Ingredients
- Rolled Oats: (3 cups) The heart and soul of our bars! Rolled oats provide a wonderful chewy texture and a wholesome base for the recipe. They are also packed with fiber, making these bars a slightly more virtuous treat.
- Unsalted Butter: (1 cup, 2 sticks) Butter is essential for richness, flavor, and binding the bars together. It melts beautifully and creates that perfect fudgy consistency.
- Granulated Sugar: (1 cup) Sugar adds sweetness and helps to caramelize slightly as the mixture heats, contributing to the overall flavor profile.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: (½ cup) For that deep, decadent chocolate flavor we all crave! Unsweetened cocoa powder allows us to control the sweetness and provides a rich, intense chocolate taste.
- Milk: (½ cup) Milk helps to create a smooth and creamy consistency when combined with the butter and sugar. It also aids in dissolving the cocoa powder and sugar.
- Peanut Butter (or Nut Butter of Choice): (1 cup) Peanut butter not only adds its distinct nutty flavor but also acts as a binder, holding the bars together while adding creaminess and protein. Feel free to substitute with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter for allergy-friendly options.
- Vanilla Extract: (1 teaspoon) A touch of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor profile, adding a warm and aromatic note that complements the chocolate and peanut butter perfectly.
- Salt: (¼ teaspoon) A pinch of salt is crucial in baking and dessert making. It balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors, preventing the bars from tasting flat.
- Chocolate Chips (Optional): (1 cup) For an extra layer of chocolate indulgence, chocolate chips are a fantastic addition. You can use semi-sweet, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or even white chocolate chips depending on your preference.
Instructions
- Prepare Your Pan: Line an 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides. This will make it incredibly easy to lift the bars out of the pan once they are set and cut them neatly. The parchment paper prevents sticking and ensures a clean removal, which is especially helpful with sticky no-bake desserts.
- Combine Wet Ingredients in a Saucepan: In a medium saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, and milk. Whisk everything together until the sugar and cocoa powder are fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth and well combined. Whisking constantly helps to prevent lumps and ensures a homogenous mixture.
- Bring to a Boil and Simmer: Increase the heat slightly and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly. This simmering step is important as it helps to properly dissolve the sugar and thicken the mixture slightly, which is crucial for the bars to set properly. Don’t skip this step!
- Remove from Heat and Add Peanut Butter and Vanilla: Take the saucepan off the heat immediately after simmering for one minute. Quickly stir in the peanut butter (or your chosen nut butter) and vanilla extract. Stir until the peanut butter is completely melted and fully incorporated into the chocolate mixture. The residual heat from the mixture will melt the peanut butter easily.
- Incorporate the Oats: Add the rolled oats and salt to the saucepan. Stir everything together until the oats are completely coated in the chocolate-peanut butter mixture. Make sure no dry oats remain at the bottom of the pan. Thoroughly coating the oats ensures that every bite is flavorful and that the oats bind together effectively.
- Add Chocolate Chips (Optional): If you are using chocolate chips, now is the time to gently fold them into the oat mixture. Distribute them evenly throughout the mixture. Adding chocolate chips at this stage ensures they stay slightly melty and add delightful pockets of extra chocolate.
- Transfer to Prepared Pan: Pour the oat mixture into the parchment-lined baking pan. Use a spatula or the back of a spoon to evenly spread the mixture and press it firmly into the pan. Pressing down firmly helps to create a compact and even layer for the bars, ensuring they are not crumbly.
- Chill to Set: Cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the bars to fully set and firm up. Chilling is essential for no-bake desserts to solidify. The cold temperature allows the butter and peanut butter to solidify, binding the oats together.
- Cut and Serve: Once the bars are completely chilled and firm, lift them out of the pan using the parchment paper overhang. Place them on a cutting board and cut them into squares or bars of your desired size. A sharp knife will help you cut clean and even bars. You can run the knife under hot water and wipe it clean between cuts for even smoother edges if desired. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: one normal portion
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20
- Fat: 15
- Fiber: 3