With a chewy layer of peanut butter oats and a rich, decadent chocolate topping, these no-bake oat bars made with just 5 simple ingredients are wonderful for any occasion. If you’ve got a craving for chocolate and peanut butter, skip the Reese’s cups and make these easy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars instead! Using just 5 ingredients that you probably already have on hand, you can whip up this amazing dessert without ever turning on the stove. I love these in the summer when it’s just not practical to heat up the house with baking. I also love them all year round as a lunch box treat or a decadent bite to go along with my afternoon coffee. Bar desserts are some of the easiest recipes out there! Be sure to try my Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars, crunchy Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars and gooey S’Mores Cookie Bars too!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Ingredients In Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
This no-bake dessert recipe only has 5 ingredients!
Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter works best in this recipe as it provides a smooth and creamy texture. Avoid using chunky peanut butter, as it may make the bars less cohesive. Oats: For the best texture, use old-fashioned rolled oats in these bars, not instant or minute oats. Chocolate Chips: Dark chocolate chips are my favorite, but this recipe works with semi-sweet chocolate too. Vanilla Extract: This elevates the flavors of peanut butter and chocolate, making them even better than they already are! Maple Syrup: To naturally sweeten the oatmeal bars and add moisture. You can also use honey if you prefer.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
How To Make No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
Recipe Tips
Press the oats down. To ensure that the bars are solid and even, use your fingers to press the oat mixture into the pan, making sure that you fill the corners and sides of the pan too. Microwaving tips. When using the microwave to melt the chocolate and peanut butter, less is usually better. Cook on high for 30 seconds, then carefully remove the bowl and stir well. Add another 30 seconds, then repeat. Only continue the process until the mixture is smooth. Or skip the microwave, and melt the chocolate in a double boiler on the stove if you prefer. To make these gluten-free, be sure that the oats you’re using are certified gluten-free. While oats themselves don’t contain gluten, they are often cross-contaminated. Try them with coconut. Replace ½ cup of the oats with the same amount of shredded coconut. This gives the bars a slightly different, but delicious flavor! Serving Size: No-bake chocolate oat bars can be cut into 9 large squares (as shown), or you can cut them differently to create 12 or 18 smaller bars instead.
Storing Tips
Keep these chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week. To keep them fresher for longer, wrap individual servings in plastic wrap first. No-bake chocolate oat bars can also be frozen for up to 3 months. I like to freeze them individually wrapped so that they can be tossed into lunch bags! I do the same thing with Oatmeal Balls. These are also packed with peanut butter and chocolate and make the best healthy snacks.
Can’t Get Enough Peanut Butter?
Try more of my easy and delicious peanut butter dessert recipes! Peanut Butter Lasagna is a creamy layered no-bake dessert with an amazing Nutter Butter cookie crust. Or make a restaurant-style favorite: No Bake Peanut Butter Pie! There’s also Peanut Butter Bread, Peanut Butter Granola, and Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. You’re sure to find the perfect peanut butter recipe here.
These chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars are so easy and so delicious. Save this recipe for your next peanut butter and chocolate craving by Pinning it! © Little Sunny Kitchen
