These no-bake chocolate oats bars with peanut butter and chocolate chips are easy to make and so addictive!

A stack of chocolate bars with chocolate chunks in them.

Love chocolate and peanut butter? You’ll love these easy no-bake bars! They’re super easy to make with just a few ingredients and are packed with chocolate goodness.

Enjoy these bars for a quick snack or dessert any time of day.

Recipe Features

  • Dietary: Vegan and gluten-free (use gf-certified oats if needed).
  • No baking required!
  • Easy to make with 6 simple ingredients.
  • Perfect for a healthier homemade dessert.
  • Travel well for snacking on-the-go.

Ingredient Notes

Dates, peanut butter, chocolate and oats in bowls on a counter.

This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.

  • Dates: Medjool, sayer or deglect noor dates all works as long as they’re soft and moist. If your dates are overly dry or you’re not sure, you can soak them in hot water for 15 minutes and drain well before using.
  • Cocoa powder: Regular or dark cocoa powder work great. For extra nutrition, you can use raw cacao powder instead.
  • Maple syrup: Can be substituted with agave syrup.
  • Chocolate chips: Use your favourite dairy-free chocolate chips to keep this recipe vegan, otherwise, any chocolate chips work. You can also use cacao nibs or chopped dark chocolate.
  • Oats: Rolled oats, old fashioned oats or quick oats all work.
  • Peanut Butter: Use natural peanut butter. Can’t do peanut butter? Almond butter or any other nut or seed butter is totally fine!

Step-by-Step Instructions

Add everything but the chocolate chips to a food processor and mix into a thick, sticky dough.

Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to combine.

Note: With the added maple syrup, the dough should come together but if it seems to dry (this can happen if your dates were too dry), you can add 1-2 tbsp warm water and process again.

A blended chocolate oat dough in a food processor container.

Once you’ve create the dough in your food processor, press it into a parchment paper-lined loaf pan and pop the whole pan into the freezer for 1 hour to firm.

Once firm, lift the bars out of the pan and cut into squares.

Overhead image of 8 chocolate date squares on a surface.

Notes & Tips

  • Nut-Free Option: Use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of peanut butter.
  • Gluten-Free Option: Be sure to use gluten-free oats.
  • Sugar-Free Option: Use monk fruit sweetener instead of maple syrup and sugar-free chocolate chips such as Lily’s.
A stack of chocolate bars with chocolate chunks in them.

Storing

  • Freezer: Store in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
  • Fridge: Store in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks.
  • They’re ok at room temperature if kept cool but they’ll get soft and the chocolate will melt if warm.

More No-Bake Recipes

Here are a few more no-bake treats to try:

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Scroll down to the comment section to leave a star rating and review.
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Print
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A close up of a stack of chocolate peanut butter date bars.

No-Bake Chocolate Oats Bars

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  • Author: Deryn Macey
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 60 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Yield: 8
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Food Processor
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
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Description

These no-bake chocolate oat bars are almost too easy to make! Whip everything into a thick and delicious batter, press into bars and enjoy.


Ingredients


Instructions

  1. Place the dates in a food processor and process a bit start breaking them down, about 30 seconds.
  2. Add everything else, except the chocolate chips and process into a thick, sticky dough. You should easily be able to press the dough between if your fingers. If it seems to dry or crumbly, add 1 tsp warm water and process again. Check and repeat if needed. 
  3. Add the chocolate chips and pulse a few times to mix.
  4. Line a standard-sized loaf pan with parchment paper with two long strips that stick out either side of the pan and then press the dough tightly into the pan using your fingers.
  5. Place the pan in the freezer for 1 hour to firm.
  6. Lift out of the pan, cut into 8 squares or 16 small bars.
  7. Store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or freezer for up to 2 months.

Notes

It’s important to use soft, moist dates in this recipe. If your dates are on the dry side, soak them in hot water for 15 minutes then drain well before using in the recipe.

You can skip the firming in the freezer if you’re dying to get into them. Just press into the pan firmly, lift the bars out of the pan, slice and enjoy.


Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1
  • Calories: 171
  • Fat: 5 g
  • Carbohydrates: 29 g
  • Protein: 4 g