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
If I added shredded coconut or seeds to the mix, would I need to reduce any other ingredient?
These are really good. I made double decker ones. A layer of peanut butter (without the cocoa) topped with a layer with the chocolate. Yum. They go fast!
These are fantastic! Sooo good right out of the freezer!
I’ve made these twice and the 2nd time I added chopped almonds which gave a terrific crunch! I took them to school and was asked for the recipe by a few of my friends. They really satisfy! I love how EASY they are to make, and in the summer heat, you don’t have to turn on the oven!
can you please put a jump to recipe button on your recipes
If I used old fashioned oats instead of quick oats, would that work or taste the same?
They will be more chewy and textured, and you might need a little more peanut butter for them to stick together, but they will still work 🙂
Do you know of a healthful sweetener that can be substituted for the maple syrup? I am a Type 2 diabetic and was hoping for something that doesn’t have sucralose or aspartame in it.
I just made these with the following substitutions:
Apple sauce in place of Maple syrup or honey
PBfit in place of peanut butter
They were so good! If you do this then you definitely need extra liquid so I used more apple sauce and that worked for me. Probably not as sweet as using the other sweeteners but I liked them not so sweet.
Hi! Can I roll these into balls instead of making bars?
We don’t see why not. Katie also has this similar recipe for no bake cookies: https://lett-trim.today/chocolate-no-bake-cookies/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
My family loves these easy to make bars. They are part of our lunch box treats. We are adding peppermint extract during the prep. Chocolate and peppermint is the perfect combination.