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Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 137 reviews

These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are a deliciously chewy and crunchy treat packed with wholesome oats and the rich flavor of crunchy peanut butter. Perfect as a snack or a sweet bite, these bars combine simple ingredients with an easy two-step baking process to deliver a delightful homemade dessert that’s sure to satisfy peanut butter lovers.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 cup (150 g) all-purpose/plain flour
  • 1 cup (80 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking/bicarb soda

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (125 g) butter – melted
  • 1/3 cup (70 g) brown sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup peanut butter (crunchy preferred)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) to prepare for baking the bars.
  2. Prepare Baking Dish: Line a 20 x 20 cm (8 x 8 inch) baking dish with non-stick baking paper, ensuring an overhang on the sides to make removal easier after baking.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, rolled oats, sea salt, and baking soda. Stir until evenly mixed.
  4. Mix Wet Ingredients: Melt the butter and add it to a separate bowl. Combine with brown sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until smooth.
  5. Combine Mixtures: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredient bowl and mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly incorporated.
  6. Form Base Layer: Press about 3/4 of the mixture firmly into the lined baking dish, reserving roughly 100 g (about 1/2 cup firmly packed) of the remaining mixture for the topping. Bake the base for 10 minutes.
  7. Prepare Peanut Butter Layer: In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter and maple syrup. If the peanut butter is very thick, microwave it for a few seconds until slightly softened and easier to spread.
  8. Apply Peanut Butter Layer: Remove the baked base from the oven and immediately spread the peanut butter mixture evenly over it.
  9. Add Topping: Crumble the reserved 1/4 of the mixture evenly over the peanut butter layer using your fingers.
  10. Bake Topping: Return the dish to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the topping is cooked through and lightly golden brown.
  11. Cool and Chill: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool for 30 minutes at room temperature. Then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to fully set the bars.
  12. Cut and Serve: Use the baking paper overhang to lift the slice out of the tin. Cut into squares once completely chilled to prevent the bars from falling apart.

Notes

  • Note 1: Use all-purpose or plain flour for the base; alternatives like whole wheat will change texture.
  • Note 2: Old-fashioned rolled oats provide the perfect chewy texture; instant oats are not recommended.
  • Note 3: Crunchy peanut butter is preferred for texture contrast, but smooth can be used.
  • Note 4: Maple syrup is used as a natural sweetener and helps soften the peanut butter layer.

Keywords: Peanut butter bars, oatmeal bars, baked bars, peanut butter snack, homemade bars, chewy bars, crunchy peanut butter dessert

Find it online: https://delishfamilyrecipe.com/peanut-butter-oatmeal-bars-recipe/