If dessert is in need, look no further than these No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars. A simple base of oats, butter, and brown sugar forms to make a crust and topping bookending a decadent chocolate peanut butter filling. When pulling out a million ingredients and turning on the oven seems like a chore, then no-bake recipes are a lifesaver. This recipe transfers simple ingredients and makes them into a sweet, salty, chocolatey delight.

A lot of no-bake recipes have little to no structure, meaning that a slice will crumble in your hands. Luckily, that’s not the case with No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars. A quick simmer on the stove top dissolves the sugar, creating a bond that keeps the butter, oats, and sugar-packed together.

After the butter is melted, add the sugar and oats, cooking on the stovetop for a few minutes to ensure everything is combined. While the oats cook on the stove, melt the chocolate and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl until completely melted.

Press half of the mixture into a parchment-lined 9-x-9 pan, making sure the oat mixture is evenly distributed.

Pour the chocolate mixture on top of the base, using a spatula to push the melted mixture to all corners of the pan. Finally, crumble the remaining oat mixture and gently press the oats into the melted chocolate-peanut butter mixture below.

These bars need a minimum of two hours in the refrigerator before serving. This chill time hardens the bars and makes them easy to slice. Once cut and served, these No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Bars are ready to enjoy!

The texture of the oats is a wonderful contrast against the smooth and creamy chocolate peanut butter center. Nuttiness from the peanut butter enhances the natural, earthy notes of the oats and the rich caramelized notes of the brown sugar. Since they’re easy to slice and stack, these bars are great to bring to events or make a nice gift to give.

Either way you slice them, they’re a great treat that takes little effort to create!