Chewy No-Bake Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Oat Bars

Can I sub the dates with maple syrup or something else? If so how much maple syrup can I add?

PUL Team - July 2, 2025, 5:16 p.m.

Hi Loh! Thanks for your interest in the homemade chewy granola bar recipe 🥰 We imagine the mixture wouldn't be sticky enough to form bars without dates. If you're up for experimenting, you could try a mixture of syrup and nut butter in place of the dates, but I'm still not confident it will adhere well enough. The dates are a substantial part of this recipe, not only for sweetness but also for it's ability to bind. Let us know if you try any swaps!

Reply

I did not manage to grind the flax seeds nor really blend the dates but it still looks nice and I'm looking forward to tasting it!

So easy to make and delicious! Keep really well in the freezer :)

So dang good. Easy to make with pantry Ingredients. I have been looking for something like this that isn’t dry and is without sugar. Perfect.

My little 17 month old granddaughter loves these granola bars, and I love making them for her, so healthy and delicious.

PUL Team - May 25, 2025, 4:36 a.m.

Aww how special, Wanda! Glad that the granola bar recipe is being enjoyed 🥰

Reply

Do you think you could put a number of dates in next time? Or also. I made this and it was very date heavy. I even added extra oats after I first mixed it. It looks nothing like the picture, it looks like a date bar. And they are very thin and soft. I will nashe a note and try maybe half the dates. I think my cup measured about 8 dates.

PUL Team - March 10, 2025, 5:03 p.m.

Hey Jacqui, thanks so much for your feedback! For this recipe, we used around 6 Medjool dates for the ¾ cup measurement, though the size of dates can vary quite a bit. Reducing the amount sounds great if you prefer a less date-heavy texture. You might just need to add a little more nut butter or even some syrup to help with stickiness. We hope the next batch turns out just the way you like it! 😊

Reply

This is the first time I ever made granola bars!! It was too easy and too perfect. I made them for a camping trip, so I added chia and pumpkin seeds to the bar as well, to make sure i get my daily seeds in on the go. (Also added Cranberries because they go so well with dark chocolate).

PUL Team - Jan. 22, 2025, 4:49 p.m.

Yayy that sounds incredible, Nour! Adding chia, pumpkin seeds, and cranberries to the granola bar recipe is such a thoughtful and delicious twist - perfect for a camping trip 🥰

Reply

Hey PUL team, any suggestions for the gym rats on this app for how to best incorporate vegan protein powder to a bar like this?

PUL Team - Jan. 19, 2025, 4:45 a.m.

Hey there, Olave! You could try adding vegan protein powder to the 'blended' ingredients in the food processor. Start with about 1-2 spoons and adjust the moisture if needed by adding a bit more water or peanut butter to keep the texture just right. Enjoy your protein-packed bars 🌱

Reply

Delicious! Finally a recipe for oat bars that has lots of oats instead of nuts and that doesn't have oil :)

Delicious and nourishing.
Sooo sticky, even using a little bit of oil on my hands to flat the paste. Also, it was hard to blend. I will try reducing the amount of peanut butter.

PUL Team - Oct. 22, 2024, 9:12 p.m.

Hey Elia, thanks for sharing your experience with the bars. Using a high-powered blender helps a bunch to smooth things out. In case it helps, you can also wet your hands with water. I hope this helps for now 🤗! I'm so glad they were still enjoyed!

Jacqui Rosa - March 9, 2025, 7:42 p.m.

This was my question, if you could use a blender (i have a ninja) instead of a food processor. I don't really know the difference and if you could interchange them.

PUL Team - March 9, 2025, 10:53 p.m.

Hi Jacqui, it's a great question! While blenders and food processors have some overlap, they do well at different tasks. Blenders are better for liquids and smoothies, while food processors handle thicker mixtures. We have an article on our website called "Kitchen Essentials" that dives deeper into the differences if you're curious 😊

Reply

Super easy to make and much better than store bought!

So easy to make with a minimal ingredient list. The bars are delicious and so chewy!

I love the recipe!

Awesomeness 😋😋😋 Love it!!!!!

New Ninja kitchen 3 in 1 food preparation appliance. New to this app. New to this way of eating although I've cooked all my life. 1st recipe of my new lifestyle ( I had some saltanas that needed using up so used instead of dates). Wow. YouTube search for meditation led me to PUL which led me to a whole new world of food and wellbeing. Thank you, thank you PUL team 😁

PUL Team - May 19, 2024, 4:06 p.m.

Aw I'm so thrilled you found us Steve! And congrats on the new lifestyle changes, we're honoured to be a part of that journey. I hope you enjoy these oat bars 🥰

Reply

Looks and tastes delicious!

Amazing unique recipes and the organisation and aesthetic of the page is also amazing!!!

Absolutely delicious! I added dutch cocoa powder to the mix to make it extra chocolately. The whole family loves them.

Hi Sadia, I love the recipe and would like to try it. I dont buy any nut butter and keep raw nuts handy. I was wondering if I make my own peanut butter, what adjustments should I make to the recipe so that it does not lack sweetness and texture. I also dont buy flax, chia or other seeds in required quantities. though I have a seed blend containing a mix of hemp and some other seeds. I was thinking if I want to use the blend that I have, whether I should soak it? It would be great if you could provide some more insight on different seeds ( such as chia, basil, flax, nigella, sesame, pumpkin, sunflower, mustard, poppy ...etc) , on how to use them, their nutrional profile, their affect on muscle building /cognitive function/ joint and heart health, as well as optimal quantity

PUL Team - Dec. 24, 2023, 3:23 a.m.

Hey there, Saneeha, to enhance the sweetness and texture when making your own peanut butter, you can consider adding a bit of syrup such as maple syrup. You're welcome to soak the seed blend if you'd like, but just a heads up that flax, chia, and hemp seeds can absorb water and change texture when soaked.

We've noted down the request for more content related to seeds 😊 Different seeds indeed offer different nutrition benefits. For example, flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which support heart and brain health while sesame seeds provide calcium which supports bone health. You can find articles on the blog on soaking, omega-3 fat, and calcium in case it helps in the meantime 🤗

Reply

I’ve made three of your recipes today already! I wanted a snack (or meal in my daughters case) for my two year old without refined sugar. I replaced the peanut butter with cashew butter, used deglet dates, omitted the chocolate, and mixed it all in the food processor. I served it with fruit and she gobbled the bar up first, so I gave her a second. Thanks for this healthy treat for my littles!

PUL Team - Dec. 19, 2023, 6:46 a.m.

How fantastic to hear, June! Your modifications with cashew butter and dates sound delicious and we're so glad your little one enjoyed it. Here's to more wholesome and happy cooking moments 🥰

Reply

These are delicious and quite easy to make. Also easy to change up (cranberries instead of chocolate for example). I've made things like these behoren but this is the best recipe for them so far!
Also, I'd like to add I'm really loving the app. I love how motivating it is to try new stuff and enjoy food and how it seems to be build to nourish your body but also nourish your relationship with food. Thank you. ❤️

Emily - Nov. 10, 2023, 7:16 p.m.

Whoops, sorry - autocorrect. I meant 'before' :)

PUL Team - Nov. 11, 2023, 11:01 p.m.

Oh, Emily, you're the best! 🥹 we're so happy that the bars and app are being enjoyed. It means a lot that the app is helping nourish the cells and the soul. That's all we could hope for 💛✨

Reply

I made them just now but I haven't tasted them yet. I did change some things for the toppings, instead of oats and dark chocolate I added chia, sunflower kernels, some granola as well. It looks awesome and it was so quick to make. PUL rocks!!!

PUL Team - Sept. 19, 2023, 7:07 p.m.

Ooo love the modifications, Bianca! We hope you enjoy the bars 😃

Reply

Hello ! Seems delicious. Can I freeze it ? Thank you

PUL Team - Sept. 8, 2023, 1:09 a.m.

Hey Maëlle, yes you can freeze the bars in an airtight container for up to a month :)

Reply

Easy to make, tastes so good, and I used tried cranbarries instead of chocolate.

Delicious 😋

I made these today and they were so yummy. I added unsweetened coconut flakes and toasted pecans to the mix too. 😋

Hiya, not sure what happened but the original recipe called for 2 cups of oats separated with 1 cup being processed and the second mixed in whole which made for a much better texture and binding of the ingredients. I made the above recipe as written with just one cup of whole oats and they came out very hard to handle and more squishy than chewy. I hope that this is an error that is fixed soon since I’m sure you’ll be getting many new subscribers and the original recipe for this is great and a go to when I’m making snacks for my kids.

PUL Team - June 27, 2023, 1:42 a.m.

Hey Nicola, thanks so much for sharing your feedback on this recipe! I may be missing something (and if so my apologies) but the recipe is indeed written as you say in your comment. 1 cup is blended (together with the dates, peanut butter, etc.), and then another cup is stirred through later as whole oats (added together with the chocolate). If this is not what you meant though, pop us another message and we'll continue to investigate 🤓

Reply

Easy to make and tasty. Also perfect for summer because they do not need to be baked!

Thank you for all this hardwork we really appreciate all of your masterpiece.
If god allowed us to do all of your stuff and become fully vegan why not.

I made these yesterday and they were my breakfast this morning: so delicious and filling, I love them!
I just had to let them set in the fridge for longer because they were still a tad too soft after 1h but it may just be my refrigerator.
Just awesome!

PUL Team - May 25, 2023, 8:04 p.m.

Hi Giulia, thanks for sharing your experience with the bars :D

Reply

Delicious! I found them a little salty, so the next time I will add 1/4 teaspoon of salt or no salt at all. I roll them into balls and keep them in the freezer.

PUL Team - March 3, 2023, 7:14 p.m.

So happy to hear, Cathy, thank you! 😃

Reply

Hi Sadia, you are such a blessing for this world for sure! I am absolutely loving your creations. Thank you so much to you, your partner & your team for creating delicious recipes and making such a friendly website. All the videos reflect how Awesome you are. I was little doubtful regarding the oats without baking but it turned out amazing. Much love❤️

PUL Team - Oct. 11, 2022, 4:09 a.m.

Thank you for the glowing feedback and support, Sukh, you're too kind! We're so glad the bars were enjoyed as well 😊

Reply

Hi :) Will this still work if I omit the flaxseed/water step? Is that just to make the consistency right for making into bars? I’m wondering if I can make it like regular granola instead by not using the flaxseed (mainly because I don’t have any lol)

PUL Team - July 2, 2022, 3:59 p.m.

Hey there, Kris, that's an interesting idea! The ground flax seeds in water form a gel that acts like glue to help the bars bind together. You could omit it for crumbly bars if desired. To mimic granola though, fewer dates and peanut butter may be needed in the mixture otherwise it will likely be too sticky. Perhaps following ratios from another granola recipe or using an alternative recipe would help. We have a bunch of the blog if you're interested and haven't already seen: pickuplimes.com/recipe/?sb=gr…

Reply

I loved

I share this recipe with everyone I know! It's really easy to make using simple ingredients - but most importantly it's delicious! Definitely a crowd pleaser :)

PUL Team - June 10, 2022, 7:49 p.m.

Oh it means so much, Erica, thank you ✨

Reply

THESE ARE SO GOOD!! I'm on our 3rd batch this month. DELICIOUS and not unhealthy ;) and they come together so quick. YUM. Thank you for this heaven in a bar! groetjes uit Brussel

PUL Team - April 26, 2022, 9:35 p.m.

So thrilled they're being enjoyed, Johanna, thank you!

Reply

Hi! Can these be baked? I can’t seem to tolerate raw oats. If yes, at what temperature and for how long?

PUL Team - March 11, 2022, 4:47 a.m.

Hey Yuri! We haven't tested it out, although imagine it could work. Perhaps 350°F (180°C), and baking on the centre rack of the oven until lightly golden, about 15 minutes, may be one approach to start 😊

Reply

Perfect for school lunches and my son enjoys making them with me. I blend up the oats a bit first, so that they are finer. I also mix in a bit of chia with the flax seeds. Sometimes I use the immersion blender because clean up easier than the food processor.

PUL Team - Feb. 26, 2022, 9:10 p.m.

Aw sounds incredible, Monica, thanks for taking the time to share your experience with the bars 😊

Reply

These are delightful, and very easy to make (though make for a sticky clean-up). I used chia seeds instead of flax, almond butter instead of peanut butter, almond extract instead of vanilla extract, and just a pinch of salt. They have a dessert-like quality to them, but are also wholesome and filling. It's nice that they will keep so long too.

PUL Team - Feb. 19, 2022, 1:57 a.m.

Hi Salina! Thank you for sharing the kind words and substitutions, sounds lovely 😍

Reply

My all time favorite bar <3

These have become an almost weekly recipe in our house. They are delicious, sweet and easy to customize. I like adding pecans and coconut. I also like making these instead of buying bars at the grocery store. Thanks for an easy and quick recipe!

PUL Team - Dec. 25, 2021, 7:47 p.m.

We're so thrilled the bars are being enjoyed, Breanna, thank you for taking the time to share 😃

Reply

Thank you for the recipe, PUL! :) Made them today. Great snack!!

Recently discovered your channel and never focused on sweet treat but I’m a fan of all these ingredients. Anyone know whether I can use my ‘bullet’ style blender for this. I’m a noob to all this. TIA.

PUL Team - Nov. 4, 2021, 4:10 p.m.

Hi there, Fais, welcome to the PUL community! We wouldn't advise using a basic bullet blender for this one as there isn't enough liquid and it could break. A food processor is better suited for a dryer mixture, such as this. It may be possible to use a high-powered blender with some added liquid (such as water or oil). Although if you hear any unusual noises or smell anything off, that would be a sign your blender isn't powerful enough.

We chat more about different kitchen tools in our kitchen essentials article in case you're interested and haven't seen it already (pickuplimes.com/article/kitch…) We hope this helps for now 🙂

Reply

We love these bars! We do have them often in our fridge to quickly grab and enjoy it!
Thank you for this awesome recipe!

Very yummy and soft! These bars almost melt in the mouth, and I love the caramel-like flavour from cashew butter and dates. It was very sticky when flattening the paste and cutting the squares, so I really appreciate that the bars can be stored in a freezer. They barely need to thaw, which is optimal for a quick snack!

PUL Team - Sept. 26, 2021, 6:43 p.m.

Thanks for the review, Louise! The peanut butter and dates indeed make the mixture a bit sticky. Using freshly washed hands that are a bit damp may help. So happy the bars were enjoyed regardless 😊

Reply

How can I make it nut free for my son school lunch.

PUL Team - Sept. 12, 2021, 1:55 a.m.

Hi Ephe, we'd recommend using seed butter in place of the peanut butter. For example, sunflower seed butter 🙂 All the best with back to school!

Reply

Just did a autumn version of this yummy recipe and it turned out amazing, here’s what I changed/added for the 6 bars I made Incase anyone wants try it out : I took away about a tablespoon of the peanut butter and replaced it with pumpkin purée. I also added 1/4 teaspoon of homemade pumpkin spice. Finally I topped the bars off with 1 tbsp chopped apricots and 2 tbsp chopped pecans. Happy fall fellow cooks and thank you PUL🧡🍁

Summer🍂 - Sept. 1, 2021, 9:08 p.m.

*an

PUL Team - Sept. 2, 2021, 2:47 a.m.

Mmm sounds so lovely, Summer, thank you for sharing your experience with this one! Sounds delicious 😍

Reply

I love these bars! They're quick and easy to prepare and they are quite filling and very delicious! I never get tired of them. I've added some chopped almonds, which added some crunch😋

PUL Team - July 26, 2021, 7:21 p.m.

Mmm love the addition of nuts for crunch, Shana!

Reply

I absolutely love the taste of these, but they didn’t firm up in the fridge for me but just remained crumbly. I wonder what I’m doing wrong.

PUL Team - July 20, 2021, 3:52 p.m.

Hi Lucy, thanks for the review! If the portion sizes of the ingredients were followed, we suspect the mixture may not have been firmly packed into the pan as much as it could be. Using your hands or the back of a spoon to press it into the pan should help the mixture stick together a bit more. If it seems too crumbly before pressing it in, you could also opt for adding a bit more nut butter to add a touch of stickiness. Do let us know if this helps! 🙂

Reply

Amé esta receta, queda maravilloso

Love it ! I made it multiple times and I don't get tired of it. Perfect rapid snack to make. Thank you for the recipe :)
I also changed the peanut butter for almond butter and it was even better.

Sadia @ PUL - March 29, 2021, 10:39 a.m.

So glad to hear you're loving the recipe, Camille - mmm almond butter sounds so good. Thanks so much for sharing 🤗

Reply