These no bake chocolate oatmeal bars are soft and chewy with a delicious layer of chocolate and peanut butter in the center! Gooey and just a little chewy, these delicious chocolate peanut butter bars never last long!

Stack of chocolate oatmeal bars from the side stacked three bars high.

I’ve been on a no-bake dessert kick lately. First, it was my gooey Peanut Butter Chocolate Krispie treats, and now these delicious bars. Though it’s not a surprise when you are finding all the ways to enjoy peanut butter and jelly that a chocolate peanut butter dessert like this would also pop up!!

These delicious gooey bars are pretty fast to prep, and just made for sharing! Plus really not many peanut butter fans can resist chocolate and peanut butter together?

If you are a peanut butter lover as much as I am, you have to try my Ultimate Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies!

Table of Contents

Ingredients For Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

Butter
Brown sugar -Honey may be substituted, but the bars will be a lot stickier
Vanilla extract – Almond extract can be swapped in a pinch
Quick-cooking oats– You can use rolled or instant oats for this recipe. I don’t recommend using steel-cut oats (also sometimes called old-fashioned oats) for this recipe. Steel cut oats can cause the bars to be too dry with their thicker cut.
Semi-sweet chocolate chips– A dark chocolate chip is also delicious in this recipe. If you have a bar of chocolate, chop it into pieces before melting to make it melt a little easier.
Peanut butter– I recommend using a no-stir style peanut butter, where the oil doesn’t sit on the top of the jar for this recipe. Crunch or smooth peanut butter can be used in this recipe

Ingredients for chocolate oat bars in bowls from overhead with labels.

How To Make Chocolate Oat Bars

Collage of mixing ingredients and layering bars in dish

Mix Oat Bar Base– Heat the butter and brown sugar together in the microwave, then mix with the vanilla and oats. Heat again in the microwave to help the oats absorb the butter a little better.
Mix Chocolate Filling- In a second bowl heat the chocolate and peanut butter together in the microwave on half power until melted, stirring to mix. Place 1/4 cup of the melted chocolate in a zip-top bag.
Layer The Bars– Press half of the oat mixture into the bottom of a parchment-lined 9×9 pan. Top The bars with the chocolate filling and spread evenly with a spatula.
Add The Top Of The Bars– Layer the rest of the oat mixture on the top of the bars, pushing down gently with a silicone spatula.
Drizzle The Chocolate– Snip the corner on the zip-top bag. Drizzle the chocolate over the top of the no bake chocolate oatmeal bars. Chill for 2-3 hours, then slice and enjoy!

Can I Use Natural Peanut Butter In This Recipe?

Natural peanut butter can be used in this recipe. Sometimes the oil in the peanut butter can begin to separate in the bars. Separation can especially happen if the peanut butter hasn’t been mixed well, but it can vary from brand to brand. I’ve had mixed results using natural peanut butter in this recipe.

Love peanut butter for snack time, not just dessert? Try my peanut butter oatmeal snack bites or my banana chocolate chip bites!

Can I Make These Bars Without Peanut Butter?

I would suggest swapping in another nut butter into this recipe, such as almond butter or cashew butter. If peanut allergies are a concern, sunflower butter makes a great swap.

If you make these bars without the peanut butter altogether, the filling won’t be thick enough. I haven’t tried doubling the chocolate to see if it would work without the peanut butter. If you try this, let me know in the comments!

Without the peanut butter or some kind of nut butter, these gooey treats will likely taste even more like a buttery granola bar.

A batch of chocolate oat bars sliced on parchment paper from overhead

Other Desserts You Will Love

Chocolate Dirt Pie Cups– Chocolate pudding, whipped cream, Oreo cookies, wait a minute is that dirt or dessert? This delicious no-bake dessert is classic family fun, and I’ve include lots of variation ideas from different parties!

No-Bake Cornflake Cookies– Chewy, crunchy, sweet and slightly salty, these no bake cookies have a little bit of everything going on, you’ve got to try them!

Carmelita Cookie Bars- Rich, chewy cookies stuffed full of a layer of caramel and chocolate in the middle. You’ll love them to the last crumb!