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:
I too HATED science in high school but once I got into fitness and nutrition I started to LOVE learning about the human body. Studying for my Certified Personal Trainer exam forced my to learn anatomy and playing around with diets and veganism has taught me all about how our bodies use carbs, proteins, fats to function. I actually read science articles for FUN now!
BTW Chocolate covered pretzels have always been our household’s favorite treat…any ideas on how to make them healthier?
I have always wanted to try dipping pretzels in this for a healthier version: https://lett-trim.today/2010/05/20/homemade-artisana-cacao-bliss/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
If you try it, please let me know how it goes!
Wonderful recipe! And beautiful photos. What lens do you use?
Normally, a 50mm f/1.8
I was really lucky for a rare patch of light streaming in. I literally dropped what I was doing and quickly set up the photoshoot, because bright light is hard to come by in my dark house!
You are speaking my language with these Katie! I just love… salty and peanut-buttery anything. I can’t wait to try these. YUM!
Math…not good at Math…as a Trainer, I use it more than one would think too. :/
I feel terribly sorry for all of the ‘I hate/d Science’ posts. Ugh. :'( I am on my 17th year of teaching biology and I don’t want to risk ruining a perfectly excellent chocolate blog with all of my thoughts on why so many students hate science and, well, just school in general. My most famous saying and advice to young teachers or people who are thinking of going into teaching is ‘To even have a chance at being a good teacher you must love students FIRST and your subject SECOND.’ Doesn’t that go for any profession?
Wait…….this is a chocolate blog!!!! Light, fun, easy, delicious, awesome, interesting, and mole-free!!!!! 😉
Cindy…I would bet ANYTHING that you are an amazing teacher that produces kids that love and understand science.
For one, you took the time to respond. 🙂
Also, I started tutoring after high school. I could tutor the earth sciences, biology, just not chemistry. But what I did notice is that the teaching techniques have progressively become better and more creative.
There is hope for us to churn out some amazing, world saving chemists yet. 🙂
Thank you for loving your job and loving your students!
I liked science! I think having a good teacher makes a world of a difference, because one year I had a horrible teacher and I dreaded it. But the next year I had the best teacher in the world, and she shaped who I am today. I majored in Biology!
Agreed with everything Samantha said! My mom is a teacher as well, and it just baffles her to no end how many teachers she meets who say they don’t really like children!
Also, I can’t say I ever loved science class… but one year I did have a great teacher and at least I didn’t dread going to class like I did all those other years. I think my problem was just that I have a difficult time with abstract concepts. It’s not science’s fault, nor was it the fault of my teachers!! 😉
Awwww, how nice! Thanks, Samantha! I am proud to say that after so many years I have never stopped trying to be a better teacher. For that alone, I think I’m a winner! I agree with you about improved teaching techniques. They are so much more fun and challenging now!
My friend would love this! She loves salty and sweet.
I love science (life sciences) but my least favorite subject is and will always be math.
I just found my new favorite snack!
I liked chemistry because my Grandpa taught it to me. But as soon as I went on to Advanced Chemistry and was on my own, I hated it!
These look super good! Especially since with gf pretzels, they could work for me! I unfortunately can’t have the peanut honey pretzel luna bars, but these I can (and will) make! By the way, 1 mole is like saying 1 dozen; a dozen of anything is twelve units, and a mole of anything is 6.022 x 10^23 units of that. Since you’re out of AP Chem you probably don’t care but just in case you were wondering! I get the chemistry but precal… sigh.
I still do care! I’ve always wanted to understand moles… ever since I FAILED a major project on them because I couldn’t figure out the math!
And precal… oh, my other archnemesis in school :-?.
Hi Katie – I tried quite a few things from your blog, and love it – thanks! Just an idea for you, as I have no website, and you’re the recipe developer:
I made this a couple of days ago – https://lett-trim.today/2011/11/16/dark-chocolate-brownie-batter-dip-sugar-free/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
After several days of eating it, I felt like a little change, but still wanted chocolate (that’s why I’m here!), I took a big scoop of the batter, mixed in an egg (obviously you won’t), more cocoa pdr, baking soda, a little yogurt, salt, nuked it, and bam!, gluten free mug cake! Light and delicious – thought you could use the idea to develop an exact recipe for your followers.
Enjoy!
Aw thanks, Charlotte! I’d once tried baking the brownie batter dip, and it was awful! Perhaps I need to add some extra ingredients like you did! I love your idea to microwave it!
I had to think about this, but moles are a certain number of atoms/molecules. It’s equivalent to a dozen. 12 eggs in a dozen, 6.022*10^23 atoms/molecules in a mole.
It actually *kinda* makes sense to me the way you said it! 🙂 🙂
But I still just can’t grasp the concept of atoms in general… I can’t see them, and I have a hard time with abstract concepts!
Yes, I agree! How can an atom be mostly empty space!? Don’t get me started on quarks – up, down, strange, charm, bottom, and top (my head is spinning). And all this wave/particle duality of light? What?