These irresistible peanut butter bars strike the perfect balance between indulgence and simplicity. Ready in just 35 minutes, they’re packed with rich, nutty goodness and deliver a satisfying 202 calories per serving.
Whether you’re planning a bake sale, family gathering, or simply craving something sweet, these bars combine the nostalgic comfort of peanut butter with a delightfully tender texture. Plus, with only 15 minutes of prep time, you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying these delectable treats.
Ingredients
- Butter (room temperature): 3/4 cup for bars + 1/4 cup for frosting – ensure it’s softened for smooth mixing
- Sugars: 1/2 cup granulated + 1 cup light brown – creates perfect sweetness balance
- Eggs: 2 large – brings structure and richness
- Peanut Butter: 1/2 cup creamy + extra for topping – use good quality for best flavor
- Vanilla Extract: 1 1/2 teaspoons total – enhances overall taste
- Dry Base: 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour + 2 cups rolled oats
- Leaveners: 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda + 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Frosting Elements: 1 Tablespoon cocoa powder + 1 1/2 Tablespoons milk + 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13″ pan
- Base Mixture: Cream together butters and sugars until fluffy, then blend in eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter
- Dry Addition: Combine dry ingredients separately, then mix into wet ingredients until well incorporated
- Baking: Press mixture firmly into pan and bake 17-21 minutes until barely set
- Layering: Once cooled, spread a thin peanut butter layer over bars
- Frosting Creation: Melt butter, mix in cocoa, then add remaining ingredients until smooth
- Finishing Touch: Spread chocolate frosting evenly over peanut butter layer
Storage Tips
These yummy peanut butter bars stay fresh for up to 5 days when stored properly! Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature, with wax paper between layers to prevent sticking.
The chocolate frosting can get a bit soft in warm weather, so you might want to pop them in the fridge – they taste amazing cold too! Just bring them back to room temperature for about 15 minutes before serving for the best texture.
Make-Ahead Tips
Want to prep these bars ahead of time? You can make the base and store it unfrosted for up to 2 days. When you’re ready, just spread on the peanut butter layer and top with fresh chocolate frosting.
You can also freeze the unfrosted bars for up to 3 months – just wrap them well in plastic wrap and foil. Let them thaw overnight in the fridge before adding the toppings.
Helpful Hints
Getting these bars just right is super easy! The key is not to overbake them – they should look slightly underdone in the middle when you take them out. They’ll firm up perfectly as they cool. For the smoothest frosting, make sure your powdered sugar is lump-free before mixing.
If you find the chocolate frosting too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time until it’s spreadable. Too thin? Just mix in a little more powdered sugar!
Simple Swaps
Feel free to play around with this recipe! Try crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy for extra texture. Quick oats work in place of old-fashioned oats, though the texture will be slightly different. For the chocolate frosting, dark cocoa powder makes a rich variation. Can’t have peanut butter? Almond or cashew butter taste great too!
Peanut Butter Bars
Equipment
- 9×13 inch pan
- Large mixing bowl
- Electric Beaters
- Small skillet
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 3/4 cup butter room temperature
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter plus more for spreading over baked bars
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
For the chocolate frosting:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter and mix well.
- In a separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients.
- Add dry ingredients to creamy mixture.
- Press firmly into a greased 9×13″ pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 17-21 minutes. Do not over-bake! They will look just barely set in the center, and they will harden as they cool.
- Allow to cool completely.
- Once cooled, spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the bars.
- Add butter to a small skillet over medium heat.
- Once melted, stir in cocoa.
- Remove from heat and add milk, powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Whisk until smooth, using electric beaters to get out any lumps, if needed.
- Spread chocolate frosting over the top of the bars.
