Meet Alex Caspero
Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling Plant-Based Chef and mom of two. She aims to cut through the nutrition noise by providing real-life, nourishing tips for body and mind. Learn more about Alex.
Are you looking for a peanut butter and jelly recipe that is vegan? Well, look no further than these PB&J oatmeal bars! These hearty peanut butter and jelly “sandwiches” are made with an oatmeal crust instead of bread. You’ll only need 9 ingredients to make this healthy snack or breakfast.
PB & J- a classic old as time. A childhood favorite for many!
I mean, I lived off peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when I was a kid. Crunchy and creamy peanut butter. Strawberry, grape, apricot jam… I’ll take any combo of peanut butter and sweet fruit jelly.
Now that I have my kids of my own, I love sharing one of my favorites with them- except now it has a fun and healthier twist on it.
They are PB&J oatmeal bars! It’s a wholesome, vegan dessert that everyone will love. Sweet strawberry jam sandwiched between a whole-wheat peanut butter crust- so good.
I think I’ve made 956 different versions of these peanut butter and jelly oatmeal bars in the quest for perfection. Part breakfast bar, part cookie, part gooey peanut butter, and jelly sandwich. Part what I want to eat every day for breakfast!
I originally set out to make a chewy peanut butter bar that could sub-in for a nourishing bowl of oatmeal. One packed with chia seeds, flax, rolled oats, and a smidge of peanut butter for good measure. And, I made them!
Though, no one really wanted to eat them.
Sure, they were packed with nutrients, but they were way too dense and dry to be anything other than compost food. So, back to the drawing board.
From there, I tweaked my original concept a bit. They’ve still got enough fiber to be considered a breakfast bar, but just enough sweetness to enjoy for an afternoon snack or dessert.
Hearty, chewy, and oozing with strawberry jelly, it’s a PB&J sandwich in bar form!
Note: For a complete list of ingredients and instructions on how to make this breakfast bar recipe, keep scrolling down until you see the recipe card!
Are you excited as I am? I hope you are!
Here are a few of my tips and hacks for when it comes to making the oatmeal bars so they turn out perfect every time.
Mmmm, peanut butter & jelly forever!
When I was little, I loved to eat my pb&j with a glass of cold milk so that’s what I do. These pair well with an ice cold glass of almond or oat milk. The nuttiness of the milk really compliments the peanut butter.
If you want to get really nutty for dessert, heat up one of the peanut butter and jelly bars and serve it with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. It’s like having the pb&j sandwich without all the mess!
I hope you enjoy these peanut and jelly bars as much as we do. If you try it, make sure to come back, leave a comment and rate it. Your feedback helps others and seeing you make my recipes makes my day!
Peanut Butter and Jelly Oatmeal Bars! A wholesome, vegan dessert that everyone will love. Strawberry jam sandwiched between a whole-wheat peanut butter crust. Ready in just 25 minutes!
I first tried these with whole-wheat flour and the bars came out too dense. If you don’t have whole-wheat pastry flour, I recommend subbing in regular, all-purpose flour.
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(29 comments) leave a comment
Will the all natural peanut butter be ok since consistency tends to be less “thick” and more oil
Yup– that’s what I use, the “drippy” peanut butter with just peanuts that you stir first. If the dough feels too wet, you can add in more oats/flour but should be good to go!
Could you substitute fresh sliced strawberries for the ham or would that compromise the consistency?
It may affect the consistency slightly as the jam is thicker than sliced strawberries. Maybe mash the strawberries a bit and then place in the filling? I just wouldn’t want them to fall out when you slice the bars.
Do you know the calorie info for the ingredients?? I love these. My bf loved them too. I’m actually making them again. I like to put them in the fridge after they cool down so they’re cold. Thanks!
★★★★★
Hi Laura! So glad you liked them, thanks!
These sound like a dream come true. Has anyone tried making them with GF flour? If so, what kind worked and what didn’t? Thank you !
★★★★★
Hi Daniela, I haven’t tried gluten-free flour in this specific recipe but I’ve had success with Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 baking blends.
These look SO good! love anything with peanut butter in it 🙂
Pretty sure the best part of making #877 versions is the batter you get to eat! Count me in– I’ll be your taste tester next time!
Nice and peanut buttery!! These look delicious!
I love pb&j themed desserts! This looks so yummy and I’m going strawberry picking in a few weeks to make jam – these will definitely be on the menu soon!
I love pb&j themed desserts! This looks so yummy and I’m going strawberry picking in a few weeks to make jam – these will definitely be on the menu soon!
I’ve been struggling with the same issue! It’s so hard to make a healthy peanut butter bar that doesn’t get too dry, but it looks like you found the winning combination! I can’t wait to try these out!