Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Posted Dec 19, 2020, Updated Mar 16, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
In this chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars recipe, a thick layer of chocolate and peanut butter is nestled between two layers of no-bake oatmeal cookie crust. They’re easy to make in 10 minutes with 5 ingredients!
These No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are an easy and delicious treat made with 5 ingredients in 10 minutes (just like these Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars or these chocolate peanut butter balls)!
This peanut butter chocolate oat bars recipe is my go-to treat when I’m short on time but need to make a dessert to bring to a holiday party, BBQ, potluck, etc. They’re also the perfect addition to your holiday cookie trays, along with all of our Christmas Cookie Recipes.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars: Ingredients & Substitutions
As always, I recommend making this no bake chocolate oat bars recipe exactly as written, however here are a few possible substitutions.
- Salted Butter. unsalted butter, earth’s balance vegan butter, and ghee all are good substitutes.
- Light Brown Sugar. dark brown sugar and coconut sugar are good substitutions.
- Peanut Butter. Any nut or seed butter works well in this recipe – almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.
- Semi-sweet chocolate. Use chocolate chips, bars, or discs. The form doesn’t matter beacuse it is melted. Choose your favorite variety from milk to dark.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Like I’ve said, these no bake chocolate oat bars are so easy to make. We’ll walk through the process together step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.
Something to note is that this recipe moves quickly. Lay out the ingredients, line the baking dish, grease a spatula, etc. before you begin.
Melt Chocolate and Peanut Butter
Begin this peanut butter oatmeal bars recipe by making the peanut butter and chocolate layer first. That way it has a little time to cool before the assembly phase.
Make the Oatmeal Layers
Next, make the oatmeal layers. This process goes quickly! Begin by melting the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Then stir in brown sugar and sea salt until the sugar is dissolved. Once it’s dissolved, turn the heat to low and add the vanilla and oats.
Cook the oatmeal mixture on low for about 2 minutes, or until the ingredients are combined.
Next, press about half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a greased spatula. (Reserve the other half to sprinkle on top).
Then, pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture gently and slowly over the bottom layer. Reserving about 2-3 tablespoons to drizzle on top.
Very gently crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate peanut butter layer & press it into place. Drizzle the top with the remaining chocolate/peanut butter mixture.
Chill & Cut
Refrigerate the chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars for at least 2 hours, or until the chocolate is set.
Once the chocolate is set, remove the peanut butter chocolate oat bars from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature before cutting. This ensures straight lines and easy cutting. Cutting cold, hard chocolate is never easy.
Store/Freeze
Store the peanut butter chocolate oat bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for 2 months.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars FAQS
Yes! Double the ingredients and make it in a 9×13″ pan.
Yes. Chill the bars, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly at room temperature – do not microwave.
If your bars are crumbly, you may have over-cooked the butter mixture or added too many oats. Either decrease the intensity of heat next time or decrease the cooking time (or both).
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
Oat Layer:
- 1 cup salted butter
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Line an 8×8" square baking dish with parchment paper, set aside.
Make the Chocolate Layer
- Melt the chocolate and peanut butter together – either in a microwave safe dish or on the stovetop over low heat.
Make the Oatmeal Layer
- Melt butter in a 5 quart saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir in the brown sugar and sea salt until dissolved.
- Add vanilla and stir until combined.
- Turn heat to low and add oats. Cook on low for about 2 minutes, or until ingredients are well combined.
Assemble
- Press about half of the oatmeal mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish with a greased spatula. (Reserve the other half to sprinkle on top).
- Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture gently and slowly over the bottom layer. Reserving about 2-3 Tablespoons to drizzle on top.
- Very gently crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate peanut butter layer & press it into place, making sure the entire top is covered.
- Drizzle the top with the remaining chocolate/peanut butter mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight (until chocolate is set).
- Let the bars come to room temperature again before cutting into squares.
Video
Notes
- Salted Butter. unsalted butter, earth’s balance vegan butter, and ghee all are good substitutes.
- Light Brown Sugar. dark brown sugar and coconut sugar are good substitutions.
- Peanut Butter. Any nut or seed butter works well in this recipe – almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.
- Semi-sweet chocolate. Since the chocolate is being melted, you can use chips, bars or discs. Choose your favorite variety from milk to dark.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Delicious! I made a Plantbased version of this. Just subbed the butter for almond butter, and subbed the sugar for a bit of Maple sirup. Soooo good!! And so easy and quick to make. Yummmm
Loved it! My hubby wants me to add a little more peanut butter and we may try some cinnamon with the oats but that’s personal preference. Thank you for this recipe.
Absolutely fantastic!
Easy, delicious. What’s not to like?
Hi Linda, I work at a gluten free restaurant and we use Bob’s Red Mill Quick Cooking Rolled Oats, its a light purple colored bag. Most Krogers and Walmarts carry it. I tried the recipe with it and everyone loved it!!
Can I use regular oats instead of quick oats? I’m gluten free and I don’t have any quick oats.
Can you use regular salt or does it have to be sea salt? Does it change the taste?
You can use table salt just decrease the amount by half.
Made a double batch of these for a bbq get together with friends we haven’t seen in 5 years. Everyone was raving about these and they were gone in no time. At first I wasnt sure about them but letting them sit in the fridge overnight was key in taste and texture. I will be making these again.👍
Made this double batch also, and taking to Grandson @IU! He loves them! Also made single batch for neighbors and Grands here! Easy/Delicious/Healthy!
Oh. Wow. These could be addicting. I might have to take some to work to share with others, or I will eat ALL of them. In like two days. I love that they are no-bake. This could become my go-to recipe for hot summer days when I want to make dessert but not use the oven.
can you use gluten free oats? dairy free milk?
Yes!
Simple and delicious! I love how the flavors come together and the middle layer isn’t too overpowering. The sea salt brings it all together so it’s not too sweet, and I actually added some cinnamon at the last minute, which was a great choice!
Lesson learned: make sure to press the top layer down enough or you’ll have crumbles everywhere.
My kids and grandkids were absolutely over-the-top with these cookies. I would like to make them as a surprise addition to my Christmas standards. I like to get my baking done early, so I have time fir decorating, wrapping gifts, etc. can these be frozen?
Made these tonight for our grandsons. Easy, appealing to the eye and so delicious! This recipe is a keeper.