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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
Paige says
Awesome! Just the type of recipe I was looking for!
Rob says
Looks delicious! Starbucks has a similar bar with blueberries instead of chocolate and it’s addictive.
Alesha says
Thank you for posting this! My husband sent me the link to it. I think it was a hint of some kind :-). They were delicious!
Swistle says
Ah geez. Now I’m going to have to MAKE and EAT these.
I love all the photos. I don’t usually even LIKE reading recipes, but I DO like it if there are lots of photos. I can’t really imagine it otherwise, and what I DO imagine sounds HARD. But when I can see it in the photos, not only does it look DELISH and tempting and make me want to make it, it also makes it seem DOABLE.
jordan says
jojo, I like all the photos. I like seeing how the final product comes together.
sarah says
jojo…calm down! You are so rude!
Jojo says
PUT AWAY THE CAMERA. Stop taking so many pictures for your recipes. They DO NOT add to the readers’ understanding of how to make the recipe. One shot would have been enought for this recipe.
Just because digital “photography” is easy doesn’t mean you have to keep doing it.
Margaret says
These are definitely on my to bake list.
These look fantastic!
Rick says
Karly, after watching your site from a distance for a while, I now officially want to bear your children. Great twist on an old delight!
Michelle from Taste As You Go says
Oh my goodness, these look SINFUL. I love it! Can’t wait to try out the recipe!!
Kristen says
These are fantastic! My husband has been requesting them (and I have been making them)for four straight weeks in a row! I have trimmed the butter down a bit adding some applesauce in it’s place. It adds a different sweetness that is also yummy, but your recipe is excellent! Thank you!
Karen says
I made these on Tuesday night, took them to work with me on Wednesday. I also made them again on Wednesday night and took them to work on Thursday. Now my co-workers are begging for them again. 🙂
Amanda says
I love your recipes. They all have simple ingredients and are easy to make. I’ve made the garlic bread, strawberry crostada, donut muffins, and blackberry bars. This will be my next recipe! Who needs Betty Crocker when I’ve got you!
Kevin says
Chocolate oatmeal bars sound great!
Hailey says
I just made these. I forgot to butter the dish though. oops. I hope they come out of the dish ok..if not I’ll just scoop it out. lol