The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a no-brainer, and throw in a warm sugary, buttery oat mixture, and it is just about irresistible. I will leave it up to you as to how many of these no-bake chocolate oatmeal bars you sneak before sharing them with others.
Ingredients & Variations
1 cup butter – I recommend using unsalted butter so you can control the amount of salt in this recipe ½ cup brown sugar, packed – try to use dark brown sugar if you have it to get a deeper caramel flavor 1 tsp vanilla extract – the vanilla will cook with the butter and sugar to create a delicious mixture 3 cups rolled oats – I like to use the large oats, but any kind will do ½ tsp ground cinnamon – cinnamon brings a nice warmth into this recipe. Perfect for colder weather! ¼ tsp salt – a touch of salt helps to balance out the sweetness 1 cup chocolate chips – you can use milk, semi-sweet or dark chocolate in this recipe ¾ cup crunchy peanut butter – the little bits of peanuts add a nice crunch. Any kind of nut butter can work if there is a peanut allergy.
Tips to make the best Chocolate Oat Bars
To prevent your parchment paper from sliding around when adding your layers, I like to spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray then lay my parchment down. This works as an adhesive to keep the parchment in place. Once you’ve added in your oats and cinnamon, make sure to keep stirring as you cook to prevent the oats from burning. If you want to get fancy with presentation, try topping these bars with crushed peanuts or chocolate chips after you drizzle the chocolate mixture.
Storing and freezing chocolate oatmeal bars
I like to eat these bars right out of the fridge. You can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1-week, or on the counter for up to 5-days. If you want to freeze them, put them in a freezer bag and store them for up to 3-months. Thaw before serving.
