Print

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★

3.9 from 36 reviews

Delicious and easy No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars featuring a layered combination of buttery oats, silky chocolate, and peanut butter. Perfect for a quick treat that requires no oven and sets firmly in the refrigerator. These bars strike a balance of sweet, chewy, and chocolatey goodness, ideal for snack time or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Base and Layers

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups rolled oats

Chocolate Peanut Butter Filling

  • 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pan: Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some overhang on the edges to easily lift the bars out later. You may also use a 9×13-inch dish for thinner bars.
  2. Melt Butter and Sugar: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 cup butter with 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, stirring until the butter is fully melted and sugar dissolved. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  3. Add Oats: Mix in 3 cups rolled oats and continue cooking on low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently until ingredients are well blended and slightly cooked.
  4. First Layer: Pour half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly, using the back of a spoon or spatula to press down firmly to form the base layer.
  5. Prepare Chocolate-Peanut Butter Filling: In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips together. Stir until smooth and fully combined.
  6. Add Chocolate Layer: Pour the chocolate-peanut butter mixture evenly over the oat base layer in the pan, reserving about 1/4 cup of the mixture for drizzling on top.
  7. Top Oat Layer: Pour the remaining oat mixture on top of the chocolate layer, spreading it evenly and pressing down gently to set the layer.
  8. Final Chocolate Drizzle: Drizzle the reserved chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the top oat layer for decoration and extra flavor.
  9. Chill: Refrigerate the assembled bars for 2 to 3 hours or preferably overnight until firm. Before serving, bring to room temperature for easier slicing.
  10. Texture Tip: The firmness of the bars depends on how long you cook the oat mixture with sugar; too short yields soft bars, too long can make them dry or crumbly.

Notes

  • Use parchment paper with overhang for easy removal of bars from the pan.
  • Adjust the chocolate to peanut butter ratio if you prefer a sweeter or nuttier flavor.
  • For thinner bars, use a larger pan such as 9×13-inch.
  • Let bars come to room temperature before cutting to avoid cracking.
  • Cooking time of the sugar mixture influences the final texture of the bars, so monitor carefully.

Keywords: no bake bars, chocolate oatmeal bars, peanut butter bars, easy no bake dessert, refrigerator bars, chocolate peanut butter oatmeal

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/no-bake-chocolate-oatmeal-bars-recipe/