Home | Healthy Baked Peanut Butter Jelly Bars with Oatmeal

Healthy Baked Peanut Butter Jelly Bars with Oatmeal

by Heather Englund

Peanut butter and jelly oatmeal bars are sticky, sweet, and a fun treat! They are made with oats, whole wheat flour, peanut butter powder, peanuts, and shredded apples. The base is topped with fruity jam, then sprinkled on top is the crumble mixture. They have a fantastic texture, are super kid-friendly, and are easy to make! If you’re a peanut butter and jelly sandwich fan, you’ll love this great recipe!

Peanut butter and jelly oatmeal bars

Healthy Baked Peanut Butter Jelly Bars with Oatmeal

There is nothing more classic than peanut butter jelly time, and these bars bring those flavors together!

The star is the sweet jelly (use your favorite store-bought or homemade jelly or jam here).

We pair the fruity spread with an oatmeal peanut butter mixture that works SO well together. To amp up the peanut flavor a combination of peanut butter powder and chopped peanuts are used.

Each bite has the best texture and the perfect balance of classic pb and j flavors.

They keep well in the fridge, and are fun to eat!

oatmeal jelly bars

Do you have to use peanut butter powder?

The only ingredient in this recipe that might be harder to find is the peanut butter powder. Often it can be found in grocery stores now and also purchased online.

If you can’t find it, or don’t want to buy it, check the substitution section below for my alternative options!

And if you do purchase it, you’ve got to also try my high protein peanut butter and jelly yogurt parfaits!

healthy homemade jelly bars

Simple ingredients you’ll need for jelly oat bars

Scroll down to view the recipe card below for the full ingredients list, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions.

PBJ oat bars recipe

How to make pb & j bars

Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Step 2: Mix the oats, flour, peanut butter powder, sugar, peanut, and sea salt in a medium bowl.

Step 3: In a small bowl whisk the apple, eggs, oil, and vanilla together.

How to make pb & j bars

Step 4: Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients.  Mix until combined. It will seem dry as you mix it but it will eventually fully combine.

Step 5: Take 2 pieces of parchment paper and lay them in a criss-cross pattern in an 8 x 8 glass pan. Press half the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan. Spread the jam or jelly evenly on top, then crumble the remaining oat mixture on top of the jelly.  Gently press the top layer into the jelly.

Step 6: Bake for 28-30 minutes. Allow to fully cool before cutting into your pb&j oatmeal bars!

pb and j bars

Substitutions, optional variations & dietary adjustments

Below you’ll find a list of substitutions that will work well in this healthy peanut butter oatmeal bars recipe. If you try something different out, please leave a comment below letting us all know how it turned out!

Rolled oats – You can substitute quick oats or oat flour for the rolled oats.

Whole wheat flour – Regular all-purpose flour or a gluten-free flour mixture will work too.

Peanut butter powder – You can substitute natural peanut butter here (creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter both work!), or use oat flour. Any type of nut butter like almond butter is great.

Coconut sugar – Natural cane sugar is a great substitute here, along with brown sugar. You could use a liquid sugar alternative like maple syrup, brown rice syrup, or agave golden syrup, however, you’ll need to reduce the oil so that there is not too much liquid added in.

Dry roasted peanuts – Substitute your favorite chopped nut for the peanuts.

Apple – Grated pear will work too!

Eggs – Make this egg-free by making a flax egg (2 tbsp ground flax meal mixed with 6 tbsp water – let sit for 5 minutes before adding to the mixture).

Avocado oil – Melted coconut oil is a great substitute to use in this easy recipe.

Jelly – Your favorite jam works great here! Try using homemade jam, sweet strawberry jam, raspberry jam, or any flavor you have on hand. You could also use fresh berries and mash them up before spreading them into your jam bars.

peanut butter and jam oatmeal bars

More delicious treats you’ll love

Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Healthy Baked Peanut Butter Jelly Bars with Oatmeal

Jelly bars are sticky, sweet, and a fun treat! They are made with oats, whole wheat flour, peanut butter powder, peanuts, and shredded apples. The base is topped with fruity jam, then sprinkled on top is the crumble mixture. They have a fantastic texture, are super kid-friendly, and are easy to make! If you're a peanut butter and jelly sandwich fan, you'll love this great recipe!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time28 minutes
Total Time38 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Keyword: granola bars, jam, jelly, oatmeal, peanut butter
Servings: 9
Calories: 295kcal
Author: Heather Englund

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Mix the oats, flour, peanut butter powder, sugar, peanut, and sea salt in a medium bowl.
  • In a small bowl whisk the apple, eggs, oil, and vanilla together.
  • Pour the egg mixture into the dry ingredients.  Mix until combined. It will seem dry as you mix it but it will eventually fully combine.
  • Take 2 pieces of parchment paper and lay them in a criss-cross pattern in an 8 x 8 glass pan. Press half the mixture firmly into the bottom of the pan. Spread the jam or jelly evenly on top, then crumble the remaining oat mixture on top of the jelly.  Gently press the top layer into the jelly.
  • Bake for 28-30 minutes. Allow to fully cool before cutting into your pb&j oatmeal bars!
Did you make this recipe?Be sure to tag me @fitmamarealfood or tag #fitmamarealfood!

Nutrition

Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 36mg | Sodium: 141mg | Potassium: 188mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 1mg
PB and J Oatmeal Bars

If you try this jelly oatmeal bars recipe, I’d love it if you left a star rating and comment below letting me know how it turned out!

XO

Heather

Originally published February 2011. Updated March 2024.

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12 comments

Faith February 15, 2011 - 7:01 am

Glad you enjoyed your Valentines day. I’ve never had PB & J oat bar. The idea is very brilliant Heather. As usual.. you’re very creative. The pictures are amazing! You’re making me hungrey girl and I just had breakfast.

Reply
Jess@atasteofconfidence February 15, 2011 - 12:32 pm

Starred these! They look great.

Reply
Kathleen @ Kat's Health Corner February 15, 2011 - 1:54 pm

OHMYGOSH!!!! I LOVE THESE!!! I really want to try them out! 😀

Reply
Lauren February 15, 2011 - 5:08 pm

These look fantastic!! I’ve seen this recipe before and always have wanted to make them

Reply
Ashley @ the fit academic February 15, 2011 - 5:20 pm

Yum! I’ve made bars similar to this recipe before! Next time I plan on making some I’ll have to try this recipe!

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Lauren Austin February 15, 2011 - 5:44 pm

I’m so glad you like tempeh! It is so versatile and I love the firm texture! Now to try seitan!

These bars wouldn’t last a day in my house.. they look scrumdiddlyumptious!

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Erica February 16, 2011 - 3:52 am

The bars look awesome! I make a batch of bars pretty much every week- Josh likes a good grab and go breakfast. Oats always add great texture. I wish I was a tempeh fan! It just didn’t jive with me.

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Gina (The Candid RD) February 16, 2011 - 4:18 am

This recipe sounds fantastic!!! I am always looking for new bar recipes.

Strangely I had the question yesterday, “what is tempeh?”. I knew what it was, but I never know how to explain it without making it sound…disgusting!! Next time I should say it quickly, then go right into how I prepare it, to make it sounds fabulous 🙂

Reply
Get Healthy with Heather February 16, 2011 - 5:11 am

Haha yeah fermented doesn’t sound very appetizing.

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Multigrain mini peanut butter cookies | Get Healthy with Heather February 20, 2011 - 6:39 am

[…] PB & J Oat Bars […]

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Caramel Peanut Butter & Jelly Bars December 12, 2011 - 2:40 am

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Mary April 3, 2024 - 6:42 am

5 stars
So so yummy! A little sticky but we didn’t mind because the flavor was awesome!

Reply
5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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