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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
Biryani Recipes says
Wow amazing. I have seen many sweet recipe but this is a best. I am very enjoy reading your post. Such a great Chocolate Butter Peanut bars.
ShawnDell says
I saw these last night and had to make them! Yummy! Really simple and tasty. I couldn’t wait the full 3 hours for them to chill, only made it a little over an hour and they were fine. Next time though I’m going to make sure I have the quick cooking oats.
Kayla says
Karly, Karly, Karly. I can’t believe you have never had warm, gloppy oatmeal for breakfast! Shame on you!
Well, I love oatmeal. It’s what I had for breakfast only a few short hours ago! I’m going to share my breakfast oatmeal recipe with you, I want you to try it and tell me how you like it. I promise it’s not disgusting! You’ll love it!
Alright, I use instant oatmeal. Just prepare it like it says on the packaging…mix water and oats, then microwave. When you take it out of the microwave add 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 tablespoons chopped walnuts and a small handful of craisins (or raisins). Stir it all together and enjoy! It’s good!! I promise!
Ashley says
I never liked oatmeal but have come to like steel cut oats! These bars look delicious. Love that chocolate peanut butter layer.
Vanessa @ Mom's Menu Planning says
I love anything with peanut butter in it…chocolate and oatmeal are an added bonus! These look yummy 🙂
Erin at the healthy apron says
Oh me oh My!! A must try!!
miss j says
These bars look delicious. And of course oatmeal tastes better when it’s been toasted with sugar and butter!
Here’s a tip on using the microwave to melt chocolate to ensure it doesn’t burn: your microwave has different power levels, and I have found that 50% power is ideal for chocolate. Chocolate tends to hold its shape in the microwave so it’s hard to judge if it’s ready just by looking at it, so heat your chocolate at 50% for 2 minutes, then take it out and stir it – and heat again at 30 second increments if it still needs more melting. Just make sure to use a spoon that is dry as water is the enemy of chocolate.
Emily says
these are delish! i also used almond butter, brown sugar splenda, & dark chocolate as substitutes!
Deb Hasheider says
I love the photo’s, keep them coming. Can’t wait to try this on the grandkids, parents don’t complain, it’s oatmeal!
aj says
must look away………..
but cannot!!!!!!!
(proceeds to lick the monitor)
Anne says
I just made these and they are delicious 🙂 I used white sugar and it worked just fine, and to speed the cooling process along, I put them in the freezer for about half an hour, then in the fridge for another half hour, and by then they were solid enough to eat!
Allie says
Hey! I was thinking of making these to send to someone in the mail. Do they have to be refrigerated? Will they hold up if it takes a couple days to get to its location?
Steph says
Oh wow these look yummy. I was looking for non-bake recipes since I’m a University student in residence and I only have a microwave. I think I can handle this recipe just fine in the microwave (Ive already made pasta and squares which didn’t turn out so good). I wonder if I can make these with white sugar…?
CB says
I’m so lazy, I can’t wait for baking! Sounds yummy…!
oatmeal yum says
I love peanut butter, so I cant wait to taste these. I’m drooling just thinking about them