No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
These delicious no bake peanut butter chocolate oatmeal bars are easier to make than it seems 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!
Servings: 16 bars
Calories: 244kcal
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 teaspoon 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.
Nutrition
Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 207mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 1mg