Description
Homemade bake sale peanut butter oat bars are the perfect sweet treat that disappear faster than you can slice them. These simple bars blend creamy peanut butter and hearty oats into a crowd-pleasing dessert your friends will devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Bars:
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 sticks salted butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
Icing:
- 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 ounces dark or milk chocolate
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9×13 inch baking dish with parchment paper, ensuring the paper covers the bottom and sides completely.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream 2 sticks of salted butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 cup creamy peanut butter, and 1 tablespoon vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
- Add 2 large eggs to the butter mixture and mix thoroughly until fully incorporated.
- Gradually fold in 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 cups old fashioned oats, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and 1 teaspoon salt, stirring until a consistent dough forms.
- Transfer the dough into the prepared baking dish, using your hands or a spatula to press and spread it evenly across the entire surface.
- Bake for 18-22 minutes at 350°F, watching carefully until the center is just set and edges are lightly golden.
- Remove from the oven and immediately dollop 1 ½ cups of peanut butter across the top, gently spreading to create an even layer.
- Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature, or expedite cooling by placing in the refrigerator for 30-45 minutes.
- Prepare the chocolate icing by whisking 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 3 tablespoons water until smooth.
- Melt 2 ounces of dark or milk chocolate and stir into the icing mixture, adding 1-2 additional tablespoons of water if the consistency is too thick.
- Spread the chocolate icing evenly over the cooled peanut butter layer.
- Let the bars set at room temperature for approximately 1 hour before slicing into squares and serving.
Notes
- Check your peanut butter’s consistency before mixing, as natural or freshly ground varieties might require slight recipe adjustments.
- Press the base dough evenly into the pan to ensure uniform baking and consistent bar thickness.
- Chilling the bars completely helps create clean, crisp slicing lines and allows flavors to meld together.
- For gluten-free options, swap wheat flour with a cup-for-cup gluten-free blend and verify your oats are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-22 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg