Vegan Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars

By Alexandra Caspero on June 25, 2021
These hearty peanut butter and jelly "sandwiches" are made with an oatmeal crust instead of bread. Great for school lunch and snacks.
Makes 12 Bars

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.

Vegan Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars With Milk

Inspiration Behind This Vegan PB And J Bar Recipe

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! 

Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars

Tips For Making Yummy Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

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.

  • For easy cleanup, I recommend lining the baking pan with two sheets of parchment paper, crossed in the middle, and a bit of overhang over the side. Once the bars are completely cool, grab onto the parchment overhang to pull the finished bars out of the pan. Then, slice and enjoy. This method is my favorite for just about any baked good! It makes both cleanup and serving so much easier.
  • If strawberry jelly isn’t your jam (see what I did there?), you can easily swap it out for another kind! I bet grape or raspberry would work great!
  • To make this recipe gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free all-purpose flour and gluten-free oats.
  • Dairy-free? I used vanilla almond milk to bind all the ingredients together!
  • If you don’t like peanut butter, use almond butter instead.
  • I recommend heating up the strawberry jam a bit before placing it over the peanut butter layer. On version #877, I dolloped the jam onto the batter and it didn’t spread as much as I’d like in the hot oven. Melting, then spreading the jam ensures that every bite of these bars is packed with both peanut butter and jelly flavor.

Mmmm, peanut butter & jelly forever!

Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars

What To Serve With These Peanut Butter and Jelly bars Oatmeal Bars

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! 

Vegan Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars

Video Tutorial On How To Make Vegan Peanut Butter And Jelly Oatmeal Bars! 

More Baked Goods Recipe:

Vegan Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars

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Peanut Butter And Jelly Bars

Vegan Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12 bars 1x
  • Category: dessert, snack, bars
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: Vegan, American
  • Diet: Vegan

Description

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!


  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12 bars 1x
  • Category: dessert, snack, bars
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: Vegan, American
  • Diet: Vegan
  • Author: Alex Caspero
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 12 bars 1x
  • Category: dessert, snack, bars
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: Vegan, American
  • Diet: Vegan
Scale

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour (see note)
  • 1 cup old fashioned oats
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 3/4 cup strawberry jam

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 8×8″ baking dish with parchment paper for easy removal. I like to criss-cross two sheets of parchment paper to lift up the bars once baking.
  2. Place the peanut butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and mix on medium-high until fluffy. If you don’t have an electric mixer, use a hand mixer.
  3. Add in vanilla extract and mix until combined.
  4. Add in the flour, oats, salt and baking powder and mix together on medium speed. Drizzle in almond milk until a dough forms.
  5. Remove 2/3 of the dough and gently roll into a ball with your hands. Place in the middle of the pan and press to fit. Place it in the middle of an 8×8 baking dish, pressing it to fit.
  6. Warm the strawberry jam in a small saucepan or in the microwave until slightly melted. This will make it easier to spread.
  7. Pour the jam over the bars and crumble the remaining dough on top. Don’t worry if the dough doesn’t completely cover the jam, it will spread a little when cooking.
  8. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until set and golden on top. Let cool completely, then cut into 12 squares.

Notes

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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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! | Www.delishknowledge.com

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Meet Alex Caspero

Alex Caspero is a Registered Dietitian, New York Times Bestselling 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.

(26 comments) leave a comment

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    1. Jessica
      December 23, 2023 AT 9:19 pm

      Hey! Made these and lovin them so far but how do you store them? Do you refrigerate?

      1. Alex
        December 26, 2023 AT 2:50 pm

        Hi jessica, yes I store them in the fridge but I like them at room temperature for eating– or you can also quickly warm in the microwave for 5-10 seconds

    2. Gabriela
      June 28, 2021 AT 8:52 am

      Will the all natural peanut butter be ok since consistency tends to be less “thick” and more oil

      1. Alex
        June 28, 2021 AT 9:12 am

        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!

    3. Jessica
      February 12, 2020 AT 7:57 am

      Could you substitute fresh sliced strawberries for the ham or would that compromise the consistency?

      1. Alex
        February 12, 2020 AT 9:16 am

        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.

    4. Laura
      May 14, 2017 AT 9:05 am

      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!






      1. Alex
        May 17, 2017 AT 3:12 am

        Hi Laura! So glad you liked them, thanks!

    5. Daniela
      March 18, 2017 AT 5:02 pm

      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 !






      1. Alex
        March 20, 2017 AT 6:23 am

        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.

    6. Liz
      April 20, 2016 AT 10:27 am

      These look SO good! love anything with peanut butter in it 🙂

    7. Elizabeth Shaw
      April 18, 2016 AT 2:04 pm

      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!

    8. Rebecca @ Strength & Sunshine
      April 18, 2016 AT 1:08 pm

      Nice and peanut buttery!! These look delicious!

    9. Whitney Reist
      April 18, 2016 AT 11:18 am

      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!

    10. Whitney Reist
      April 18, 2016 AT 11:18 am

      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!

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