Peanut Butter Bars

Chewy Peanut Butter Bars layered with chocolate and a delicious peanut butter glaze.   

How to Make Peanut Butter Bars

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1. In the bowl of a large mixer, add softened butter and peanut butter.  Mix until smooth.
2. Add the sugar and brown sugar.  Cream the mixture.
3. Mix until smooth.
4. Add two eggs and vanilla.  Mix well.
5. Add the flour, salt, and baking soda that has been sifted together and mix well.
6. Add the oatmeal/rolled oats.  I like to use old-fashioned oats.  I like the chew they give to the bars.  You can us quick cooking if that’s all you have.  Mix until the oatmeal is well combined.  The mixture will be quite stiff and delicious to eat.

Gluten-Free Option:  Use 2 1/2 cups of Oat flour in place of 2 cups all-purpose flour.  

Baking the Peanut Butter Bars

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1. Spread the dough into a 17 x 12-inch baking sheet that has been lightly buttered or sprayed with a nonstick spray.
2. Lightly press the dough into place.  Don’t push down too hard. This isn’t a crust, it’s a cookie layer.  Place in a preheated 350-degree oven and bake for 18-20 minutes.  DO NOT OVER BAKE.  The bars will be slightly golden around the edges.  Remove from the oven.

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1. Immediately sprinkle the entire 12 oz of semi-sweet chocolate chips over the hot cookie.  The heat of the cookie base will melt the chocolate chips.
2. Once the chips have all melted spread the chocolate evenly over the surface of the baked peanut butter bars. The chocolate needs to harden completely before moving on to the next step.  Place them in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until the chocolate is hard and the cookie bottom is completely cooled.

Glazing the Peanut Butter Bars

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1. Once the chocolate has hardened, I make the peanut butter glaze.  In a medium-size mixing bowl add the 2 cups powdered sugar add peanut butter and milk
2. Stir until mixture is smooth and creamy and there are no lumps are left in the glaze.
3. Spread the glaze over the hardened chocolate.
4. Allow the glaze to set completely before cutting into squares.  An hour in the refrigerator should do the trick.

Optional Chocolate Drizzle

Drizzle with melted chocolate for an extra bite.  The perfect after school snack.  I bet you can’t eat just one.  

4.34 from 3 votes

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Peanut Butter Bars

Peanut Butter Bars.  For the cookie monster in all of us.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate peanut butter bars, peanut butter bar recipe, peanut butter bars

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

chill time 30 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Servings 48 bars

Calories 185 kcal

Author Janet Barton

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 2 eggs
• 2/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup rolled oats

Topping:

• 12 oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 cup confectioner's sugar
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1/4 cup milk

Optional Chocolate Drizzle

• 1/4 cup chocolate melted

Instructions

Peanut Butter Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350-degrees F.  Grease a 12 x 18-inch baking sheet.  Set aside.  Cream the butter and peanut butter. Add white and brown sugars. Mix until creamy. Blend in egg, 2/3 cup peanut butter, baking soda, salt, and vanilla.  Stir in flour and oatmeal.  Spread evenly into greased baking sheet.  Bake for 18-20 minutes. Do not over bake.

Chocolate Layer

1. Remove pan from the oven and immediately sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Let stand for 5 minutes to allow the chocolate chips to melt.  When melted spread the melted chocolate evenly over the baked bars.  Place in the refrigerator until chocolate has hardened.

Peanut Butter Glaze

1. Meanwhile prepare topping.  Cream confectioner's sugar, 1/4 cup peanut butter and milk until smooth and is a spreading consistency.  If the icing is too thick, thin by adding 1 tablespoon of milk at a time until the icing is spreading consistency.  When the chocolate layer has hardened spread the icing in a thin layer covering the chocolate completely.  Allow the icing to set completely before cutting into bars.

Optional Chocolate Drizzle

1. In a microwave-safe glass bowl melt chocolate for about 30 seconds. Stir until all chocolate is melted. Drizzle over set iced bars. NOTE: if using chocolate chips for drizzle add 1 teaspoon coconut oil or shortening with the chocolate to help thin it out.

Recipe Notes

• Recipe can be cut in half and baked in a 9 x 13-inch pan.  Bake for 15-18 minutes.
• Mini chocolate chips will melt faster than regular size chocolate chips for the chocolate center.  
• I used coverture chocolate for the drizzle.  If using chocolate chips add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil or shortening to the chocolate chips because chocolate chips will melt into a big clump.  The addition of coconut oil will make it thin enough to drizzle. 
• DO NOT OVER BAKE THE PEANUT BUTTER BARS. 

Gluten Free Option: Substitute 2 cups all-purpose flour for 2 1/2 cups oat flour.  Delish!!!!

 

Nutrition Facts

Peanut Butter Bars

Amount Per Serving (1 bar)

Calories 185 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 4g20%

Cholesterol 17mg6%

Sodium 108mg5%

Potassium 95mg3%

Carbohydrates 23g8%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 16g18%

Protein 2g4%

Vitamin A 135IU3%

Calcium 16mg2%

Iron 0.9mg5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Previously published in 2013.  Recipe card, photos, and nutrition have been added

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