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Simple and delicious no bake chocolate oat bars are a great layered dessert to enjoy any time of year without heating up the house!

No Bake Chocolate Oat bars stacked on top of each other with bite taken out.

No Oven Required!

Chewy oat treats are big in our house, especially when it’s a no-bake dessert. No bake chocolate oat bars are easy to make and taste more like a chocolate granola bar than a bar dessert. And my kids LOVE them!

They’re simple and full of chewy oats similar to our Almond Toffee Bars, Oatmeal Pie, or Banana Oatmeal Cookies. Not only are these perfect for summer, but they’re great all year long. Get the feel of a delicious baked chocolate and oat treat without actually having to bake them!

WHY WE LOVE IT:

  • Super simple. These no-bake bars come together easily, the hardest part is waiting for them to chill in the fridge.
  • Chocolate & PB. If you love the chocolate peanut butter combo you’ll love these bars.
  • Allergy-friendly. From the use of gluten-free oats to subbing in nut or seed butter, these bars can be tailored to certain allergies.  
Ingredients for No bake chocolate oat bars on counter.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter – salted butter helps balance the sweetness, but unsalted butter can also be used.
  • ยฝ cup brown sugar, packed – use light brown sugar or dark brown sugar.
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract many people also like to add 1-2 teaspoons of cinnamon along with the vanilla for even more flavor.
  • 3 cups quick cooking oats I prefer quick oats, but old-fashioned oats can also be used, be sure to cook them over low heat for an extra 1-2 minutes to help soften them.
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips milk or dark chocolate chips also works.
  • ยฝ cup creamy peanut butter for the best result, use regular peanut butter like Skippy or Jif. Natural peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, and other nut and seed butter can also be used.
  • chocolate chips, for drizzle – I like to reserve 2-3 tablespoons from the chocolate peanut butter mixture to drizzle on top, but you can also melt more.
  • optional toppings Caramel Sauce drizzle, butterscotch chips, mini M&Mโ€™s, crunched pretzels, or flaky sea salt.

How to Make No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

  1. PREP. Grease a 9x 9-inch pan and set aside, or Line the Pan with Parchment Paper.
  2. OAT LAYER. In a medium pot, melt 1 cup butter. Stir in ยฝ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add 3 cups oats and cook on low for 2-3 minutes.
    • Pour half the oat mixture into the greased pan and press down with a silicone spatula. Set aside the other half.
  3. CHOCOLATE LAYER. In another pot, melt 1 cup chocolate chips and ยฝ cup peanut butter on low heat. Stir until smooth and pour over the oat layer.
  4. TOPPING. Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing in gently.
    • Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over top.
  5. CHILL. Cover, and refrigerate for a few hours. Bring bars to room temp before cutting and ENJOY!

No Setting Time Required

Unlike some layer bars, these donโ€™t need extra time to set before piling on the next layer. This is because you want the oats to be a part of the chocolate layer, which is only possible when they have the opportunity to meld together. 

No bake chocolate oat bars set up in baking dish.

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4.98 from 82 votes

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

By: Lil’ Luna
Simple and delicious no bake chocolate oat bars are a great layered dessert to enjoy any time of year without heating up the house!
Servings: 9
Prep: 12 minutes
Refrigerate: 2 hours
Total: 2 hours 12 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 cup butter
  • ยฝ cup brown sugar, packed
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups quick cooking oats
  • 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • ยฝ cup creamy peanut butter
  • chocolate chips, for drizzle

Instructions 

  • Grease a 9×9 inch pan and set aside.
  • In a medium pot, melt butter. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Add oats and cook on low for a few minutes.
  • Pour half the mixture into the greased pan and press down with a spatula. Set aside reserve.
  • In another pot, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter on low. Stir until smooth and pour over the oat layer.
  • Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing in gently.
  • Melt chocolate chips and drizzle over top.
  • Cover, and refrigerate for a few hours. Bring bars to room temp before cutting and ENJOY!

Notes

Store. the bars at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-5 days or in the fridge for up to a week.
Freeze. Once the bars have set. Wrap the entire bar with plastic wrap and again with foil. If freezing individual pieces, wrap each with plastic (Fold top sandwich baggies also work for the individual sizes) and place them together in a freezer Ziploc. Thaw before eating.

Nutrition

Serving: 9g, Calories: 528kcal, Carbohydrates: 44g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 37g, Saturated Fat: 19g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 55mg, Sodium: 252mg, Potassium: 325mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 21g, Vitamin A: 640IU, Calcium: 47mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Recipe FAQ

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, double the ingredients and divide equally between 2- 9×9 inch pans, or use a 9×13 inch pan.

Why are my bars crumbly?

A couple of common reasons include, over-cooking the butter and oat mixture, adding too many oats, or not enough oats compared to the amount of butter.

Are these bars gluten-free?

While pure oats are gluten-free, many brands of oats have come in contact with gluten in one way or another. Check the package of oats is labeled gluten-free and you will be safe to make this recipe.

How to store No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars?

Store the bars at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-5 days or in the fridge for up to a week.

How to freeze?

Once the bars have set. Wrap the entire bar with plastic wrap and again with foil. If freezing individual pieces, wrap each with plastic (fold top sandwich baggies also work for the individual sizes) and place them together in a freezer Ziploc. Thaw before eating.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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4.98 from 82 votes (67 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




47 Comments

  1. Ellie Grove says:

    5 stars
    I needed a recipe with oats and this was the perfect one! We have made these a few times now! So simple to make!

  2. Mel says:

    5 stars
    I can’t believe how delicious these were and how simple to make! Could not love them more!

  3. Rina says:

    5 stars
    One of the most convenient treat recipes I’ve tried! We also love having this for breakfast. On-the-go breakfast!

  4. Denise says:

    Iโ€™m going to try it, but will substitute peanut butter for almond butter, cause iโ€™m not that fond of peanut butter..

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      I’m sure that will taste delicious as well!

  5. Paula Cromer says:

    I just made this for my daughter in law to have after having our baby. I’m excited for her to try these.
    Thank you

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      You’re welcome!! I hope she enjoyed them. Congrats on the new baby!!

  6. Joyce A Borcherding says:

    Can this recipe be doubled? Is one stick of butter to much?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yes, you can double the recipe. You’ll want to use a larger pan than a 9×9 (unless using two 9×9 pans). The original recipe calls for 1 cup of butter (which is 2 sticks), so doubling the recipe would actually be 2 cups (or 4 sticks) of butter.

  7. Todd B says:

    Tried making these but a cup of butter was way too much. I had to drain some off before putting the oats in the pan. Also, I wish the instructions suggested to use parchment paper instead of there just being a picture of it. I missed the picture and getting them out of the pan is kind of a pain lol. Tasty though!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Thanks for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!