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
Delicious!!!! These bars taste just like no bake cookies but without any refined sugar and only real ingredients. Great w maple syrup or honey. Have only used butter not coconut oil. My son is on modified SCD and these are such a great treat for him… as long as I don’t eat them all first. Ty so much!!!
This made us so happy to read 🙂
Absolutely awesomely delicious!! Definitely near impossible to stop at one piece!! I used Western Star unsalted butter instead of coconut pot (it was what I had on hand) and cacao instead of cocoa powder. My family will be devouring these over coffee without a doubt!! So simple and quick. Will be a permanent fixture in our freezer!! 😄
THESE REALLY LOOK GOOD, I CERTAINLY WILL TRY THEM, ALSO FOR A SNACK. THANK YOU KATIE.
GAYLE LITTLEJOHN
These will make your mouth water 😍😍
Wonderful! A favorite in my house!
My grandson insists I have these on hand at all times. I double the recipe, throw them in the freezer then cut them up and keep one container in the frig and 3 in the freezer. Lucky if they last a week 🙂
Simple, quick and yummy! No more need be said.
After seeing this recipe, I made it the same day! I used honey & butter but I also added slivered Almonds, dried cranberries & topped with coconut. And OH MY GOSH! Talk about absolutely wonderful! Definitely curbs the sweet tooth & makes for a great snack! Will definitely be experimenting with other add ins & making again!!
These were delicious! I made a few adjustments, (I added sunflower seeds, mini chocolate chips,a scoop of chocolate whey powder and honey instead of syrup) I’m going to make more right now, since the first batch “mysteriously” vanished!
Can you use Canola oil instead of coconut oil?