No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
This recipe for No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars is not only delicious but easy to make. Make a batch today! You will be glad you did later.
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We love simple treats like these no bake oatmeal bars. Other no bake faves include these Hemp Seed Energy Balls and these Brownie Bites. Check out all of our Healthy Snacks for inspiration.
IN THIS POST: Everything you need to make No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
Ingredients
- almond butter – use a fresh jar of natural. The oils are what help to hold these bars together.
- honey or maple syrup – these are excellent natural sweeteners.
- coconut oil
- vanilla – I use pure vanilla extract
- cacao powder – cocoa powder also works fine
- unsweetened coconut
- rolled oats
Instructions
Start by lining a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
Next, in a medium-sized saucepan, melt the almond butter, honey, and coconut oil over medium-low heat, stirring it frequently until smooth.
Then, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla followed by the cacao powder.
Next, stir in the shredded coconut. Finally, add the oats. I like to add 1/4 cup at a time as it is easier for mixing.
Pour the chocolate mixture into the prepared baking dish, pressing down with a spatula to fill in the cracks and make it all smooth on top. This only takes about 10 minutes of prep time.
Off it goes to the fridge to set.
After about 30 minutes to an hour, the mixture will have hardened enough to slice up into bars.
I go one step further and slice them into squares.
This is helpful for portion control.
FAQs, Tips, and Substitutions
- Is this recipe gluten free? Yes! I use certified gluten-free oats. Watch for that on the label if you have a gluten intolerance. If you use maple syrup, this recipe is also vegan!
- Cut into small squares for portion control!
- Because of the coconut oil, they will really soften at room temperature so store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 2 weeks.
- For a bit of crunch, sprinkle in some chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or peanuts.
- Substitute a different nut butter such as peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter.
- Want more chocolate flavor? Add a handful of dark chocolate chips.
More healthy desserts recipes
- Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
- Crunchy Peanut Butter Bars – Easy No Bake Recipe
- Gluten Free Blondies
- Easy Kiwi Sorbet Recipe – Only Two Ingredients!
- No Bake Chocolate Pecan Bars – Gluten Free + Vegan
**This recipe was originally posted on March 3, 2014, updated on August 27, 2020, and updated again on March 12, 2023.**
If you’ve tried this no-bake chocolate oatmeal bars recipe, please rate it and let me know how it turned out by leaving me a comment below. I’m always interested in feedback!
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No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
Ingredients
- ½ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup honey or maple syrup
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a medium-sized saucepan, melt the almond butter, honey, and coconut oil over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla then the cacao powder. Next, stir in the shredded coconut. Then add the oats – 1/4 cup at a time. Stir until the mixture is well combined.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared loaf pan and smooth it out with the spatula. Pop the pan into the fridge for an hour to set.
- Cut into bars or squares and store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week.
Video
Notes
- Because of the coconut oil, they will really soften at room temperature so store them in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 2 weeks.
- For a bit of crunch, sprinkle in some chopped nuts like walnuts, pecans, or peanuts.
- Substitute a different nut butter such as peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter.
- Want more chocolate flavor? Add a handful of dark chocolate chips.
Made these a couple times & LOVE them! I sprinkle additional shredded coconut on top, because…WHY NOT?😋
Question: Do these freeze well? I travel for my job & have thought of freezing so they stay cold while traveling. Ty!!!
The coconut oil tends to melt pretty quick unfortunately and freezing doesn’t last too long. Maybe if you had a little icepack it could work? I guess, it depends how long you are travelling for.
I just made those and they were stupid easy and stupid delicious! My question is regarding the calories. I don’t understand how each bar only contains 65 calories; everything mixed together totals 2255 calories. How many servings is this recipe supposed to make?!
This recipe is cut into 32 squares. I use a program to calculate the calories so I can’t guarantee the complete accuracy.
My mix is looking much more dry than your pictures. Waiting for it to set now and crossing my fingers they come out ok. I guess less oats next time will leave a gooier mix
Hey Claire! Hopefully this worked out for you. The drippiness of the nut butter really makes a difference for the gooey factor. I always use a new jar of a natural variety. Those oils are important. 🙂
Would a good quality peanut butter work instead of almond butter – my husband is allergic to almonds?! These sounds absolutely amazing! xxx
Absolutely! I use a drippy, natural peanut butter in this recipe all the time. Enjoy!!
Hi Sharon,
Can i substitute the honey for maple syrup?
Yes! Absolutely. 🙂
may i substitute coconut butter for the coconut oil would the consistency be weird because there’s already almond butter.
I haven’t tried with coconut butter. I use the oil because it helps make the squares solid and holds them together.
Thanks for this Sharon! I had all ingredients bar the shredded coconut, so I chopped up a cup of dates into very small pieces and added this to the melting mix in the pan. It also meant I needed much less honey. The dates make the end result SO fudgey!
I love the addition of the dates! Great idea. Thanks Christopher. 🙂
I made these with goji berries instead of the coconut, as I didn’t have any, omg so good!
Berries sounds perfect! Nice touch. 🙂
can these be made without the coconut flakes?
I don’t see why not! Good luck. 🙂
Hi Sharon!! Just made this tonight! Super yummy! A nutricious take on a granola bar ( which Connor eats morning noon and night). Thanks for the recipe!!!
Thanks Jules!! This is a popular one. 🙂 If Connor’s happy, we’re all happy. 😉
I just made these and am waiting for them to set up in the fridge. The batter tasted real good.
Aaahhh! I’m jealous! 😉 You will love them. Thanks so much, Cheryl! 🙂
Oh my Sharon! I made these delectable treats this morning (replaced the almond with natural peanut butter and the coconut with red palm oil…skimpy because this is what I had in the house) and they are great! Not that I doubted it for a second that they would be…. 🙂
I’ve never heard of red palm oil! Is it coconut based? And, yes, these are super delicious good. Enjoy the sunshine today!
Oh my gosh maybe the next batch I’ll get into the fridge
Unbelievably delicious, even without refrigeration! 🙂 Thanks Anne.
Ok, I am definitely writing this down on my list of things to do and pinning it! I’m a sucker for super easy snacks made with whole foods 🙂 That looks sooooo good!
This one’s a keeper with a capital ‘K’! 🙂
So I think I made this about 3 or 4 times in a week and a half! So easy and yummy and the hubby loves it! Perfect guiltless snack/dessert. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks lady! My fella loves these too. It’s always so satisfying when the men-folk devour the healthy treats. 🙂
Just made these today and yet another a Honour System success! I’m having to make myself stop eating them!! Definitely going to have make a second batch sooner than later. Ain’t no way these are lasting out the week!
Thanks Wendy! The are pretty addictive that’s for sure. 🙂 Weren’t they easy?
Very easy which is the best part, other than the taste of them! Just make the Almond Butter Truffles and as well as tasting Devine ALSO very easy! Did I mention I love your recipes?
Thanks, Wendy! That’s so nice. 🙂 I hope more people get on board with preparing their own food and snacks when they realise it’s really so easy!
I love easy… chocolatey, decadent recipes like this. These look incredible. Thanks for the wonderful idea.
Thanks Melissa! Speaking of incredible, I have your strawberry bars cooling on the counter right now! Can’t wait to slice into them. 🙂
Oh I’m so happy to hear that! Hope they came out great 🙂
Oh my gosh! Are you kidding???!!! These are insane! Insanely delicious (I mean – I can tell just by looking!) , insanely easy, and filled with so many insanely healthy ingredients! Absolutely can’t wait to try it! 😀
Insanity!!! You are going to love these babies! 🙂
I don’t generally have almond butter in the house – what would be an appropriate substitute?
Any kind of nut or seed butter should work well. Peanut butter would taste amazing! 🙂
Sold! 🙂
These look fabulous and so easy. I have almost a full bag of cacao powder in my pantry so I’ll be making these soon!
Boom! I hope you love ’em! 🙂
Yum, yum, and yum! I’m sadly allergic to almond butter, but I bet walnut butter would be delicious in here as well! Great recipe girl!
Allergic to almond butter! Tragedy! I’m sure walnut butter would be amazing. Thanks Lauren 🙂
Sharon, these looks amazing! Right up my alley. I don’t have coconut oil on hand. Do you think they would still be as good without it?
Hey Cindy! I would replace the coconut oil with butter maybe? Or perhaps use more almond butter? Butter would probably be better just a little less healthy. 😉
These look delicious!
Not only do they look delicious, I have to say, they tasted delicious also! 🙂 A must try! Thanks Jess!
Oh yum! Its nearly 11pm here and if I had almond butter (or even almonds to make the butter) I would run to the kitchen right now and make these, they look amazing! Definitely trying these ones soon 🙂
They are SO good. It’s 8am here and I’m debating making these for breakfast! 😉 Have a great week!