The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
These No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are made with just four simple ingredients, and they’ll satisfy any sweet tooth. As a bonus, they’re gluten-free, too!
This recipe makes sixteen bars and costs $3.79 to make. It costs $0.24 per serving.
For more no-bake recipes, we recommend our No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies and our Chocolate Peanut Butter Bon Bons.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Chocolate and peanut butter, need we say more?! It is a favorite flavor combo for many, and we know why; creamy peanut butter paired up with velvety chocolate is hard to resist. These No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are no exception.
The bars are thick, rich, indulgent slices of Heaven! A layer of smooth peanut butter is topped with sweet chocolate. Their taste resembles a Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Cup, only thicker and better!
These No-Bake bars are made with four simple ingredients: peanut butter, oats (oatmeal), corn syrup, and chocolate chips. They make the perfect treat for parties, pot lucks, weekend movie nights, after-dinner desserts, or just because!
These are the perfect treat with no oven required and only fifteen minutes of prep time. Give them a try, and we know you will love these No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars with the delicious chocolate on top as much as we do!
Ingredients & Cost:
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter – $1.36
- ½ cup light corn syrup or honey – $0.68
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats – $0.88
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips – $0.87
To learn more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
INSTRUCTIONS
- First, line an 8-inch square pan, with parchment paper, and then set it aside.
- Next, using a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the peanut butter and corn syrup. Cook on high for thirty seconds in the microwave.
- Whisk the mixture together and heat for another thirty seconds until the mixture is completely melted.
- Stir in the oats, until completely covered, and place the mixture in the prepared pan.
- Using a rubber spatula, evenly spread and press the oats into the pan. Set the pan aside while you make the chocolate layer.
- Place the chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for thirty seconds and then stir together.
- Continue cooking in fifteen-second increments until the chocolate chips have melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Next, using a rubber spatula, evenly spread the chocolate mixture over the oat layer.
- Finally, freeze the bars for 45-60 minutes. Cut the bars into sixteen squares after the oat bars have set in the freezer.
***For complete instructions see the recipe card below.
RECIPE VARIATIONS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
These bars are not a healthy treat. If you are looking for a healthier option, check out our Energy Balls.
Instead of corn syrup you can use honey or agave nectar.
Instead of semi-sweet chocolate chips you can use milk chocolate chips.
Sometimes we like to sprinkle the tops of the bars with a little sea salt to make the flavors pop.
STORAGE TIPS
SERVE: Serve at room temperature or straight from the refrigerator.
STORE: Place the bars in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator for up to one week.
FREEZE: Place the No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars in a freezer-safe container with layers separated by wax paper or parchment paper. Frozen this way, they will keep for about 2-3 months.
THAW: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or at room temperature for 2-3 hours.
COOK’S TOOLS
- 8-inch square pan
- Mixing bowls
- Rubber spatula
- Whisk
- Measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
RECIPE FAQs
We love baking with peanut butter because of the rich and creamy texture it adds to any recipe, like in these No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars. Peanut Butter also makes the perfect Peanut Butter Smoothie, frosting for a Chocolate Wacky Cake, and even a savory sauce in these Thai Peanut Noodles.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips are perfect for baking. It is a great option to keep in stock in your pantry as the flavor goes well with most other ingredients.
GET KIDS INVOLVED
Ages 2-3: We like to start teaching our young ones about measuring cups early. With this recipe, your child can begin learning how much one cup of something looks like as they help pour in the oats and chocolate chips.
Ages 4-5: Use this recipe to teach your child how to use the microwave and mix the mixtures in between cooking times. Knowing how to use the microwave will help in future recipes as they learn and grow in the kitchen (but they’ll need LOTS of supervision before using it on their own).
Ages 6-8: Your child can begin to attempt this recipe on their own with your supervision (especially with the microwave). No-bake recipes are excellent opportunities to start building confidence in the kitchen.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
BUDGET TIPS
We prefer to buy our oats, chocolate chips, peanut butter, and honey in bulk from Costco. Buying in bulk for items we often use is cost-effective in our grocery budgeting. In addition, we keep these pantry staples stocked, so it is easy to make these No-Bake Bars and other recipes using similar ingredients, like our Granola Bars and Homemade Granola, that we make often!
MORE No-Bake Desserts
- Oreo Ice Cream Cake
- Easy Chocolate Fudge
- Homemade Frozen Yogurt
- No-Bake Key Lime Pie
- Banana Split Cake
- Oreo Cheesecake
- Shortcut Fried Ice Cream
- Oreo Cream Cheese Truffles
- No-Bake Lemon Icebox Pie
- Cookie Dough Balls
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Equipment
- 8-inch square pan
- mixing bowls
- rubber spatula
- whisk
- measuring cups
- Liquid measuring cup
Ingredients
PEANUT BUTTER OAT LAYER:
- 1 ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup light corn syrup or honey
- 2 cups old fashioned rolled oats
CHOCOLATE LAYER:
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
PREP PAN:
- Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper. Leave and overhang so you can lift the bars from the pan and slice them once they’re set.
MAKE PEANUT BUTTER OAT LAYER:
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, add the peanut butter and corn syrup.
- Heat in the microwave on HIGH heat for 30 seconds and whisk together.
- Heat for another 30 seconds if peanut butter mixture has not melted.
- Pour in the oats and stir until the oats are coated in the peanut butter mixture.
- Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared pan.
- Use a rubber spatula to smooth and press the oats into an even layer. Set aside.
MAKE CHOCOLATE LAYER:
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, add chocolate chips and peanut butter.
- Heat in the microwave on HIGH heat for 30 seconds and mix together with a rubber spatula
- Heat in 15 seconds increments if the chocolate chips have not melted.
- Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the oat layer.
- Use the rubber spatula to spread the chocolate into an even layer.
FREEZE:
- Freeze the bars for 45-60 minutes, or until the oats and chocolate have set.
TO FINISH:
- Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars from the pan.
- Carefully peel the parchment back and slice it into 16 squares.
Jenn says
I’ve been looking for a new oatmeal bar recipe to make for the kiddo and these look PERFECT! So excited to give them a try – thanks!
Genevieve says
I love chocolate and peanut butter and you can never go wrong with chocolate peanut butter bars! These look scrumptious!
Beth says
These are incredibly easy and so delicious. Thanks for the inspiration!
Keri Bevan says
These were so easy to make and the kids liked them so much (and so did I!). They disappeared in a flash. Thanks for the great recipe!
Tayler Ross says
I love a good no bake dessert! And peanut butter is my favorite, so I will definitely be giving these a try!