Make delicious, healthy no-bake chocolate oatmeal bars for a nutritious snack that’s rich in chocolaty flavor, along with walnuts, peanut butter and hearty oats.

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About this Recipe

These chocolate granola bars were so easy to make. In addition, they always go down extremely well with my family and friends. Chocolate oatmeal bars are very convenient when you’re on the go during a busy morning. You can also enjoy them as a healthy afterschool snack.

Ingredients for No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars

These delicious chocolate oatmeal bars feature good-for-you ingredients. Starting with dark chocolate. Dark chocolate provides many health benefits, including boosting blood circulation and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Dark Chocolate is also a great source of antioxidants. However, it is important to note that not all brands of dark chocolate are the same. In order for dark chocolate to be considered healthy, it should have at least 70 percent cacao.

In addition, I recommend sugar and palm oil-free peanut butter for this recipe. It’s healthier and free from unknown ingredients. Plus, that way you can control how sweet your chocolate oatmeal bars are. Finally, for healthier oat bars, choose pure honey over other sweeteners to get all of the nutritional benefits of this bar.

How to make Healthy No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

As you might guess, this no-bake oat bar recipe is pretty straightforward. No oven required! Here are the four simple steps to making your own healthy breakfast bars at home:

First, line a baking tray with parchment paper. Use a drop of coconut oil to grease the paper to prevent it from sticking to the oat bars. You can also coat the paper with cooking spray if you like.
Next, melt 1/2 cup of smooth peanut butter, 1/4 cup of unrefined coconut oil, 1 cup of dark chocolate chips (or a bar cut into chunks) and 2-3 tablespoons of honey in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir the mixture well to combine and prevent burning.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 1 cup of oats, 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts, and a handful of raisins.
Pour the oat bar mixture into the prepared baking tray and sprinkle the remaining walnuts over the top. Leave in the freezer to set for 2 hours.

When the no-bake chocolate oat bars are fully set, slice them into squares and serve!

Ingredient Swaps: Nut-Free, Dairy-Free and Vegan Options

To make this recipe vegan, use maple syrup instead of honey. Also, double check that your chocolate is plant-based. Otherwise, this recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free.

To make a nut-free version, you can substitute peanut butter for sunflower seed butter, and sap out walnuts for your favorite dried fruit or seeds. You can even add crunch with granola!

And don’t be shy to experiment with other flavor options. If you’re not a fan of peanuts, any other creamy nut butter will work. Same goes for sweeteners. Another liquid sweetener, like agave or brown rice syrup are good options that also happen to be plant-based.

Storage

Refrigerate no-bake chocolate oatmeal bars for up to a week in an airtight container. You can also freeze them for up to 3 months. Let them defrost on the counter for a few hours before serving.

Ready for even more healthy oat-based breakfast recipes?