These delicious no bake peanut butter chocolate oatmeal bars are easier to make than they seem and make for an amazing snack you can prepare ahead of a busy week. They are vegan, chewy, sweet and healthier (made without butter). The perfect treat for the chocolate-peanut butter lover!
These delicious no-bake peanut butter chocolate oatmeal bars are a treat you need to try! They are super chewy, perfectly sweet and very peanut butter-ish, plus filled with a rich peanut butter-chocolate middle layer that makes them totally irresistible.
And the best part: they are easy to make and only require 6 simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry! Just like these amazing 4-ingredient peanut butter cups, you can whip up a batch within 20 minutes, then let it set in the fridge to be ready for your next peanut butter chocolate craving.
Looking for more no-bake dessert recipes? Check out these no-bake protein cookies and this peanut butter fudge!
Let me know if you give them a try! ❤️
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❤️Why you will love this recipe
- Delicious and simple recipe
- No baking and no oven are required!
- Healthier recipe (made without butter and without coconut oil)
- Packed with peanut butter and chocolate flavor
- Great make-ahead snack or dessert
- Kid-friendly and amazing to pack in lunch boxes or to bring to potlucks
- Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free
🗒 Ingredient notes (+ substitutions)
- Peanut butter: I recommend using natural peanut butter made with only peanuts and salt. It usually has a pourable consistency and will give better flavor to your bars. Make sure to stir well in the jars before measuring!
- Rolled oats: I used old-fashioned rolled oats, which are thick oats that give the bars an amazing chewy texture. I haven't tried it, but I think quick-cooking oats would work too, although it might give the bars a slightly different texture. If necessary, use certified gluten-free oats!
- Brown sugar: to sweeten the oat layer, you can swap for cane sugar or regular white sugar, but I do not recommend using maple syrup as this would change the texture.
- Chocolate chunks: I used the vegan chocolate chunks from the brand Enjoy Life, but feel free to use any kind of chocolate that you like. I recommend using slightly sweet chocolate (bittersweet is okay) since no sugar is added to the chocolate layer.
⭐️ Full list of ingredients (+ quantities) down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- Sweet and salty treat: add a pinch of coarse salt over the top of the chocolate drizzle to add some salty flavor and a nice crunch.
- Almond butter: you should be able to swap peanut butter for almond butter without any problem. Just make sure to use natural almond butter that has a pourable consistency and avoid the bottom dry part of your jar.
- Festive bars: cover the top with rainbow sprinkles if serving at a kid's birthday party or crushed candy cane if making a treat during Christmas.
- Extra chocolatey: add 1-2 tablespoons of raw cacao powder or cocoa powder to the oat mix (and about 1 tablespoon extra milk).
🍽 How to make no-bake chocolate peanut butter bars
Step 1: In a saucepan, combine the milk, peanut butter, brown sugar and vanilla. Warm up on medium heat until very hot and almost bubbly.
Step 2: Add the rolled oats and stir to combine. Keep heating up while stirring for about one minute. The oats should absorb most of the moisture. Remove from the heat.
Step 3: Add peanut butter and chocolate chips to a bowl.
Step 4: Warm up for 1.5-2 minutes, then let the mix sit for another 2 minutes on the counter. Stir to combine until smooth and uniform.
Step 5: Press about half the oat mix to the bottom of a parchment paper cover loaf pan.
Step 6: Pour the chocolate sauce over (leave 1-2 tablespoons for drizzling over the top at the end). Chill for about 20-30 minutes in the fridge.
Step 7: Scatter the rest of the oatmeal mix over the chocolate, then gently press into an even layer.
Step 8: Drizzle the rest of the chocolate over, then chill for at least 2 hours before slicing.
⭐️ Detailed recipe (+ video) down below in the recipe card!
💡 Helpful tips
- Perfectly chewy oat layer: heat up the oat until it turns softer yet still chewy before transferring to your pan. It should be a little sticky at this point. Warming the oat mix first will help the oat layer hold well.
- Creating the layers: Chilling the bars briefly after you pour the chocolate middle layer will allow the chocolate to set before adding the heavy top oat layer. This will help keep the chocolate layer intact and create beautiful distinct layers!
- Slicing in bars: I recommend bringing the bars at room temperature before slicing and also, slicing the bars right in the dish! This helps keep the mix tight while you slice so it does not break easily while pushing with the knife.
❗️Storage tips
Once the bars are sliced, you can transfer them to an airtight container and keep them on the counter (for up to 2 days) or in the fridge (for up to 5 days).
You can also freeze the bars for up to 3 months!
❓ FAQs
I haven't tried it, but you might be able to make them using pumpkin seed butter or sunflower seed butter. If the nut-free butter is already sweetened (as they often are), then add less sugar to the oat mix.
Since there is no baking in the oven involved, you can use different kinds of dishes to make them. I like these bars a little on the thicker side, so I used a loaf pan. You can also use a brownie pan and keep them thinner.
🌱 More healthy peanut butter dessert recipes
I hope you like this no bake peanut butter chocolate oat bar recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Loaf pan (or brownie pan)
- Medium saucepan
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats - I used thick old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
- 1 cup dairy-free milk - I used oat milk
- ½ cup brown sugar - or cane sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For the chocolate layer
- 1 cup vegan dark chocolate - I used chocolate chunks from Enjoy Life
- ½ cup natural peanut butter
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, add the milk, peanut butter, sugar and vanilla extract. Whisk well and warm up on medium heat until hot and bubbly, but not simmering. Then, add the rolled oats, stir to combine and let the oats warm up for 1-2 minutes while stirring often. The oats should absorb most of the liquid. Remove from the heat.
- In a medium bowl, add the chocolate chunks and peanut butter and warm up using the microwave for about 1.5-2 minutes. Then, let the bowl rest for another 2 minutes on the counter before whisking well until smooth and uniform.
- Cover a loaf pan with parchment paper and transfer half of the oat mix over. Press into an even layer (this will be the bottom layer). Pour the chocolate-peanut butter sauce over (leave a small amount for drizzling over the bars, if desired). Transfer in the fridge for about 20-30 minutes so it sets slightly, then scatter the rest of the oat mix over (be delicate to try to keep the chocolate layer intact). Use the back of a spatula to help create an even top layer.
- Drizzle the rest of the chocolate on top and transfer the dish to the fridge. Let it chill for about 2 hours before slicing into bars. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Perfectly chewy oat layer: heat up the oat until it turns softer yet still chewy before transferring to your pan. It should be a little sticky at this point. Warming the oat mix first will help the oat layer hold well.
- Creating the layers: Chilling the bars briefly after you pour the chocolate middle layer will allow the chocolate to set before adding the heavy top oat layer. This will help keep the chocolate layer intact and create beautiful distinct layers!
- Slicing in bars: I recommend bringing the bars at room temperature before slicing and also, slicing the bars right in the dish! This helps keep the mix tight while you slice so it does not break easily while pushing with the knife.
- Storage: Once the bars are sliced, you can transfer them in an airtight container and keep them on the counter (for up to 2 days) or in the fridge (for up to 5 days). You can also freeze the bars for up to 3 months!
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
These were amazing, gone the same day! Thanks for the recipe Jess!
😊