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Chewy and delectable vegan no bake peanut butter oat cups! Easy to make, oil-free and gluten-free. These cups are irresistible!
Get ready for one of my most crave worthy treats ever!
I got a random hankering the other day for a no bake peanut butter oat type of dessert, which I don’t typically go for, but I was so pleasantly surprised with how good these vegan no bake peanut butter oat cups turned out!
These cups are a delicious mix of vegan no bake peanut butter cookies and peanut butter cups! The peanut butter oat cup base is so soft, chewy and SO peanut buttery. The addition of vanilla extract enhances the flavors and adds a such a delicious depth. It’s basically like eating a delicious chewy peanut butter cookie!
These delectable cups are partially filled & topped with creamy natural peanut butter, then layered with chocolate and then finished off with sea salt. Perfection.
Why do I love these vegan no bake peanut butter oat cups so much? Read on! They are:
gluten-free
oil-free
super easy and quick to make
sweetened with pure maple syrup
packed with protein
a healthier option
made with only 6 easy ingredients
the perfect on the go snack or dessert!
What About Substitutions?
No worries here, friends! These vegan no bake peanut butter oat cups are easily customization to what you have in your pantry/fridge!
Peanut Butter: simply swap out the peanut butter for whatever creamy nut or seed butter you have on hand! Although- check the salt content and adjust added salt to your taste preferences.
Pure Maple Syrup: Any liquid sweetener should work here.
Dark or Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: Feel free to use any kind of chocolate you want! Using semi-sweet will give these cups a classic peanut butter cup vibe and will make them sweeter like candy. Using the dark chocolate chips will make these more decadent and a little less sweet. I have made them both ways and both are great, it just depends on your mood and craving! My favorite brand is Enjoy Life! They melt really nicely without the need for added oil.
How to Make Vegan No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Cups
First, make sure your peanut butter is drippy. It will need to be drippy for the oat cups to be soft and chewy! Either use a brand new jar (mix it well!) or take a jar out of the fridge and let it sit at room temp for a while to soften.
Start by grabbing a large bowl and add in your rolled oats, 1/2 cup drippy peanut butter, pure maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Mix very well. At first, this will look way too wet but KEEP MIXING! The mixture should be soft, moist, slightly sticky and easily hold it’s shape when pressed together.
Grab a muffin pan and add your muffin liners. You want the oat mixture to fill each liner about halfway. For each cup, scoop out a big spoonful of mixture and press it together in your hands to form a ball. Place the mixture into the liner and press down firmly so that it is tightly packed and the top is even. You can either press down with your fingers or use a small spatula. You should have 7 cups.
Next, use your fingers to gently press down and make a dent in the center of each cup.
Now measure out the 1/3 cup drippy peanut butter and add about 3/4 tbsp to each cup. Use the tip of a spoon to spread in an even layer.
Then, melt your chocolate chips (place them in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 1 minute, stir very well until smooth) and cover your peanut butter layer with about 1 tbsp melted chocolate. Use the tip of a spoon to spread the melted chocolate over the peanut butter in an even layer.
Freeze for about 15 minutes, then transfer to the fridge to set until the cups are firm! Top with a little sea salt and enjoy!
Store these covered in the refrigerator.
If you want more vegan oil-free peanut butter treats, check out these vegan gluten-free date sweetened peanut butter cookies and this vegan gluten-free peanut butter mug cake!
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If you make this recipe, I would love a rating and comment below! Don’t forget to take a photo and tag @wholesome.crumbs on Instagram!
Vegan No Bake Peanut Butter Oat Cups [Oil-Free]
Equipment
- You will need: a muffin pan and muffin liners
Ingredients
- 1 & 1/2 cups rolled oats certified GF if needed
- 1/2 cup + 1/3 cup peanut butter, divided needs to be drippy!
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp mineral salt + an extra pinch plus extra for topping
- 1/2 cup dark or semi-sweet dairy free chocolate chips see notes
Instructions
- First, make sure your peanut butter is drippy. It will need to be drippy for the oat cups to be soft and chewy! Either use a brand new jar (mix it well!) or take a jar out of the fridge and let it sit at room temp for a while to soften.
- Start by grabbing a large bowl and add in your rolled oats, 1/2 cup drippy peanut butter, pure maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Mix very well. At first, this will look way too wet but KEEP MIXING! The mixture should be soft, moist, slightly sticky and easily hold it's shape when pressed together.
- Grab a muffin pan and add your muffin liners. You want the oat mixture to fill each liner about halfway. For each cup, scoop out a big spoonful of mixture and press it together in your hands to form a ball. Place the mixture into the liner and press down firmly so that it is tightly packed and the top is even. You can either press down with your fingers or use a small spatula. You should have 7 cups.
- Next, use your fingers to gently press down and make a dent in the center of each cup. Now measure out the 1/3 cup drippy peanut butter and add about 3/4 tbsp to each cup. Use the tip of a spoon to spread in an even layer.
- Melt your chocolate chips (place them in a small microwave safe bowl and microwave for about 1 minute, stir very well until smooth) and cover your peanut butter layer with about 1 tbsp melted chocolate. Use the tip of a spoon to spread the melted chocolate over the peanut butter in an even layer.
- Freeze for about 15 minutes, then transfer to the fridge and set until the cups are firm! Top with a little sea salt and enjoy! Store these covered in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Which chocolate to use: using semi-sweet will give these cups a classic peanut butter cup vibe and will make them sweeter like candy. Using the dark chocolate chips will make these more decadent and a little less sweet. I have made them both ways and both are great, it just depends on your mood and craving!
Holly says
Hi, I’m not sure what you mean by drippy peanut butter. I’ve never had peanut butter that dripped. Do you just mean soft peanut butter?
Alexandria McAndrew says
Yup! You just want to make sure it’s nice and soft and drippy, as opposed to dry hard peanut butter at the end of a jar. The softer the peanut butter, the easier everything will mix together! 🙂
So yummy!! And incredibly easy so even better
Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed these! Thanks for the rating and comment! 🙂
These were really good! I microwaved the PB for a few seconds to make it easier to spread. Second time I made this, I used Sun Butter (due to an allergy). My son isn’t crazy about SB, so I didn’t put the layer on top – I just put the chocolate right on the oats. I also didn’t make them into balls first (the 2nd time). I just pushed them down with a spoon. Both times they came out fine. A great healthy snack. Thank you!
Made these last night. Super easy. Just used regular peanut butter and agave instead of maple syrup. They are excellent and this recipe is a keeper! Thanks!!
Made these just now! Having a plant based lifestyle is worth the yummy protein filled snacks !!!!
I love these. I have made them several times. Thanks for the recipe
I am trying to avoid all sugars can I leave out the Maple syrup?
Super yummy … I may have to make another batch …..very soon!
Just made these so easy and tasty….I think I sprinkled too much sea salt otherwise very good. Can they be frozen? I only found mini cupcake papers so made them mini….came out great. Thank you
Very tasty and easy to make, but messy! I used agave and dark chocolate chips and they are delicious. I was able to make a dozen.