Name: No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 2 h 25 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup butter; 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 3 cups rolled oats; 1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips; 1/2 cup peanut butter

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Introduction

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars are a simple and delicious treat perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth without turning on the oven. These bars combine buttery oats, rich chocolate, and creamy peanut butter for a chewy, chocolaty snack that’s easy to make and hard to resist.

The image shows a close-up of a square oat bar cut into pieces with three visible layers. The bottom layer is a dense oat base in light beige color with bits of nuts or chocolate mixed in. The middle layer is thick and smooth chocolate filling in dark brown. The top layer is a mix of oats that look crunchy and golden, drizzled with thin lines of glossy dark chocolate sauce. The bars are placed on a white marbled surface, and the photo highlights the texture and layers clearly. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter

Instructions

Step 1: Line an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving overhangs on the edges to lift the bars out easily. You may use a 9×13-inch dish for thinner bars.
Step 2: In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter and brown sugar together until the butter has melted and the sugar dissolves. Stir in the vanilla extract.
Step 3: Mix in the rolled oats and cook over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally until the mixture is well blended.
Step 4: Pour half of the oat mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread it evenly and press down firmly. Set aside the remaining half for the top layer.
Step 5: In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the peanut butter and chocolate chips together until smooth, stirring well to combine.
Step 6: Pour the chocolate-peanut butter mixture over the oat crust, reserving about 1/4 cup for drizzling. Spread it evenly.
Step 7: Spread the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing gently. Drizzle the reserved chocolate mixture over the top layer.
Step 8: Refrigerate the bars for 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Allow to come to room temperature before cutting into bars for easier slicing.
Step 9: Note that the texture depends on how long you cook the sugar mixture; cooking too little makes the bars soft, while cooking too long makes them dry and crumbly.

Tips & Variations

Use natural peanut butter for a less sweet, richer flavor, or substitute almond butter if preferred.
Add a pinch of salt to the oat mixture to enhance the chocolate and peanut butter flavors.
For extra texture, stir in a handful of chopped nuts or dried fruit with the oats.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. For longer storage, freeze them for up to 2 months. To serve, thaw at room temperature for about 15 minutes before enjoying. Reheating is not necessary.

How to Serve

Three stacked dessert bars are shown, each bar having three layers. The bottom and top layers are a light beige, crumbly oat mixture, looking rough and slightly crunchy. The middle layer is thick and smooth chocolate, rich and creamy, filling the space fully between the oat layers. The top oat layer is drizzled with dark chocolate in uneven lines. Some oat pieces are scattered around the base on a white marbled surface. The focus is on the textures and the contrast between the creamy chocolate and crumbly oats. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use quick oats instead of rolled oats?

Quick oats can be used, but they will make the bars softer and less chewy compared to rolled oats.

Why are my bars too soft or crumbly?

The texture depends on how long you cook the butter and sugar mixture. Make sure to melt the sugar thoroughly but avoid overcooking it to prevent dry, crumbly bars.