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Home » Picnic Desserts

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

Published: Mar 28, 2024 by Kate O'Malley · This post may contain affiliate links. See end of article for more information · Leave a Comment


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For a delicious and healthy energy boost or a quick snack, these No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars prove homemade is best. They’re also one of the easiest no-bake desserts, so there are no excuses.

Hand holding a chocolate granola bar up.
Jump to:
  • What Makes This a Great Recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Recipe Variations and Substitutions
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • More No-Bake Dessert Recipes
  • Healthy No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

What Makes This a Great Recipe

Granola V Oats: Many consider granola bars a convenient and healthy snack. However, many store-bought “healthy” varieties contain as many carbs, sugars, and calories as an unhealthy chocolate bar or cookie. People also think oats and granola are the same – they’re not. While very similar, Granola is more highly processed, making oats healthier.

Homemade oat (or granola) bars have far more flavor and are better for you.

These chocolate oat bars are chewy and sweet with the right amount of crunch and texture. And, being a no-bake oat bar, you can have them in the fridge, setting in less than 30 minutes. Once set, they’re a very convenient dessert that doesn’t require refrigeration.

They are a very portable and healthy sweet treat for kid’s picnics or a lovely addition to a brunch picnic.

Ingredients

Ingredients for no bake granola bars laid out on a table.

See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements and notes.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

  • Dried Fruit: Add dried fruit to your oat bars for extra sweetness and energy. Raisins, Medjool dates, or dried figs are perfect.
  • Oats: This recipe uses a mix of rolled oats and quick oats to add texture and a slight chewiness to the oat bars, but you can use 2 cups of quick oats if you prefer a finer texture and less chew.
  • Nut Butter: You can use peanut, almond, or cashew butter, depending on your preference.
  • Nuts: I use whole almonds in this recipe. You can roughly chop them if you prefer a finer texture. You can also use other nuts such as pecan, cashew, or hazelnut.

Step by Step Instructions

Maple syrup and nut butter in a saucepan to make oat bars.

Step 1: Place maple syrup, coconut oil, and your chosen nut butter into a medium-sized saucepan.

Strirring Maple syrup and nut butter in a saucepan with a rubber spatula.

Step 2: Stir over low-medium heat until well combined. Be careful not to have it too hot and keep stirring.

Almonds coconut and chocolate chips being added to the chocolate oat bar bar mix.

Step 3: Remove the pan from the heat and add chocolate chips, shredded coconut (reserve some for sprinkling on top), vanilla extract, salt, ground cinnamon, and almonds.

Stiring the chocolate through the no bake granola bar mix.

Step 4: Quickly stir to melt the chocolate and combine it with the other ingredients.

Adding oats to the chocolate granola bar mix.

Step 5: Add quick oats and rolled oats.

The final mix of a no bake chocolate oat bar recipe in a saucepan.

Step 6: Mix well to combine and coat the oats with the chocolate mix and ensure all ingredients are well distributed.

Choloate oat bar mix in a pan lined with parchment paper ready for setting in the fridge.

Step 7: Line an 8’’ square mold with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into the prepared mold, and press down until it spreads evenly to the edge.

Sprinkle shredded coconut on top and refrigerate for at least one hour to make the bars nice and firm.

Chocolate oat bars on a wooden board sprinkled with nuts and coconut.

Step 8: Once the mixture has hardened, slice it into 10 individual bars or 20 smaller squares.

Recipe FAQs

Can You Freeze Homemade Oat Bars?

Yes, you can freeze oat bars. After you cut them into bars, wrap each one in parchment paper so they don’t stick together, and freeze them in zip-lock bags or a sealed container. They will keep in the freezer for around two months.

How Long Will Oat Bars Keep

Your oat bars should stay fresh for about a week in an airtight container. Ideally, they should be kept in the fridge or a cool place.

Expert Tips

Chilling: Don’t scrimp on the chill time. It will make your bars nice and hard, making them easier to cut.

Lining the Pan: To make removal and slicing easier, when you line your pan with parchment paper, ensure it extends over the edges. This simple trick lets you easily lift the entire batch out of the pan before cutting it into bars.

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Did you try these No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars? 

Please leave me a ⭐ rating below and let me know in the comments how you enjoyed them.

Homemade chocolate oat bars with almonds and oats on a wooden cutting board.

Healthy No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

Kate O’Malley
Quick and healthy homemade Chocolate Oat Bars are more delicious than store-bought bars. Chewy and sweet with a crunchy bite thanks to almonds, you can whip these no-bake oat bars up in less than 30 minutes.
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Chilling Time 1 hour hr
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 10 Bars
Calories 267 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup maple syrup
  • ½ cup peanut butter - you can use almond, or cashew butter
  • 1 tablespoon coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup rolled oats
  • 1 ½ cups quick oats
  • ⅓ cup shredded coconut
  • ⅓ cup chocolate chips
  • ⅓ cup almonds

Instructions
 

  • Place maple syrup, coconut oil, and your chosen nut butter into a medium-sized saucepan. Stir over low-medium heat until well combined.
  •  Remove the pan from heat and add chocolate chips, shredded coconut (reserve some for sprinkling on top), vanilla extract, salt, ground cinnamon, and almonds.
  • Quickly stir to melt the chocolate and combine it with the other ingredients.
  • Add quick oats and rolled oats. Mix well to combine and coat the oats with the chocolate mix and ensure all ingredients are well distributed.
  • Line an 8’’ square mold with parchment paper. Pour the mixture into the prepared mold, and press down until it spreads evenly to the edge.
  • Sprinkle shredded coconut on top and refrigerate for at least one hour to make the bars nice and firm.
  • Once the mixture has hardened, slice it into 10 individual bars or 20 smaller squares.

Notes

Recipe Variations

  • Dried Fruit: Add dried fruit to your oat bars for extra sweetness and energy. Raisins, Medjool dates, or dried figs are perfect.
  • Oats: This recipe uses a mix of rolled oats and quick oats to add texture and a slight chewiness to the oat bars, but you can use 2 cups of quick oats if you prefer a finer texture and less chew.
  • Vegan Version: For a vegan version, use vegan chocolate chips.
  • Nut Butter: You can use peanut, almond, or cashew butter, depending on your preference.
  • Nuts: I use whole almonds in this recipe. You can roughly chop them if you prefer a finer texture. You can also use other nuts such as pecan, cashew, or hazelnut.
Expert Tips
  • Chilling: Don’t scrimp on the chill time. It will make your bars nice and hard, making them easier to cut.
  • Lining the Pan: To make removal and slicing easier, when you line your pan with parchment paper, ensure it extends over the edges. This simple trick lets you easily lift the entire batch out of the pan before cutting it into bars.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 267kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 6gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.001gSodium: 123mgPotassium: 230mgFiber: 3gSugar: 16gVitamin A: 0.3IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @picniclifestyle or leave a comment below.

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About Kate O'Malley

Picnic enthusiast, passionate cook, and the creative force behind Picnic Lifestyle. With a globe-trotting background and a keen eye for local ingredients, she's mastered the art of crafting delectable picnics and portable feasts (especially for long travel days). Kate's passion for al fresco dining comes alive in this guide, curating perfect picnics for every occasion.

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