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No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars with a thick center layer of gooey chocolate and peanut butter and a sweet oatmeal crust. That’s it. That’s what we’re making. Done.
We’ve taken the classic cookie and turned it into a no bake chocolate oatmeal bar – with peanut butter, obviously.
Extreme Goodness Ahead – No Oven Needed.
Is it true that we only get what feels like one week of super hot summer weather here in central Illinois? Yes.
But, like any true Illinoisan, let me tell you – it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity that’ll get ya.
We’re not turning on the oven during the summer, is where I’m going with this. I don’t care if it’s too hot or too humid, it’s too something and that means we’re making these no bake chocolate oat bars when the urge for a simple sweet treat hits.
Do the kids like these? Yeah, but who cares. These are for me, if we’re being perfectly honest.
They take me straight back to childhood with all the flavors of a classic no bake cookie turned into a bar with an extra thick layer of chocolate peanut butter goodness.
♥ Why You’ll Love These Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Bars:
- Easy: 10 minutes of prep, 6 ingredients, no oven. I don’t think dessert really gets much simpler than that.
- Kid-Friendly: First of all, who cares if the kids like these because these are for YOU. But if you are inclined to share, I can confirm that they’ll be well received by all ages.
- Make Ahead Bake Sale Vibes: Whether you make them in advance and package them up for a bake sale or you just keep a pan of these ready to go in the fridge for when neighbors stop by, they’re nice to have on hand and keep for about a week.
Ingredient Notes:
Oats – We’ve tested this recipe with both quick oats and rolled oats. Either will work fine. Quick oats have less chew/texture and rolled oats have more chew/texture. Do not use steel cut oats.
Chocolate Chips – I’ve tested all the chips here – milk chocolate, semisweet, and dark chocolate. We prefer semisweet to balance out some of the sweetness in the crust, but milk chocolate is more kid-friendly and dark chocolate gives these a more sophisticated vibe.
Peanut Butter – I’m a Jif girl through and through. This would also work well with SunButter if you’re nut free.
Other – You’ll also some butter, brown sugar, and vanilla extract to make the crust just right.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
My Favorite Vanilla!
This is my all time favorite brand of vanilla extract! It just seems to have the best flavor of any that I’ve used and I always recommend it. Try it out!
Step by Step:
Add the chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter to a microwave safe bowl and heat, stirring every 30 seconds until it has melted and blended.
Melt the butter in a sauce pan and then stir in the brown sugar, vanilla, and oats. Cook for 3-4 minutes to soften up the oats just a bit.
Sprinkle half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish and use your hands to firmly press it into an even layer.
Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter over the crust and then sprinkle with the remaining oat mixture and press to form the top layer.
No baking required here! Just cover the dish and refrigerate for 3 hours before cutting and serving these up to hungry friends and family. Or save them for yourself to eat under cover of darkness at 2am when the mood hits.
Freezing & Storage Instructions:
You can keep these no bake chocolate oat bars stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days. They should last a few more days if you keep them in the fridge.
The oat bars can also be frozen! Either wrap individual bars in plastic and foil or store in a freezer safe container or bag for up to a few months. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge.
More No Bake Recipes!
- No Bake Christmas Cookies
- No Bake Easter Peanut Butter Bars
- Keto No Bake Pumpkin Pie
- No Bake Gingerbread Cheesecake
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large sauce pan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, and oats. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Press half of mixture in to the bottom of a buttered 8 x 8 dish.
- In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate and peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and blended. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate and peanut butter, pressing gently to form a crust.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours before cutting and serving.
gwen says
would be awesome on a cookie tray thanks for sharing
Karly says
Thanks, Gwen!
Susan says
Have made these quite a few times and everyone LOVES them!!!!! Not only delicious, but easy and pretty. A couple questions I do have are “How long can you keep them in the fridge?” And “Can you freeze them?” Thx Karly!
Karly says
Hi Susan! I think these would last in the fridge for at least a week, maybe a bit longer. We tend to eat them pretty fast though. 😉 I’ve never frozen them before, but I think they’d freeze great!
Tex2flo says
This is now my go-to dish at my book club. I add grains of sea salt for a modern crunch twist. My friends say, “Don’t show up without that snack!”