The classic melt-in-your-mouth chocolate oatmeal no bake bars are popular for a very good reason – they’re impossible to stop eating!
At first glance, traditional chocolate no bake recipes—made with wholesome oatmeal instead of flour—might seem like a healthy choice.
But with half a cup of butter and two full cups of refined sugar packed into traditional no bake bar recipes, they’re really not even close.
These homemade chocolate oatmeal no bake bars offer the perfect healthy alternative:
You get all of the wholesome ingredients, without all the extra butter and sugar.
I swapped out the sugar here for pure maple syrup and have also cut way back on the sweetener in general, and I substituted peanut butter for the butter, for an added protein boost you won’t even realize is in there.
Also Try These Buffalo Cauliflower Wings – Just 6 Ingredients
The recipe first came about during the Snowpocalypse 2016, when my then-boyfriend and I were trapped in my apartment while the snow relentlessly slammed down outside.
After watching about seven Daredevil episodes in a row, he looked at me and said, “So where are all the famous Chocolate Covered Katie baked goods?”
With no grocery stores open, I took stock of my pantry and pulled out every one of my favorite ingredients that I always have on hand:
Chocolate.
Peanut Butter.
Oatmeal.
Combining so many delicious ingredients into one easy-to-make and heart-healthy dessert was pretty much a guaranteed success right from the start.
I formed them into no bake cookie balls and put them on a plate.
The boy proceeded to eat eight of them… So I took that as a good sign!
Then we watched even more Daredevil, and ate pasta with jarred Ragu from 7/11 for dinner.
And swore we’d never tell.
Also try the recipe in cookie form –> Chocolate No Bake Cookies
Oatmeal Chocolate No Bake Bar Instructions
Step One: Prepare an 8-inch pan by lining it with parchment or wax paper.
Stir together the liquid ingredients, then combine with the oats and stir until evenly mixed.
Step Two: Smooth into the prepared pan, and press down with a spoon as hard as you can.
Really press down as hard as you can.
Transfer the pan to the freezer until the bars are firm enough to cut.
Step Three: Slice into bars, and enjoy!
Leftovers can be left out at room temperature for a few hours, but for optimum freshness I like to keep them in the fridge or freezer, where they last a few weeks…
If you don’t eat them all first!
Above, watch the video of how to make chocolate oatmeal no bake bars.
Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup peanut butter or allergy-friendly sub
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup or honey or agave
- 1/4 cup butter or coconut oil
- 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 cups quick oats (Here's a keto version)
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
Instructions
- Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment or wax. Set aside. Stir together the first three ingredients. Gently heat until the oil is melted and peanut butter is easily stir-able. Whisk in the vanilla extract and salt, stirring until completely smooth. Stir in the quick oats and cocoa powder until evenly coated. Smooth into the prepared pan, and press down with a spoon as hard as you can. Really pack it in. Freeze until firm enough to cut. Leftovers can stay out a few hours, but I like to keep them in the freezer for optimum freshness, where they last a few weeks.View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
More Healthy No Bake Recipes
Or this Avocado Chocolate Mousse
I make these all the time!!!! absolutely love them. Almost always have them around. Awesome recipe.
Thank you so much for making them! 🙂
These are getting made this weekend. Any thoughts if I wanted to add protein powder or chia/flax seed? Amounts to add? Thank you, Katie.
You can add a handful of chia seeds, no problem. Katie has done it before (without measuring). For protein powder, try replacing some of the cocoa powder with protein powder. Be sure to report back if you try!
Looking forward to trying this. One question…my coconut oil is melted due to the warmer air, is the measurement the same as when solid?
Yes, same! Once you fridge them to set, it will firm up anyway so should make no difference 🙂
Will powdered peanut butter such as PB2 work in this recipe?
Sorry we haven’t tried. Be sure to report back if you experiment!
These are dangerously delicious! I’ve been doing a lot of baking the last few months and wanted to thank you for always having such consistently great recipes. When I make a CCK recipe I don’t have to worry about it not tasting great or having to toss the results and waste food. Love these!
Thank you so much for making them!
Is there a non-nut sub for peanut butter?
Hi, coconut butter works for sure, or sunbutter would probably work as well if you like the taste. Maybe soynut butter too?
Can these be done with out the chocolate?
They can with some modifications – for example, here is a similar recipe with berries instead of chocolate: https://lett-trim.today/strawberry-oatmeal-bars/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
These are outstanding. I used maple syrup and coconut oil. Not too sweet but enough to feel like it’s a treat. Excellent right out of the freezer, firm but not frozen.
Whooo hooo! I think I could live off these!
These are now a family favorite. I made them for both my sons’ families and we all agree that they are the best less fat, less sugar no bake bars ever. Plus, there’s something psychologically appealing to keeping them in the freezer!!