5.0 from 15 votes
Best Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
These peanut butter bars have a soft, chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookie base, a chocolate layer, and a super creamy peanut butter butter cream on top. They are the best peanut butter bars ever!
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 422 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Cookie Layer:
- ¾ cups butter softened but not melted
- ¾ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cups brown sugar
- ¾ cups peanut butter smooth or crunchy, depending of preference*
- 2 eggs at room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups flour
- ½ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp baking soda
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
Chocolate Layer:
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Frosting Layer:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
- ¾ cup butter softened
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup milk
Instructions
Cookie Layer:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees f. Grease a 12×17 in cookie sheet or jelly roll pan, or use parchment paper to line the pan. Set aside.
- Wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, cream together on medium speed (using a hand or stand mixer) butter, sugars, peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy.
- Dry ingredients: Sift flour, salt, and baking soda into the creamed mixture. Mix well to combine, scraping down the sides of the bowl once halfway through.
- Add oats. Mix together until combined (cookie dough texture). Press the dough onto the prepared baking pan sheet until it forms a uniform layer on the bottom of the pan.
- Bake at 375 F for about 10 minutes until slightly golden on top. Turn off the oven.
Cup of Yum
Chocolate Layer:
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the cookie layer and place back in the warm oven (that is turned OFF) for 2 minutes.
- Take out the cookie sheet and spread the warm chocolate all over the cookie with a spatula or knife- creating a smooth thin layer.
- Place in fridge to let chocolate layer harden a bit.
Peanut Butter Frosting Layer:
- In a medium mixing bowl cream together (using hand or stand mixer) the powdered sugar, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and milk.
- The end result should be a uniform creamy peanut butter buttercream.
- With a spatula gently spread the frosting over the chocolate layer after the bars and chocolate have cooled completely.
Notes
- Storage:
- Storage: Keep your bars covered in an airtight container on the counter for 5-7 days. Some rimmed baking sheets come with a plastic lid that is perfect for just this sort of occasion. Or, you can just cover them with plastic wrap once the frosting has dried and firmed up a bit. You can also keep the bars in the fridge or freezer and serve them chilled, if you prefer.
- Freezing: These freeze great for 2-3 months. For easier storage, I recommend slicing and separating the bars, then freezing them individually for an hour to set the frosting. Then you can transfer them to a freezer-safe container and stack them so they don't take up as much space in the freezer.
Nutrition Information
Calories
422kcal
(21%)
Carbohydrates
44g
(15%)
Protein
8g
(16%)
Fat
25g
(38%)
Saturated Fat
12g
(60%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
9g
Trans Fat
0.5g
Cholesterol
31mg
(10%)
Sodium
252mg
(11%)
Potassium
238mg
(7%)
Fiber
3g
(12%)
Sugar
24g
(48%)
Vitamin A
364IU
(7%)
Calcium
36mg
(4%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 24bars
Amount Per Serving
Calories 422
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 422kcal | 21% |
| Carbohydrates | 44g | 15% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 25g | 38% |
| Saturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 9g | 45% |
| Trans Fat | 0.5g | 25% |
| Cholesterol | 31mg | 10% |
| Sodium | 252mg | 11% |
| Potassium | 238mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 24g | 48% |
| Vitamin A | 364IU | 7% |
| Calcium | 36mg | 4% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.