A quick update on one of the first recipes I ever posted. These Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars come together super fast (even faster than the original cookie recipe), but look way more impressive. I upped the chocolate in them and used oats that I lightly toasted in the oven. Toasting them is an optional step, but one that I highly recommend. It adds more flavor to the oats and gives the bars a really nice base for the chocolate and peanut butter to play off.
PrintChocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars
- Yield: 16 bars
Ingredients
½ cup milk (any percentage will work)
1 ½ cups granulated sugar
¼ cup Dutch processed cocoa powder
½ cup unsalted butter
2 teaspoons non-fat dry milk powder
¼ cup dark chocolate chips
1 teaspoon kosher salt (if using regular salt – cut back to ½ teaspoon)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chunky peanut butter
3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, lightly toasted
Instructions
Line an 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper or foil and lightly spray with cooking spray.
In a large heavy saucepan, place the milk, sugar, cocoa powder, non-fat milk powder, and butter. Over medium heat, stir the mixture together until the butter is melted and sugar is completely dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring frequently. Once it is at a boil, stop stirring and let boil for a full 90 seconds.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the dark chocolate chips. When the chocolate is completely melted, stir in the kosher salt and vanilla. Then add in the peanut butter and mix until it is completely incorporated. Finally, fold in the oats.
Pour the mixture into your prepared pan and spread into a relatively even layer. Let the bars cool and set up for at least one hour. You can do this either on your counter top or in the fridge. Once the bars have set, cut into 16 pieces. If you want to add a little extra flair, drizzle the bars with some melted dark chocolate and top with coarsely chopped salted peanuts!
