Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Introduction

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are a delightful treat combining rich peanut butter, sweet chocolate chips, and hearty oats. These bars offer a perfect balance of chewy and crunchy textures, making them an irresistible snack or dessert.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Step 1: Line a 13×9-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
3. Step 3: Add the flour and oats to the butter mixture and continue mixing until well combined.
4. Step 4: Reserve 1 heaping cup of the oat mixture and set it aside.
5. Step 5: Press the remaining oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
6. Step 6: While the crust is baking, combine the peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk in a bowl. Mix until smooth.
7. Step 7: Remove the crust from the oven and pour the peanut butter mixture evenly over it. Carefully spread it out with a spatula.
8. Step 8: Crumble half of the reserved oat mixture over the peanut butter layer. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top, then add the remaining oat mixture as a final layer.
9. Step 9: Return the pan to the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the oat crumbles are lightly browned.
10. Step 10: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift them out using the foil edges, cut into bars, and store in an airtight container.

Tips & Variations

• For a crunchier texture, use old-fashioned rolled oats instead of quick-cooking oats.
• Try adding chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for extra flavor and texture.
• Substitute half of the semi-sweet chocolate chips with peanut butter chips for a richer peanut butter taste.
• If you prefer less sweetness, reduce the brown sugar by 1/4 cup.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. For longer storage, refrigerate for up to 2 weeks or freeze for up to 3 months. Allow frozen bars to thaw completely before serving. Reheat slightly in the microwave if you prefer a warm bar.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use natural peanut butter instead of creamy?

Yes, natural peanut butter can be used, but it may affect the texture slightly. You might need to stir it well before mixing, and the bars could be a bit denser.

Can these bars be made gluten-free?

Yes, substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend and ensure your oats are certified gluten-free to make this recipe suitable for gluten-free diets.

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

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4.8 from 131 reviews

These Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars combine a buttery oat crust with a sweet and creamy peanut butter fudge layer, topped with semi-sweet chocolate chips and oat crumbles for a perfectly chewy and indulgent treat. Easy to make and perfect for snacks or dessert lovers.

• Author: lucas
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 24 bars 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Oatmeal Base

• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats

Fudge Layer

• 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Toppings

• 1 12-ounce package semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Prepare Pan: Line a 13×9 inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix Base Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, baking soda, and salt. Mix on low speed with an electric mixer until the mixture is smooth.
3. Add Flour and Oats: Add the all-purpose flour and quick-cooking oats to the butter mixture. Continue mixing until everything is well combined and forms a dough.
4. Reserve Oat Mixture: Set aside 1 heaping cup of the oat mixture for topping later.
5. Press Base Mixture: Press the remaining oat mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Bake this crust at 350°F for 10 minutes to pre-cook it slightly.
6. Prepare Fudge Layer: In a separate bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk. Stir until the mixture is smooth and creamy.
7. Assemble Bars: Pour the peanut butter fudge mixture evenly over the baked oat crust. Then crumble half of the reserved oat mixture over the peanut butter layer. Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly on top, and finally add the remaining oat mixture as the last layer.
8. Bake Bars: Return the pan to the oven and bake the layered bars for 25 minutes or until the oat crumbles on top start to turn golden brown.
9. Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. Once cooled, lift the bars out using the foil edges, cut into squares, and store in an airtight container.

Notes

• Line the pan with foil for easy removal and clean-up.
• Quick-cooking oats provide a chewy texture, but old-fashioned oats can be substituted for a heartier bite.
• Make sure to cool bars completely before cutting to prevent crumbling.
• These bars can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 4 days or refrigerated for longer freshness.
• For a nut-free variation, peanut butter can be substituted with sunflower seed butter.

Keywords: Chocolate chip bars, peanut butter bars, oatmeal bars, dessert bars, no-bake fudge bars, easy dessert, sweet snack