Oatmeal Week: No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

This is such an easy and tasty recipe. The oatmeal tasted like a healthy, crispy marshmallow and the filling could easily double for a Reese's peanut butter cup. There really is no going wrong with this recipe which is why I'm glad I snuck in some healthy, ground flax seed into the oatmeal mixture.

In addition to these No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars, I have also made Lactation Cookies, Peanut Butter & Banana Oatmeal Smoothie, and Oatmeal Cookie Pancakes. 

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
Source: Traci on Allrecipes.com

1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 Tbsp ground flax seed
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter

Directions
This recipe's Ingredients were scaled to yield a new amount. The directions below still refer to the original recipe yield of 1 - 9x9 inch pan.

Grease a 9x9 inch square pan.

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla. Mix in the oats. Cook over low heat 2 to 3 minutes, or until ingredients are well blended. Press half of mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Reserve the other half for topping.

Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small heavy saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently until smooth. Pour the chocolate mixture over the crust in the pan, and spread evenly with a knife or the back of a spoon.

Crumble the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate layer, pressing in gently. Cover, and refrigerate 2 to 3 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature before cutting into bars.