Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

These vegan chocolate peanut butter oat bars are everything you could want from a snack. Layers of no-bake oaty crust, homemade peanut butter caramel, and of course chocolate.

The recipe is based on my vegan peanut butter millionaires which use the same caramel and topping. Except these ones don't require any baking, making them fuss-free and pretty much fail-proof.

chocolate peanut butter slices with flaky sea salt on top.

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What to expect from this recipe
📖 Recipe Overview
🥜 Ingredients Needed
🥣 How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Additions
📝 Recipe Tips
💬 FAQs
➕ More Vegan Peanut Butter Desserts
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

What to expect from this recipe

📖 Recipe Overview

Made with just 6 simple ingredients.
No-bake and incredibly easy to make.
Make a perfect afternoon snack with a cup of tea or coffee.
Completely eggless and dairy-free.

🥜 Ingredients Needed

You won't find any unusual ingredients in these no-bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars. In fact, just like my peanut butter twix bars, you'll only need 6 ingredients to make them!

ingredients to make oatmeal peanut butter bars measured out on a metal tray.

Ingredient Notes

The crust is based on rolled oats. If you want to make gluten-free oatmeal bars, this is the ingredient to look out for, so opt for certified GF oats.

Make sure you go for creamy peanut butter, not crunchy peanut butter as this won't allow you to get a nice smooth caramel layer. Some peanut butter has added oils and sugars, so avoid these if you don't want the recipe to be as sweet.

You can use vegan milk chocolate or dark chocolate depending on your taste. If you want to keep the recipe refined sugar-free, go for a naturally sweetened dairy-free chocolate. You can also make your own vegan milk chocolate with coconut sugar and melt it for the topping.

🥣 How To Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Find the complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.

No-Bake Crust

To make the easy no-bake crust start by blending the oats and salt down into a fine powder. Once they resemble a floury consistency, add in the peanut butter and maple syrup and blend again until the ingredients stick together.

Using the back of a spoon, press the oaty base into an 8-inch square pan lined with parchment paper. Place it in the fridge while you make the peanut butter caramel.

peanut butter oat mixture in food processor.

Peanut Butter Filling

The peanut butter caramel is super easy, I use it all the time in no-bake desserts. You'll find it in these peanut butter brownies and millionaires too. You can also use it as a healthier alternative to regular vegan caramel sauce.

Simply add the peanut butter, maple syrup, and coconut oil to a large bowl and melt them over a double boiler (bain-marie). With the double-boiler method, the bowl is placed on a saucepan with simmering water in it. The steam rises and gently melts the ingredients in the bowl.

Whisk the melted ingredients together until you have a smooth caramel and pour it into the lined pan and chill for 1-2 hours until set.

melted peanut butter in a bowl with a whisk and in a square pan lined with parchment paper.

Chocolate Topping

To make the topping, melt the vegan chocolate and peanut butter over a double-boiler. Pour the melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter layer and chill for another 15-20 minutes until set.

Once chilled, carefully remove the square pan and slice oat bars into servings. Fill a cup with boiling water and dip the knife in between each cut. Use some paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to wipe the knife dry before slicing it into the peanut butter bars.

peanut butter chocolate slice inside and out of a lined square pan.

Additions

I love adding a good pinch of Maldon sea salt flakes to the top of these peanut butter caramel slices. This creates a sweet and salty combination that is so delicious.
Roasted peanuts can be stirred into the caramel to make these more like snickers no-bake oatmeal bars!
Pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and/or flaxseeds can be sprinkled on top of the chocolate layer before it sets. This will add crunch and make them the perfect breakfast bar for on the go.

📝 Recipe Tips

Always use a double-boiler and avoid direct heat when working with chocolate or peanut butter. The fats can burn pretty easily and you'll be left with a grainy and unpleasant consistency.

Adding a little peanut butter, vegan butter, or coconut oil to the chocolate while melting helps the topping to become less hard once set so you can bite into it more easily!

Like with all brownies and slices, I recommend that you use a large sharp knife, and ideally a chef's knife if you own one. A blunt knife will make it really tough to cut nice even slices.

💬 FAQs

How long will peanut butter oatmeal bars last in the fridge?

For up to a week. Store these vegan brownies in the fridge in order to keep them fresh as long as possible. Place them in an airtight container or wrap them well in plastic wrap.

Can I freeze them?

You can freeze these bars in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for 2 hours before serving them.

Can I use an alternative to peanut butter?

Yes, you can swap the peanut butter for any nut butter you fancy. Cashew butter and almond butter both work well. Or go for tahini or sunflower seed butter to make them nut-free.