No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

Looking for a last-minute recipe for a class party?

Our No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars recipe takes just 7 minutes of cooking time and 15 minutes of preparation, so it’s perfect for school night cooking or young chefs.

It also uses ingredients that you likely have in your pantry – butter, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, dark chocolate chips (you can cut up a candy bar in a pinch) and peanut butter.

The result is a richly flavored bar with layers of crunchy oats balanced by creamy melted chocolate and peanut butter.

For variety, add nuts, coconut, or even a sprinkle of sea salt. 

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why I Love This No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars Recipe?

• Fast and easy to make – no baking required!
• Perfect for hot weather when you don’t want to turn on the oven
• Easily customizable – add in your favorite ingredients like coconut, cashews, or dried cranberries.
• The bars are rich and indulgent but still have a healthy dose of oats

Can you eat raw oats?

• Eating raw oats is both safe and nutritious
• Raw oats are rich in soluble fiber called beta-glucan
• According to Healthline, beta-glucan helps with weight loss, improves blood sugar levels, and lowers cholesterol

Why don’t my No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars get hard?

• You may not have let them freeze long enough.
• The bars need to set in the freezer for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.

How can I make No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars Healthier?

• Use dark chocolate that contains at least 70% cocoa.
• Swap out the brown sugar for coconut sugar or honey.
• Add nuts and seeds for extra fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
• Swap out the peanut butter for nut butter or tahini.

Can I use protein powder in this No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars Recipe?

• Yes, you can use protein powders in this recipe. Here’s how:
• Substitute ½ cup of the oats with a high-quality protein powder and reduce the amount of brown sugar
• Protein powders can dry out the bars, so add a tablespoon more of a liquid like almond milk.

How to serve No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars?

• Serve at room temperature or chilled.
• Top them with a scoop of ice cream, fresh fruit, or a drizzle of melted chocolate for an extra special treat!
• Add ½ cup of chopped nuts or coconut flakes for a richer flavor.

Cooking Tips:

• Be sure to grease your baking dish before layering the ingredients.
• If you don’t have dark chocolate chips, semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips also work.
• For easier cutting, let the bars thaw for 5 minutes.

Variations:

• Substitute almond butter or cashew butter for peanut butter.
• Add ½ cup dried cherries or cranberries for a tart counterpoint to the sweet chocolate
• and oats.
• For a vegan version, substitute vegan butter or coconut oil for the regular butter.
• Replace half of the dark chocolate chips with white chocolate or butterscotch chips.
• Add a sprinkle of sea salt for added flavor.

Ingredients:

• Butter unsalted
• Old fashioned oats
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Vanilla extract
• Dark chocolate chips
• Peanut butter

How to make No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars:

Step 1. Add the butter, sugar, and vanilla to a saucepan over medium heat on the stove. Heat until the butter and sugar are completely melted.

Adding the sugar.

Adding the vanilla.

Step 2. Place the oats and cinnamon into the skillet, stir and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Adding the oats.

Adding the cinnamon.

Step 3. Layer half of the oat mixture in the bottom of a well-greased 9×9 baking dish.

Step 4. Put the chocolate chips and peanut butter into a microwave-safe bowl, and heat at 30-second increments until the chocolate chips are melted and the ingredients are well combined.

Step 5. Add most of the chocolate mixture to the top of the oats in the baking dish, reserving just a bit for drizzling the top of the bars.

Step 6. Layer the rest of the oats on top of the chocolate.

Step 7. Drizzle the remaining chocolate mixture on top of the bars, and place in the freezer to set for a minimum of one hour before slicing and serving.

Enjoy!

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How to Store No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars?

• Store these bars in the refrigerator for up to one week.
• They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.

How to reheat No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars?

• The bars can be reheated in the microwave for 15-20 seconds if desired.
• The melted chocolate will be hot, so watch for tiny fingers that might get burned.

How long does No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars last in the fridge?

No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars can last up to 1 week in the fridge.

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