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    Home » Recipes » Bars & Brownie Recipes

    Published: May 1, 2023 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliates

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

    Jump to Recipe
    Chocolate oat squares on a wire rack with confetti, image with text

    These no-bake oatmeal bars combine a bit of everything we love: they are extremely easy to make, very kid-friendly, have oats for a touch of healthiness, and that magic combination of peanut butter and chocolate. The ingredients are mixed and pressed into the pan, making them great for hot weather. An irresistible snack and dessert.

    Chocolate oat squares on a wire rack with confetti, bluish background.

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    Though we love the Carmelitas bars and chocolate chip oatmeal bars profusely, the idea of a no-bake snack that combines so many delicious flavors caught my eye immediately.

    Things are hectic nowadays, so I love finding one-bowl recipes that make life easier and baking fun. Dumping all ingredients into a bowl and not using the oven. It's still baking, right?

    Turning on the oven can be a deal-breaker when the weather gets hot.

    It's during those times when these chocolate peanut butter bars with chocolate come into play.

    They're especially great to make with kids, and I think the colored sprinkles have something to do with it. My nephew calls them chocolate confetti bars. But that topping is optional, of course.

    Wire rack on a blue surface with ganache topped chocolate oat bars.
    Table of Contents Open
    Ingredient list
    Type of peanut butter
    Ground cookies
    Ganache topping
    Type of oats
    Substitutions for peanut butter
    Related recipes you might like:
    Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars (no bake)

    Ingredient list

    • Oats: they give crunch to the top layer. I use old-fashioned rolled oats (traditional oats) because they have more texture, but you can use instant or quick-cooking oats.
    • Chocolate cookies: use plain cookies or wafers.
    • Powdered sugar.
    • Chocolate: use your favorite dark semisweet chocolate for this recipe. I like Callebaut 54% chocolate wafers or Ghirardelli Premium baking bar.
    • Peanut butter: the commercial type works best for this recipe, such as Jif or Skippy peanut butter.
    • Unsalted butter.
    • Cream: heavy, heavy whipping, and double cream, they all work.
    • Salt: I like to use kosher salt when baking. But regular table salt works just fine.
    • Edible confetti or sprinkles for decoration
    Close-up of Chocolate oat squares on a wire rack with confetti, bluish background.

    Type of peanut butter

    Though I'm a big fan of natural products, regular commercial peanut butter, such as Jif or Skippy peanut butter, works better as it has a thicker consistency.

    The idea is to make the bars firm enough to cut easily and not make a mess while eating them.

    If you use a natural, more fluid peanut butter, you might need to add a tad less to achieve the same firmness. That will depend on each nut butter.

    Raw mixture of chocolate and oat pressed onto metal pan with parchment paper.

    Ground cookies

    They add crunchiness and a unique flavor depending on the type of cookies you use.

    I love chocolate ones, but this recipe is also great with vanilla or coconut cookies. Or be more adventurous and use a spicy one like gingersnaps.

    Ganache topping

    This adds a layer of chocolate flavor that is amazing if you want more of it. You can omit it, but it complements the oat bars well. 

    What type of chocolate can you use? I love semi-sweet, but milk chocolate is an option if you like sweeter-than-average snacks. Or a mix of both. Your choice. 

    No-bake chocolate oat bars with ganache topping on a wire rack.

    Type of oats 

    • Old-fashioned rolled oats (traditional oats): I use them for everything because they have more texture and make chewier bars.
    • Instant or quick-cooking oats: the flakes are smaller and sometimes more powdery, rendering a softer bar with less texture.

    Both work fine for this recipe.

    Pile of chocolate oat bars with confetti on a wire rack set on a blue surface.

    Substitutions for peanut butter

    • Dulce de leche: the bars will be sweeter, and the flavor different. If you've never tried chocolate and dulce de leche together, you're in for a real treat! You can buy dulce de leche repostero Vacalin online. 
    • Almond butter or cashew butter: the flavor is mellower than peanut in my opinion. But similar in texture.

    Related recipes you might like:

    • Easy Chocolate walnut oat bars
      Carmelitas (Oatmeal Chocolate Caramel Bars)
    • Close-up of peanut butter brownie square on gold wire rack, white surface
      Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies (with video!)
    • Close up of metal plate with piled chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. Green cloth beneath it. Light peach surface.
      Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
    • Three slices of peanut butter bread in a stack with chocolate sauce on a wooden table. Loaf pan in the background.
      Peanut Butter Bread

    Let me know in the comments below if you made this recipe and loved it and if you had issues so we can troubleshoot together. I love to hear what you think, always. Thanks for being here. It's much appreciated.
    You might also consider subscribing to our FREE email series to Boost your Home Baking Skills! And our regular newsletter.
    And let's connect via Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

    Print
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    Close up of squares of chocolate no-bake oat bars with confetti on a wire rack.

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars (no bake)

    ★★★★★

    5 from 11 reviews

    Print Recipe
    Save Recipe Recipe Saved

    These no-bake oat bars combine a bit of everything we love: they are extremely easy to make, very kid-friendly, have oats for a touch of healthiness, and that magic combination of peanut butter and chocolate. A great snack and dessert.

    • Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
    • Yield: 12 bars

    Ingredients

    Units
    • ¾ cup traditional oats
    • Large pinch of salt
    • 1 cup ground plain chocolate cookies
    • ⅔ cup confectioners sugar
    • 3 0z semisweet chocolate or ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
    • ¾ cup regular peanut butter
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

    For the ganache topping:

    • 3 tablespoons cream (heavy or double)
    • 3 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped (or ½ cup chocolate chips)
    • Sprinkles for decoration, optional

    Instructions

    1. Have ready a buttered or sprayed 8-inch square pan lined with parchment paper.
    2. Heat peanut butter and butter until you can mix them. I use the microwave and a large mixing bowl. If you used a small container, transfer the mixture to a large bowl. 
    3. Stir in the oats, salt, ground cookies, sugar, and chocolate chips to the peanut butter mixture.
    4. Mix well with a silicon or rubber spatula or a wooden spoon until no dry parts remain. It might take a few minutes. The dough will be shiny and dark.
    5. Put it in the prepared pan, covering it as even and as smooth as possible. You might aid yourself with the back of a spoon that is lightly dipped in water.
    6. Refrigerate for several hours until it solidifies, and the oats absorb liquid and become chewier.
    7. When you’re ready to cut the bars, take the whole thing from the pan and transfer it to a board.
    8. In a bowl heat the cream with the chocolate until melted and smooth. I do it in the microwave in 10-second spurts, whisking well each time and making sure I don't scorch the chocolate.
    9. Pour it over the bars. You can spread it with a spatula or use a piping bag or fork to make a pattern.
    10. Sprinkle some confetti over it, if desired, before the chocolate settles.
    11. Keep leftovers refrigerated and well wrapped.

    Notes

    • Substitution: you can replace the peanut butter for same amount of dulce de leche or almond butter.
    • Ganache: use milk chocolate if you like a sweeter bar or a mix of milk and semisweet.
    • Freezing: you can freeze it for a few weeks, well wrapped.
    • Author: Paula Montenegro
    • Prep Time: 30 minutes
    • Refrigeration time: 3 hours
    • Category: Bars
    • Method: Mixing
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1/12
    • Calories: 295
    • Sugar: 19.8 g
    • Sodium: 275.8 mg
    • Fat: 19.1 g
    • Carbohydrates: 27.9 g
    • Fiber: 2.4 g
    • Protein: 5.5 g
    • Cholesterol: 17.7 mg

    Keywords: no-bake chocolate oat bars

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @vintagekitchenblog on Instagram and hashtag it #vintagekitchenblog

    Adapted from Martha Stewart

    More Bar & Brownie Recipes

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      Walnut Brownies
    • Light colored wooden board on a white surface with four rows of brookies bars.
      Brookies (brownie and cookies)
    • Bars of oatmeal chocolate chip cookie dough on parchment paper and a wooden board.
      Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
    • Pile and rows of brownies oozing dulce de leche on parchment paper with a white background.
      Dulce de Leche Brownies

    About Paula Montenegro

    I'm Paula, a baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe developer, sharing the best ones here with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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    1. Marlene G. says

      February 11, 2022 at 4:03 pm

      Oh my! As a Grandmother just now passing these onto my Grandchildren, I am going to be in big trouble with my daughter. These are so good that I only gave them half the pan to take home. Excellent!
      Marlene G

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Paula Montenegro says

        February 11, 2022 at 6:19 pm

        SO happy to hear that Marlene! I believe that's grandmother's duty at its best lol! Have a great weekend.

        Reply
    2. Veronika says

      March 15, 2020 at 1:58 pm

      I'm craving chocolate dessert the whole day today. I think I'll make this recipe, it's easy and I have all the ingredients! Plus, My hubby will be happy about PB!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
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    A baker for more than 30 years and your designated recipe finder, sharing the best ones on this blog, with simple ingredients + easy-to-follow instructions.

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