These Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are a delightful sweet treat that requires no baking to make!
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
- Quick and Easy– This delicious dessert requires no baking, which means that you can have it ready in no time. Simply mix the ingredients together, layer them into a pan, and pop it in the fridge to set.
- Chocolate and Peanut Butter – Likely the best and most perfect dessert combination ever! The rich, velvety chocolate topping pairs perfectly with peanut butter oats, creating a match made in heaven.
- Great for All Occasions – Bring these bars to a party or potluck, or make them at home to enjoy as an afternoon snack. Put one of these in the kids’ lunchboxes if you really want to make them happy. I’ve even had one of these peanut butter chocolate bars for breakfast!
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
- Mix the Oats: Melt the peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 60 seconds, or until melted. Add maple syrup or honey, old-fashioned oats, and vanilla, and mix well with a spatula to combine.
- Press: Add the oat mixture to a 9×9-inch pan that has been greased and lined with parchment paper. Press down into an even layer.
- Make the Topping: In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter and melt in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until smooth.
- Spread: Spread the chocolate all over the oatmeal peanut butter layer. If you like, use a toothpick to create decorate patterns on top.
- Chill: Cover and chill in the fridge for 2-3 hours, or until firm. To serve, let the bars sit at room temperature for 15 minutes, then remove from the pan and cut into squares.
Tip!
Want to add toppings to your peanut butter bars? Be sure to sprinkle them on before the chocolate starts to set. Try sprinkles, chopped nuts, or toffee bits!
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.
Recipe FAQs
I don’t recommend using crunchy peanut butter in this recipe. The reason for that is that there is less actual nut butter in the crunchy version, and so there is less moisture. The no bake oatmeal bars will not hold together well if you try to use crunchy peanut butter.
Any type of liquid sweetener can be used. Honey or agave nectar are two great alternatives to maple syrup that work just as well in this recipe.
Definitely! Try chopped peanuts, toffee bits, shredded coconut, or sprinkles. Be sure to add the toppings before the chocolate starts to set.
More Easy No Bake Recipes
All No Bake Desserts →
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!
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
- 9×9 pan
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
For the peanut butter oat base:
- 1 ½ cups (360 g) creamy peanut butter
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) maple syrup or honey
- 1 ½ cup (150 g) old fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the chocolate topping:
- 1 ½ cups dark chocolate chips
- ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Grease and line a 9×9 inch pan with parchment paper.
- To a microwave safe bowl, add peanut butter and microwave for 60 seconds or until the peanut butter has melted. Add maple syrup or honey, oats, and vanilla and mix with a spatula to combine.
- Press the mixture evenly in the prepared pan.
- For the chocolate topping, in a medium bowl, combine chocolate chips with peanut butter and melt in the microwave at 30 second increments stirring in between until smooth.
- Spread the chocolate all over the peanut butter layer, you can also create decorative patterns with a toothpick.
- Chill in the fridge until it’s firm (2-3 hours), then take it out of the fridge and allow to sit for 15 minutes at room temperature, then cut into 9, 12, or 18 squares.
Notes:
- Cut your bars into whatever size you like! This recipe can make anywhere from 9 to 18 servings.
- Add coconut: replace ½ cup of the oats with the same amount of shredded coconut for a different flavor.
- To Store: Keep these in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
© Little Sunny Kitchen
Rodney D Slinde says
I mixed oats and Rice Krispies
Little Sunny Kitchen says
I bet that gave the bars a wonderful texture! Great idea.
Stacey says
These were perfectly delicious! Didn’t last long in my house. Everyone loved them! I used maple syrup and next time I will try honey.
Diana says
So happy to hear you loved the bars, Stacey! I think I’ll be making these this week, too! Yum!
Nania says
The granola bars were delicious but in my preference they could go with a less amount of chocolate!😋❤
Little Sunny Kitchen says
Thanks Nania! Feel free to adjust the ingredients the next time you make these. They’ll be just as delicious with a bit less chocolate too.
Cindy says
I have a stupid question. Do I grease the pan and then line it with parchment paper? Or do I grease the parchment paper?
Diana says
Lightly grease the parchment paper. Enjoy!