This post may contain affiliate links. Read disclosure policy
I have this secret that I’ve been carrying around with me my whole life. I’ve always been too scared to tell anyone for fear of what they would say. I want to tell you, but if I do will you promise not to call me names and leave me?
I’ve never eaten oatmeal before.
No, really. I’ve never eaten oatmeal. I mean, sure, yes, I’ve had it in cookies, but I’ve never just sat down with a bowl of oatmeal and ate it. I’ve never even tasted it in that form before. It just looks so icky and, if we’re being honest, a little bit creepy. Like maybe the oatmeal actually wants to eat me, instead of me eating the oatmeal.
You aren’t calling me names, are you?
I hope not, because I think I’ve finally decided to try oatmeal. I made these delicious no bake oatmeal bars yesterday and I actually tasted the plain oatmeal crust and, man, it was good. I doubt regular breakfast oatmeal tastes like this crust does (people don’t generally put 3/4 of a cup of butter in their morning oatmeal, do they?), but I’m willing to give it a go.
For now, let me show you these delicious no bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars. And, yes, they are fairly similar to the chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies I just made, but these don’t require baking, are in bar form, and, well, they’re just different, okay?
This recipe is super simple. You melt 3/4 of a cup of butter on the stove, add in 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 3 cups of quick cooking oats. Cook them over low heat for 3 or 4 minutes and then be brave and take a bite. It’s oatmeal and it’s yummy! The mixture is fairly thick and gloppy (mm, appetizing, no?), but that’s how we want it. Just use a spoon and scoop half of the oatmeal into a buttered 8×8 dish and press it down.
Add 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1/2 cup of peanut butter (smooth or chunky, your choice) to a microwave safe bowl and microwave until it’s all melted together. You’ll have to stop the microwave and stir every 30 seconds or so to avoid burning the chocolate.
Pour the chocolate and peanut butter over the top of the oatmeal crust, reserving a couple spoonfuls to drizzle over the top of the bars.
Gently press the reserved oatmeal on top of the chocolate and peanut butter, drizzle with the remaining chocolate and peanut butter and then refrigerate for a few hours.
Go ahead, try ’em. Just be sure to eat them all as fast as you can before the oatmeal decides to eat you first.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter smooth or chunky
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large sauce pan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, and oats. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Press half of mixture in to the bottom of a buttered 8 x 8 dish.
- In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate and peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and blended. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the crust, reserving a couple of spoonfuls to drizzle over the top.
- Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate and peanut butter, pressing gently to form a crust. Drizzle the remaining chocolate and peanut butter over the top of the bars.
- Refrigerate for 3 hours before cutting and serving.
Nutrition Information:
Adapted from allrecipes.com
MandyM says
Oh those look wickedly good! Just need a nice big cold glass of milk and a cosy blanket and you’re all set!!
I must say, oatmeal is one of my favourite breakfasts, but I do agree that it can look a little…. not so appealing… if cooked to be too wet and gloopy.
Good on you though for facing those fears and sharing your dirty little secret! 🙂
Lovely recipe, gorgeous pics.
Sheri says
I made these last night and they are heavenly!
I added cinnamon because cinnamon is good for you and it makes me feel better about the butter-sugar 🙂
will gladly make these again and again and again.
Thanks!
Alison says
Oh my god, my husband has never had oatmeal either!!! I can’t wait to tell him. Or wait, maybe I don’t want to tell him.
Lori says
Ooops, forgot to tell you, the oatmeal cooked with milk, not water, and then butter added is much better than plain oatmeal. Then you can add whatever sugar you like. That’s how I like it.
Lori says
Oh, my goodness! Karly, you are EVIL!! I’m on my way to the pantry to make sure I have all the ingredients, and then tonight is the night!! Like MamaBug, I have also lost 3 lbs., and will be making these regardless. They will be going to work with me tomorrow. Why should I be the only one to gain??
grace says
you haven’t been missing much–to me, oatmeal isn’t worth eating unless it’s smothered in brown sugar and cinnamon or maple syrup…or 3/4 cup butter and lots of chocolate. 🙂
Gala says
Love. Your. Bars.
ABowlOfMush says
I’m running out of reasons as to why I shouldn’t make these right now!
These look really fab!
Maria says
Wow those look good!
Anna says
I’ve been having a lot of fun with breakfast oatmeal recently. Bananas are good, and I don’t even like bananas! I use the ones that I chop up and freeze when my kids don’t finish it.
Or, stir a spoonful of peanut butter into it when it’s done. If a few semi-sweet chips fall in accidentally, it’s okay to eat it anyway.
My next attempt will be to make it with orange juice, and then add crasins to it. Oatmeal doesn’t have to be boring!
Katerina says
These sound absolutely delicious!
Do give oatmeal a try, look at it as a fun way to experiment with topping. Try adding in a chopped up banana when it is cooking, and crumble one of your bars on top.
MamaBug says
OH-MY-GOD.
I just had one with my coffee.
I now officially adore you.
MamaBug says
Thanks Karly. Just…thanks. I lost 3 pounds and tomorrow I will consume half of a pan of those freakin’ yummy bars and weigh about 10 pounds more. And BTW, I could have died when I read the directions and saw I had to wait 3 hours. 3 HOURS!!!! Are you kidding me?
honestly, thanks for the yumminess. I’m sure your new relationship with oatmeal will be a healthy one. 😉
Casey says
I make my breakfast oatmeal like this:
Boil together whole milk & oatmeal until the oats are a consistency you like (I like mine not super-soft). Remove from heat, add brown sugar, butter & either honey or maple syrup (I like honey). Yummy. Way better than instant oatmeal. Milk is the key!!!
Oh, and these bars look delicious!
Erica from Cooking for Seven says
Wow those look good. 3/4 cup butter…? OH YEAH!
I don’t really care for “breakfast” oatmeal. At least not the way Dad likes it fixed. I’d much rather take the time to fix baked oatmeal. How can the same basic ingredient taste so different when baked instead of boiled?