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    Home » Recipes » Bars & Brownie Recipes

    Published: Mar 7, 2020 · Modified: Aug 18, 2022 by Paula Montenegro · Income from ads and affiliate links 14 Comments

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars (no-bake)

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

    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 the magic combination of peanut butter and chocolate. A great snack and dessert.

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

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

    Things being hectic nowadays, I love to find one-bowl recipes that make life easier and baking so much fun. 

    There is something about dumping all ingredients into a bowl and not using the oven, right? It's still baking, and I still love it!

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

    It's during those times when these chocolate peanut butter oat bars 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.

    Chocolate oat squares on a wire rack with confetti, bluish background.
    Table of Contents Hide
    Ingredients
    Type of peanut butter
    Ground cookies
    Ganache topping
    Type of oats
    Recipe variation
    Related recipes you might like:
    Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Bars (no bake)

    Ingredients

    • 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 love using Ghirardelli Chocolate Dark Bar 60%,  Green & Black's dark chocolate 70%, Ghirardelli 72% intense dark chocolate, and Callebaut Belgian dark chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa, the less sweet the chocolate is.
    • 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

    Type of peanut butter

    You can use any type, but there are some considerations.

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

    If you use the natural type, you might need to add extra oats since it can be more fluid. Or use less peanut butter.

    Either way, it will be delicious.

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

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

    Ground cookies

    They add a lot of crunchiness, and a particular flavor since any type of plain cookie can be used.

    I do love chocolate ones - who doesn't - but they are great with vanilla or coconut cookies too. Or go wild and use gingersnaps or whatever suits your imagination.

    Ganache topping

    This adds a layer of soft, deep chocolate flavor, which is essential for the overall flavor. 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 

    Two types of oats are widely available: quick-cooking (instant) and old-fashioned rolled (traditional).

    I find rolled oats the best all-around type for baking almost anything, from cookies to these peanut butter oat bars - or their baked counterparts, the chocolate walnut oat bars - to dinner rolls.

    Instant oats have less consistency and are more powdery. I like them for instant breakfast bowls or fruit crumbles.

    Close-up of Chocolate oat squares on a wire rack with confetti, bluish background.

    Recipe variation

    Use dulce de leche instead of peanut butter.

    The bars will be sweeter and the flavor different. If you never tried chocolate and dulce de leche together, you're in for a real treat!

    I live in Argentina, where it is available everywhere. And I'm a huge fan, a fact very well documented in the recipe index of this blog. If you live in the US, you can easily buy dulce de leche online.


    Related recipes you might like:

    • Carmelitas (Chocolate Caramel Oat Bars)
    • Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies (with video!)
    • Walnut Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
    • 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 bars are easy to make, kid-friendly, with a touch of healthy oats and the magic combination of peanut butter and chocolate.

    • 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
    • 5.5 oz semi-sweet chocolate (chopped, divided)
    • ¾ cup regular peanut butter
    • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
    • 3 tablespoons cream (heavy or double)
    • 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.
    3. Add oats, salt, cookies, sugar, and HALF the chopped chocolate to the peanut butter mixture.
    4. Mix well with a spatula or wooden spoon until no dry parts remain. It might take a few minutes.
    5. The dough will be shiny and dark.
    6. 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.
    7. Refrigerate for several hours until it solidifies, and the oats absorb liquid and become chewier.
    8. When you’re ready to cut the bars, take the whole thing from the pan and transfer it to a board.
    9. 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.
    10. Pour it over the bars. You can spread it with a spatula or use a piping bag or fork to make a pattern.
    11. Sprinkle some confetti over it, if desired, before the chocolate settles.
    12. 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

    • Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars
    • Walnut Brownie Recipe
    • Dulce de Leche Brownies
    • Lemon Blondies

    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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