Soft, chocolatey, and ultra fudgy NO BAKE chocolate oatmeal fudge bars!
When I first posted a picture of this recipe on Instagram, people went crazy.
In under 24 hours, the photo had already gotten close to 10,000 likes and over a hundred comments… I couldn’t respond fast enough!
It was hard to keep the recipe secret, but I wanted to first test the bars out at a party in real life, to make sure they tasted as good as they looked.
The test run went even better than I’d hoped, with 6 requests for the recipe and TWO batches of these bars completely gone before the party was even half over.
So I can now tell you with confidence this recipe is definitely non-health-food-eater approved!
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Oatmeal fudge bars have been a favorite potluck recipe for generations.
But just because they contain oatmeal does not make the standard version of these treats a healthy choice.
Many oatmeal fudge bar recipes–including copycat recipes you can find online for the famous Starbucks oatmeal fudge bars–contain a shocking amount of butter and sugar even by traditional dessert standards!
Think 1 1/2 cups of butter, 2 cups of flour, and an entire 2 cups of sugar, not to mention all the sugar from 2 cups chocolate chips and a can of sweetened condensed milk.
If any recipe were screaming for a healthier makeover, the traditional oatmeal fudge bar would be it.
With so many facets of the original recipe needing an update, I opted to throw the traditional recipe out the window and start completely from scratch.
These lightened-up oatmeal bars are flourless, vegan, and just as deliciously chocolatey as the original version!
Also Try These: Healthy Butterfingers – Healthy Candy Bars
If you’ve never had an oatmeal fudge bar before, imagine eating a homemade oatmeal cookie sandwich with a layer of smooth chocolate fudge in the middle.
That’s pretty much what this recipe tastes like.
Oh! Except I forgot to mention the BEST part!
Instead of using any oil in the recipe, I made these bars even more delicious by adding peanut butter.
Basically, they contain all my favorite foods in one hand-held dessert.
If you are not a peanut butter addict like I am, you have many alternative options for these bars, including almond butter, cashew butter, coconut butter, or even sunbutter.
Inspired By: Chocolate No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 3/4 cup quick oats, or here’s a keto version
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, honey, or agave
- 1/4 cup peanut butter, or allergy-friendly sub
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 4 to 5 oz chocolate chips or sugar free chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, or allergy-friendly sub
Instructions
- *If you want a thicker chocolate layer than the bars in the pictures, feel free to increase the amount of chocolate chips. Line an 8×8 pan with parchment or wax paper, and set aside. Stir together the maple syrup, 1/4 cup peanut butter, water, and vanilla until smooth. Stir in the oats and salt. Transfer about 2/3 of the mixture to the pan, and press down very well, using a second sheet of parchment to press it evenly into the bottom of the pan. In a separate bowl, carefully melt the chocolate and 1/2 cup peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Pour this evenly on top of the crust in the pan. Sprinkle the remaining oat crumbles on top of the chocolate layer, then press down. Refrigerate or freeze until firm enough to cut squares. View Nutrition Facts
Have you made this recipe?
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Lauren says
These look so good! I just happen to have all of the ingredients at home!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday says
Those are all the best ingredients 🙂 These look amazing!
collee says
I am concerned about the amount of maple syrup, which is 1/2 cup. Can you lessen the sweetener? I have diabetics in my family.
Carol says
I substitute NuNaturals Simple Syrup (it’s an awesome stevia syrup) for the same amount of maple syrup in these recipes. Nunaturals also makes a chocolate syrup which is great too! I make sure I never run out! Just Google it and you will find plenty of places to buy.
Debbie says
The chocolate syrup is the best!
Shawn Bliss says
We do too try using sugar free syrup ?
Poshnessary says
Amazing. This makes me hungry .)
Kisses from http://poshnessary.com ❤
Emily says
Hi katie. About how much (measured) melted chocolate is there in this recipe? I don’t use chocolate chips (*gasp*, I know), and am wondering if I can use melted oil with Cocoa powder in a pan. It wouldn’t be oil-free, but I don’t mind. Thanks!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
I’m sure your coconut oil idea should work. But the only measurement I took for the chocolate is the 4 to 5 oz. Be sure to report back if you experiment!
Jenni says
I used Katie’s recipe for healthy chocolate sauce (with maple syrup in place of the agave) and it turned out perfectly! I’ve eaten the whole pan in less than a week single-handedly… at least they’re a healthy dessert! 🙂
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Megan says
I think I need to invent a special occasion to whip these bars out. Maybe to celebrate surviving another week of work…
Aubrey says
Yummy! As always <3
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Melissa says
These look incredible! I love the combination of oatmeal and chocolate!
Kelley says
Katie – did you happen to try this with regular oats vs quick? My store doesn’t carry quick oats that are gluten free. I was able to successfully sub regular in your black bean brownies but I’m not sure if that worked because the oats were both ground and cooked in that recipe.
Chocolate Covered Katie says
I haven’t… they might be a bit more crumbly that way (but you never know). Or you can make your own quick oats by pulsing rolled oats in the food processor. If you experiment with rolled oats, be sure to report back 🙂
Sophie Gillum-Webb says
I need to recreate these they look so absolutely delicious!!
http://www.sophobsessed.com
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Hannah says
I made these chocolate fudge bars last night after seeing them on Pinterest. I’d never made anything from your blog before, but these have made a new fan out of me (and out of my husband!!!)
Thanks for the recipe!
Hannah says
Forgot to mention, we used almond butter and it worked great.
Joelle says
Thank you for this! Our oven is broke and being poor college kids we have been doing everything “no bake” until we move out in May. Can’t wait to make these!
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Colleen says
Katie for President 2016! This recipe has more to offer the people than anything being spewed by this year’s candidates. (or any other year)
Iris Koller says
Perfect timing.. I was thinking about what mid-week treat to make to get us through until Shabbat. As I am grain-free I will adapt your crust to a nut-based instead of oatmeal based; should work fine. Ohhh.. I am excited!
Angela says
Oh. Wow! I am speechless! This is something that I will be making with the block of chocolate that I have in my cupboard. Yummy!
– Yo Santana
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Genevieve says
I am using only non sugar type sweeteners such as stevia or Lakanto (monk fruit/erythritol mix). Do you have suggestions of how much and what I could use to replace the “liquidyness” of agave/honey etc.? Thanks 🙂
Chocolate Covered Katie says
I’ve not tried so I really can’t say. But be sure to report back if you experiment!
Carol says
I use NuNaturals Simple Syrup in these recipes instead of maple syrup. It works great.
Coldman says
What can I use as a allergy-friendly alternative? (low calorie would be creat but other
recommendation are great too :D)?
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Alternatives to peanut butter that will work include almond butter, cashew butter, sunbutter, or even coconut butter.
Coldman says
Can I use something that is not butter or just a little nut butter and something else, but what?
Sarah says
I also wish there was something to use instead of a butter – my daughter is allergic to peanuts and almonds and I hate the taste of soy butter. I think I’ll try your bananas suggestion, how can you go wrong combining bananas, oatmeal and chocolate? !
Laura says
Maybe tahini would work.
Laura says
I made these with tahini and they were awesome!
Jessica says
Have you tried sunflower seed butter? It’s SO GOOD and I use it a lot in place of nut butters when baking to accommodate a friend with an allergy.
Sara Capalbo says
I used specaloos cookie butter. It makes it not as healthy, but the consistency is similar.
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Tegley says
I am late to the party but have to say THANK YOU!!! We use the Specaloos as a treat in our house. I will be using it in these occasionally.
Great recipe. Simply simple. Looking forward to trying it.
Cassie Tran says
I don’t blame anyone who went crazy! These bars look stupendous! Peanut butter, chocolate and oats are the perfect combination!
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Fox Kitchen says
These look soooo good!
Lauren says
Whipped these up last night, didn’t measure the pb or chocolate, just melted a good amount together, added a touch more salt to the oatmeal mixture because I like salt with my chocolate. Delicious and so simple. I had some for breakfast. 🙂
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Marianne says
Oh yes, I am definitely making these tonight!!! Yummmmmm!!!!!
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Melissa says
had everything on hand and made them this morning. should I admit it’s all i ate for lunch?!
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Chocolate Covered Katie says
Thank you so much for making them!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Doritos puppies? If it includes puppies, it’s automatically my favorite. 🙂
Chocolate Covered Katie says
Thanks 🙂
It’s actually just the wood flooring of my apartment, shot with a very low f stop to blur it out!
Chocolate Covered Katie says
I’ve not tried so I really can’t say. Be sure to report back if you experiment!
Lauren says
These are AMAZING. I wasn’t sure if natural PB would work, so I used traditional, but I might have to try it next (and maybe keep em in the freezer?). SO delicious and fudgey. Like a peanut butter cup meets an “energy ball” (I made energy balls with oats and honey, so the texture of the oatmeal layer reminds me of them!) Thank you for a perfect recipe!
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Ayaka says
Is your peanut butter salted r unsalted??
Mary @ LOVE the secret ingredient says
I’ve never been to keen on oatmeal cookies, but oatmeal brownies are a different story. These look delicious!
Courtney says
I knew these were going to be amazing because they are made from my three favorite things, but wow, they didn’t disappoint! Thanks for sharing!
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vogelstar says
keep surprising us with these indulgent treats!
Stacia says
I just made these and they are AWESOME!! With my peanut butter chocolate addiction, these will be gone by tomorow night. You are amazing Katie!
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