These bars might be your new favorite snack.
Peanut butter snack bars!
Salty and sweet, these no-bake bars taste even better than peanut butter pretzel Luna Bars. But they confuse me: How can a recipe with absolutely no chocolate taste so good?
It just doesn’t make sense.
You know what else confuses me?
Moles. And protons and neutrons and electrons. But mostly, moles. I sat through an entire year of AP Chemistry and still don’t understand moles. Not in the slightest.
Until I learned to cook, I thought I disliked science. Only recently did I realize the reason for my animosity towards the subject: I just couldn’t figure out how our school science experiments applied to real life. (Even the more exciting experiments, such as growing plants in 7-up or red food dye… how on earth was I ever going to use the information gleaned from that study?)
But it turns out I do like some branches of natural science, such as the science of nutrition, and the science of cooking. (Edible experiments are the best!) My advice to science teachers: Ditch the moles.
Focus on pretzels and peanut butter!
Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
(No-bake!)
Category: Healthy Peanut Butter Recipes.
- 1 cup rice crispies (30g) (either brown or white)
- packed 1/2 cup oat flour (70g) (see instructions for substitution)
- 1/4 tsp salt (my pb also has salt)
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons agave (Pure maple syrup will probably work)
- 3 tablespoons pb (or other nut butter) (Or you can switch the proportions of peanut butter to agave.)
- optional: handful of broken-up pretzels (I didn’t measure)
- optional: double batch PB Magic Shell
Combine all dry ingredients. In a separate (large) bowl, combine wet and stir to form a thin paste. (If you store your pb in the fridge, you should warm it a little for easier mixing.) Pour dry into wet (not the other way around), and stir until evenly coated. Line a baking dish or tupperware container with a large piece of wax paper and pour the mixture into the dish. Fold the extra paper over the mixture and squish down as hard as you possibly can! Use a heavy object to really press it down. (The mixture will fill a 7×5, or about 2/3 an 8×8.) Stick the mixture in the fridge or freezer to harden before cutting into bars. Makes 6 bars. (If you can’t find oat flour, you can make your own by blending oats in the food processor. Just be sure to measure after blending.)
For authentic Luna Bars, top with: Peanut Butter Magic Shell.
As stated earlier, you should make a double batch to coat the bars. Spread it on evenly. When the bars cool in the fridge/freezer, the tops will magically harden.
Question of the Day:
Did you have a least favorite subject in school?
Growing up, I dreaded science class, whether it was chemistry or biology or physics. People always told me how lucky I was to get good grades on Spanish and English tests without studying… Little did they know I once studied for an AP Chem test and still got a 25 (my worst-ever test grade). But you know what? I’m more proud of the C I earned in Chem than the As in subjects that came more easily. I worked hard for that C; it could have so easily been an F! Link of the Day:
Katie, I’m going camping with some friends this weekend and I’m definitely bringing these along. i cannot WAIT to taste them. i love love love peanut butter and pretzels together. Love your mock Luna bar recipes! – Sally
Wow! I absolutely have to try this recipe!!!
I love PB and these bars are perfect for a break!
When I was at school I definitely hated geography!! I coudn’t remember all the different thing about all the different countries!!!!
kisses from Italy!!!
Just wondering if you have tried them with out oat flour? What other flour can I use, my son is allergic to oats, but has gotten back peanuts and would love these….sorghum? rice? coconut? Wht is the texture/feel of oat flour, I never really used it before. Thanks!
I have done a version without any oat flour… I just up the crispies to 3 cups and completely omit the flour.
I’d love to know the results if you sub the oat flour for a different flour, though. Please please do try coconut flour and let me know if it works! Or, maybe I will have to try it… 🙂
I don’t have oat flour, so I’m curious as to how the 3-cup-krispies version turned out. Is it still like the original bars in terms of texture/consistency, or is it more like Rice Crispy Treats with peanut butter? I was just surprised that you jumped from 1 cup to 3. Also, since I don’t have any gluten concerns, would you recommend the 3-cup-krispies option or just swapping all-purpose flour for the oat? As you can tell, I really want to try this!
I might have to make these! But I’ll cover them with chocolate instead of the pb shell ;p
Psst! I love PB more than Chocolate. Don’t shoot me. 🙂
What BRANT of Peanut Butter do you use? Do you find one that works better than others? Do you use a regular brand like Jif, Peter Pan, or Kraft, Better N’ Peanut Butter? Or do you do a more NATURAL nut butter (peanuts, salt, etc?)
I always wonder in your PB recipes.
Thanks,
Jennifer
I usually use Whole Foods brand (either organic or non, but always unsweetened and ALWAYS salted ;)). I find that with natural pbs you just have to “melt” in the microwave or let sit at room temp awhile for them to mix better. I think if you use a sweetened pb (such as Jif or Skippy), the result will be just a tad sweeter, but it shouldn’t make a big difference. I’d definitely recommend not using Better n PB interchangeably with pb (unless you’re up for an experiment), since the taste is so different.
🙂
Totally agree on the studying for AP Chemistry thing! I got a C in that class too, first semester.
science, science, SCIENCE. ick, ick, ICK. My worst subject ever. Doing chem now, please save me! Jules, balanced equations- oh, heck. I wont be a chemist so can i ditch it? Can i take home ec.? that comes in handy. Can i take cooking classes from you? I get credit for that, right? what college doesn’t want a CCK grad?
Haha you could… there’d be a scary amount of chocolate consumed in any class I’d offer ;).
Mmmm
I had some pretzel chocolate filled for Easter and they were soo good! 🙂
Need to try this..
I can’t stand history classes, or I like learning about history, but somehow I never remember anything for exams, my us history class last semester was awful, I really could not remember all those Indian tribes lol
Oh wow, those looks amazing! I was just wondering, would these bars hold up without the agave? I prefer not to consume any added sugars. Thanks!
I don’t know what would hold your bars together :-?.
loving the smooth topping,and it makes for beautiful photos! p.s my worst subject was maths…had to work really hard for a decent grade, its like another language that i just didn’t ‘speak’.