What to do, what to do . . . you are craving something sweet and moreish, but the temperatures outside are ragingly hot and you just can't face putting on the oven to bake something. Thankfully I am here to save the day with the perfect solution!
The best ever chocolate oatmeal no-bake bars! Say what? No Bake! Count me in!!
These lovely bars are perfect for those days when you are craving something chocolatey and peanutty but don't want to turn on the oven. Plus they have that moreish nutty factor from the oats.
Using only five simple ingredients, plus vanilla, they won't break the bank either! Quick. Easy. Delicious! Where do I sign up?
WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE NO BAKE CHOCOLATE OATMEAL BARS
This is a small batch recipe, making only six scrumptious bars, but you can easily double everything to make more if you wish. Just use a larger pan. I recommend an 8 or a 9 inch square pan in that case.
- 1/2 cup (120g) butter
- 1/4 cup (50g) soft light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (120g) rolled oats
- 1/2 cup (90g) semi sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup (45g) smooth peanut butter
I use regular salted butter. I haven't got the budget to keep two kinds of butter in my house. I actually don't find that things are all that salty as most of the time I don't add any salt to the recipe at all, just relying on the salt that is in the butter.
Oh boy do I ever miss Danish butter. I used Lurpak butter the whole time I was in the UK. I guess it has gotten super expensive now, but then again, it never was as cheap as the other brands. But boy oh boy was it every worth the extra pennies.
Full disclosure here, today I used the large flake oats because I didn't have any medium oats. This gave them a lot of chewy texture. If you don't like a lot of chew, use smaller flakes.
Do NOT use instant oats.
I used Kraft brand smooth peanut butter. I think you could get away with using a natural peanut butter, but I don't like to say for sure because I never have done.
The chocolate chips I use are the Kirkland brand that you buy at Costco. They are my favorite. I could eat them just like regular chocolate.
HOW TO MAKE NO BAKE CHOCOLATE OATMEAL BARS
The only thing easier than making these bars is eating these bars!
Butter a medium sized loaf tin and line with baking parchment leaving an overhang on the two long sides for ease of removal.Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat until the butter is completely melted an the brown sugar no longer feels gritty beneath a spoon. Stir in the vanilla and mix in the oats until well blended.Cook over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a small microwave safe bowl in the microwave, (on high) giving it a stir every 30 seconds until smooth.
Press half of the oat mixture into the loaf tin. (I find the bottom of a metal measuring cup works well at doing this.)Remove two tablespoons of the chocolate mixture from the bowl and pour the remainder over top of the oats in the tin, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining oats over top and press down gently. Drizzle with the reserved chocolate mixture.Chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before cutting into six bars.
To cut these into bars, just lift it out by the overhang of the paper onto a cutting board. Make one cut down the middle of the bars lengthwise, and then make three shorter cuts cross wise.
Presto, six perfect and evenly sized bars! If you like you can cut them in half yet again, but I find them to be just the right size as is
These delicious no bake chocolate oatmeal bars with peanut butter are not suitable for packing into school lunches because of the peanut butter. Most schools these days are peanut free because of allergies.
I have to say I really enjoyed them with the larger flaked oats. I loved the nutty chewiness that they gave to the finished product. I think I will always use the larger flaked oats.
What's your favorite no bake treat to make in the summer months? I really want to know. Lets share!!
Some of my other no-bake treats on here are:
NO BAKE CHEESECAKE - Everyone who likes cheesecake always falls in love with this delicious no bake version! I love it because not only is it scrumptious but it is very easy to make. You can top it with any fruit filling you enjoy!
PEANUT BUTTER CORNFLAKE BARS - These delicious bars are a favorite summertime treat! Not only are they no baked, which keeps you out of the heat of the kitchen, but they are quick and easy to make. They also use only four simple ingredients, excluding the optional topping. REFRIGERATOR TOFFEE BARS -These are such a simple make. As simple as stirring a few things together in a saucepan and simmering/boiling them on the stove for a short time . . . sweetened condensed milk, brown sugar, butter . . . and milk . . . and layering the resulting toffee sauce in a pan with some crisp buttery crackers. Topped with melted chocolate chips, these always go down a real treat!
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars (small batch)
Yield: 6Author: Marie RaynerPrep time: 15 MinCook time: 2 HourTotal time: 2 H & 15 MThese tasty bars are so easy to make and help to keep the heat out of the kitchen. Using only a few store cupboard ingredients they are also very quick and easy to make. Delicious!Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (120g) butter
- 1/4 cup (50g) soft light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups (120g) rolled oats
- 1/2 cup (90g) semi sweet or dark chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup (45g) smooth peanut butter
Instructions
- Butter a medium sized loaf tin and line with baking parchment leaving an overhang on the two long sides for ease of removal.
- Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat until the butter is completely melted an the brown sugar no longer feels gritty beneath a spoon. Stir in the vanilla and mix in the oats until well blended.
- Cook over low heat for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a small microwave safe bowl in the microwave, (on high) giving it a stir every 30 seconds until smooth.
- Press half of the oat mixture into the loaf tin. Remove two tablespoons of the chocolate mixture from the bowl and pour the remainder over top of the oats in the tin, smoothing it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining oats over top and press down gently. Drizzle with the reserved chocolate mixture.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours before cutting into six bars.
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