Last updated on July 27th, 2020 at 08:24 pm
For the days you need something sweet and you need it fast, these No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Oat Squares can be prepared in around 10-minutes and require only 4-ingredients. Breathe…the chocolate is on its way.
“I could eat these squares for days, they’re perfect,” my omnivorous husband said. Pretty nifty praise for a treat that took a few minutes to whip up and contains no dairy or processed sugars. More amazing still this coming from a man who “doesn’t get” peanut butter.
I don’t “get” people who don’t get peanut butter. What’s not to get? It’s like oxygen but with peanuts in it. But I already married him so what are you gonna do? I will just have to eat all the peanut butter and apple oats jar myself. I’ll survive.
If I were trendy I would call this the ultimate minimalist square. But I am not trendy, I am a forty-something author and food blogger living on top of a mountain. I sometimes wear socks with my vegan Birkenstocks. In public.
However, the minimalist tag is very appropriate here. Four ingredients and no baking = pretty darn minimal. It the sweet version of my 3-ingredient zucchini soup but way less grown up.
So What’s In Them?
The ingredients for this sweet treat will most likely be living in your pantry. All you need is;
- rolled oats
- peanut butter
- maple syrup
- vegan chocolate
You could make your own chocolate – the chocolate in my vanilla fudge chocolate eggs will do the trick -but if like me, you are impatient, store-bought chocolate is fine. It’s more than fine. It’s downright awesome.
Another neat thing about this recipe is that if you can’t do peanut butter, it works with almond butter too. Swap out the peanut butter for almond butter and add a teaspoon of vanilla extract. Presto, nut butter and chocolate squares.
Whichever you use, these fantastically fuss-free squares are deliciously chewy, chocolatey and completely addictive. When life feels anything but minimal, these little guys are a simple reminder that less is usually so much more. Enjoy, x.
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Oat Squares
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Oat Slice
- 2 1/2 cups rolled oats gluten-free if required
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
Chocolate Topping
- 3/4 cup vegan chocolate buds
- 2 tbsp smooth peanut butter
Instructions
- Line a square brownie tin with grease-proof paper.
- Add the peanut butter and maple syrup to a medium saucepan and stir together over medium heat until combined.
- Add the rolled oats and stir through so the oats are completely coated and combined.
- Remove from the heat and transfer the mixture to the lined brownie tin and press down to get it as level as you can. Set aside.
- In a microwave or over a double boiler, melt the vegan chocolate and peanut butter together, stirring occasionally to combine. Pour the melted chocolate over the oat mixture and use a spatula or the back of a spoon to level out.
- Pop the slice in to the fridge for at least 30 minutes or until set or in the freezer for around 15 minutes. Slice in to squares to serve.
Nutrition
Hey Amanda,
I can’t reply directly to your comment for some reason, but the bars turned out awesome! I made them for family dinner and they were a big hit!
Oh fantastic! That’s great. I am so glad your family liked them. Thanks so much for letting me know, Jennie. x
I’m wondering what kind of peanut butter you used. I used Smucker’s natural and I’m thinking you might have used something like Skippy or Jiff (not judging at all just thinking about the oil content)? I had a similar problem with dryness but I realized while I was mixing the oats in. I added 4 tablespoons of butter to smooth things along and I’m hoping (I haven’t tried them yet) that did the trick. I also put in a little less oats than your recipe suggested. Thanks for putting the time into sharing your recipe!
Hi Jennie – I am based in Australia so I use different brands but I absolutely think a softer peanut butter or one with more oil will coat the oats more readily and fully than a “healthier” peanut butter. I think it’s great that you went with your gut and added more moisture to the mix. How did it go?! I hope it all worked out. A.
The flavor is good, but mine came out very chewy and fell apart quite easily. Very messy to eat. I used an organic “Old Fashioned Rolled Oats” (longer cooking time). I wonder if this recipe should call for the quick cooking oats? Also my chocolate topping didn’t “pour” out of the double boiler. These are good, but not what I was hoping for.
Oh, Suzy. How disappointing. I have always used rolled oats with this recipe but perhaps not all oats are the same. Perhaps a little longer in the melted pot would help. I am away at the moment but when I get back I will try the recipe with the quick oats and see if it changes the texture. These squares are chewy but I’ve always found them to hold together easily – particularly after a trip to the fridge. With regards to the chocolate, it sounds like maybe the chocolate seized a little? It should melt and be totally pourable.… Read more »