These gluten-free peanut butter oat bars make the perfect slightly-sweet snack because they're filling, delicious, and nutritious. They're loaded with fiber, healthy fats, protein, and a touch of sweetness to ensure they please even the most picky of palates.
Cover an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a large bowl, stir together oats, protein powder, flaxseed meal, dried cranberries, ½ cup of the mini chocolate chips, ground cinnamon and kosher salt.
Add peanut butter and honey to mixture. Stir well until combined. The mixture will be dry at first but will come together within a few minutes. If need be, add additional peanut butter to give the mixture additional moisture.
Scoop the peanut butter oat mixture into the prepared baking dish. Using your hands, press the mixture into a flat layer.
Sprinkle remaining tablespoon of mini chocolate chips over the top and slightly press them into the mixture so they stick.
Chill mixture in the refrigerator to allow it to set for at least an hour before slicing into bars. Keep bars refrigerated until enjoyed.
Notes
You can use almond butter or other nut butter instead of peanut butter.Depending on what kind of peanut butter you use, you may need to add more or less oats to this recipe. The mixture should be thick and dry when first mixed. It will come together within a few minutes of mixing. If you are still having trouble getting the mixture to come together, add more peanut butter or honey to slightly thin it out. If the mixture is too loose, you can add a few more oats.To make this recipe vegan, use a vegan protein powder and use agave instead of honey. You could also use maple syrup although it isn’t as sticky as honey so you will need to chill the mixture longer before cutting into bars.Parchment paper makes for easy, non-stick clean up. Make sure the parchment paper overhangs on the baking dish so you can easily pull the bars out of the dish and slice on a cutting board.