 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats use gluten free oats for a gluten free version
- 1 cup rice crispies cereal
- 1/4 cup roasted peanuts chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons peanut butter divided
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 9x13 inch pyrex dish with parchment paper (do not skip this step).
- Combine the oats, rice crispies, chopped peanuts, salt and baking soda in a medium size mixing bowl. In a glass measuring cup or microwave safe bowl mix the honey, 1/2 cup peanut butter and coconut oil. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir to melt the coconut butter then add the vanilla and brown sugar. Whisk to combine and then mix the wet with the dry ingredients. Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared pyrex dish that is lined with parchment paper, and press down hard. I used the back of a measuring cup (spray or oil the bottom so it does not stick and press hard!) and it worked awesome!
- Microwave the remaining 2 tablespoons of peanut butter for 30 seconds. Drizzle over the top of the bars.
- Place in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes. The bars will be golden on top. Remove the bars and let the bars cool in the pan for 10-20 minutes then remove from the pan and then cut while the bars are firm, but still somewhat soft. Place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in a sealed container or wrapped in plastic wrap.
Peanut Butter, Crunchy, Oatmeal goodness!
what can you use if you can’t get hold of coconut oil? really fancy making these but not sure i will be able to get this in the UK..
Hi! You can buy coconut oil on Amazon, but if you would rather try swapping butter. Not sure how well it will hold together, but it should taste great! Hope that helps and let me know if you have any more questions.
If you want a gluten free version, do not use rice cereal unless it is certified gluten free. Otherwise, maltodexterin will swoop in with a dangerous promise of gluten
Please make sure that if you are making these gluten free that you also use gluten free rice krispies and that all other ingredients are gluten free as well (sometimes peanuts have gluten added for anti-caking so be VERY careful that ALL ingredients are gluten free!). Just using gluten free oats doesn’t make them gluten free! Also, ensure that there is no cross-contamination with gluten at any time!
Just made these. They’re nice and peanut buttery, but definitely less salt next time…
Thanks Sarah! Sorry there was too much salt for your taste though!
Hello
Do you have any idea if you have to use “regular” peanut butter or could I use “natural” peanut butter? Sometimes, recipes don’t work with the natural peanut butter (just crushed peanuts, kind you have to stir)
Thank you
Hi Kelly, I would recommend not using natural peanut butter. I think the oils would cause the bars to not stick together. Hope you love these!
Hi. Made these bars today and they were delicious! Thanks for posting the recipe! I was wondering how many calories you think are in a single bar?
Hi Kathleen!! Thanks so much for making these and I am so happy you loved them! I really have no idea how many calories are in each bar. If I had to guess I would say they around the same (or less) as the store bought version, which is 90 calories per bar. Again, though I do not know this for sure.
Hope this helps and thanks again!
Tieghan. ok great! Thanks for getting back to me.
My family loves Nature Valley bars so when I found these on Pinterest I had to give them a try. By far these are so much better! My husband likes them fresh out the freezer and everyone I’ve given a sample to gave me positive feedback like I’ve never received before! My first batch with regular peanut butter was not too crunchy but tasted AMAZING. Any tips on how to get them a little crunchier? Cutting them up was kind of a disaster, they just fell apart.
So glad you liked these!! Here are my tips. Before you put the bars in the oven push down on the bars as hard as you can with the back of a measuring cup (rub the back of a measuring cup with some oil so is does not stick to the bars) before baking and then again after they come out of the oven. Then the only way to get them crunchier would be to bake longer, maybe 5 to 10 minutes. Also, I would let them sit in the pan for 10 minutes and then cut them well they are still soft. If they are completely hard when you try and cute them with will probably crumble on you.
Can you substitue a different oil, like canola for the coconut oil? Coconut oil just has so much saturated fat in it. This will probably affect the texture, but since you’re melting it I thought it might not.
You could try, but I am not sure the bars will hold up as well. Either way the taste will be delicious. I would try it, my guess it it will work fine. Hope you love these!
I love Nature Valley Granola Bars but gave them up when I stopped eating processed food. I will have to try these. They look just like the ones you find at the store!
They are better, I promise!! Thank for reading Victoria!
Just found your lovely blog. The layout and photography are amazing. I can’t believe you are only 19. Well done and I shall be back for sure.
Carolyn
Aw thank you Desire!! That is so nice and I am so glad you like my site! Thanks for checking it out!!
these are my son’s absolute favorite snack – I cannot wait to make them.
Oh I hope he loves them, my little sis did!!
Asher is adorable! And love her nails!
Ha! Thanks you Nessa! I will tell her you said so!
These look great! I would love to include these in my weekly meal plan next week!
Thank you, Kristen!! Hope you give them a try next week!! Plan them girl!!
I’m definitely going to make these – the hubby will love me. He absolutely adores Nature Valley bars.
Ps. Love your blog – so glad I found it!
Ya!!! Thank Laura!! I am so glad to have you as reader!! Your kind words mean everything to me!
These bars are looking fabulous !!
I’m saving the recipe as I’m definitely going to try this recipe
Thanks!!
Thanks Winnie!! Hope you love them!