Peanut Butter & Jelly Oat Bars

These Peanut Butter & Jelly Oat Bars are a level-up to everyone’s favorite sandwich combo! They layer an oat graham cracker crust, a sweet jelly filling, and peanut butter crumble on top. Plus, this recipe is kid friendly –  there are so many ways to get them involved in the kitchen.

PB&J Oat Bars

Nutritional benefits for kids

Fiber

So many kids do not get enough fiber in their diet. A recent study found that more than 55% of children in the US eat less fiber than their daily recommended value (1). 

To find out how much fiber your child needs, take their age and add 5. This is the grams of total fiber needed per day for optimal gastrointestinal health!

This recipe is loaded with fiber from the wheat in the graham cracker, blended oats, chia seeds, and peanut butter – almost every ingredient! Especially if your child is not a fan of fruits and vegetables, yummy desserts with hidden fiber like this are KEY.

Protein

Protein is another macronutrient that kids often do not get enough of. The protein in this recipe mostly comes from peanut butter. 

A dessert or snack that has some added protein can help stabilize our blood sugar. This prevents the sugar high and crash that most desserts leave us with!

Check out other kid-approved high-protein snacks here.

Where the kids can get involved

Many parts of this recipe give kids a great opportunity to get involved in the kitchen. And remember, a child that takes an active part in preparing food is likely to have a better relationship with food for the rest of their life! 

So here are some ways to include your kiddos in this recipe:

  • Crushing the graham crackers: use a ziplock for easier cleanup!
  • Pressing down the crust layer
  • Sprinkling on the chia seeds
  • Forming the peanut butter crumble

Let me know which part of the recipe your child likes the most!

Peanut Butter & Jelly Oat Bars

These Peanut Butter & Jelly Oat Bars are a level-up to everyone’s favorite sandwich combo! They layer an oat graham cracker crust, a sweet jelly filling, and peanut butter crumble on top.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: fiber
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 159kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 cup oats
  • 9-10 graham crackers 1 sleeve
  • 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp creamy peanut butter
  • 4 tbsp coconut oil melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 3 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup jelly any flavor
  • 2 tbsp chia seeds

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×9 baking pan lined with parchment paper. I like to cut two pieces of parchment paper and leave a "lip" hanging off. This makes the bars easier to take out of the pan
  • Start by making the crust. In a blender or food processer, blend 1/2 cup of oats and all graham crackers until a fine powder consistency. If your kids want to break up the graham crackers by hand, place the graham crackers in a bag and let the smashing begin!
  • In a mixing bowl, combine the oat/graham cracker mixture, 1/4 cup peanut butter, and 3 tbsp of melted coconut oil
  • Combine thoroughly until the mixture begins to clump together. It should be a fairly dry mixture
  • Spread the mixture on your parchment-lined baking pan. Press down until an even layer of crust forms. Make sure it is sufficiently packed in! Not packing the mixture in enough will lead to a crumbly crust
  • Bake the crust in the oven for 10 minutes until lightly browned
  • While the crust is cooking, prepare the peanut butter crumble. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup oats (blend these if you prefer a finer texture), 1 tbsp peanut butter, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tsp vanilla, and 3 tbsp brown sugar. Combine this mixture by hand until clumps or crumbles begin to form
  • Once the crust has cooked, take it out to cool slightly. Once cooled, spread the jelly equally across the crust. Sprinkle chia seeds and the peanut butter crumble on top.
  • Place back in the oven for 25 minutes
  • Let cool before slicing and enjoy!

References

  1. Saldanha LG. Fiber in the diet of US children: results of national surveys. Pediatrics. 1995 Nov;96(5 Pt 2):994-7. PMID: 7494679.

1 thought on “Peanut Butter & Jelly Oat Bars”

  1. Pingback: Chocolate Chip Baked Oats - The Pediatric Dietitian

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