Super simple peanut butter oatmeal bars ready in under 30 minutes – a perfect fuss free treat for satisfying any sweet tooth!
Hey, guess what?! Today we’re going to revisit one of my earliest posts which also happens to be one of my favorite go-to recipes – peanut butter oatmeal bars!
Originally I planned on rephotographing these PB bars to make them a little more blog/Pinterest friendly. As much as I really loved these pictures at the time, my photography has improved so much since taking them that I didn’t feel like they did the recipe justice. Also, it gave me an excuse to make these again.
NOW I realize that my pictures aren’t the only thing that needs revising. Months after posting this recipe I have just now noticed that I left out a step in the recipe instructions. Not an important one of course – just the part where you add your ingredients together. *Sarcasm* Oops!
Is it just me or is it impossible to edit your own work?
I’d like to think that I’m fairly decent at editing and revising for others, but when it comes to myself I just can’t seem to get the words right. It’s probably because I struggle with my writing so much that when the words finally do start to flow it comes out more like like word vomit than anything else. And then when I’m finished I can’t stand the thought of going back through in depth and proof reading what I just wrote because I’m so embarrassed by the end result.
So the lesson to be learned here is to always make sure that Mike proof reads my posts for me. He usually does, but a lot of the time I don’t want to wait for him to do it and just submit my posts anyways because I’m more of a ‘just do it’ kind of person.
About the recipe
So why is this one of my favorite cookie recipes?
Um well, let me first answer by saying ‘peanut butter’ and then following by saying ‘chocolate drizzle’. For an even easier recipe go ahead and mix the chocolate chips into the dough instead of melting onto for a chocolate drizzle. I just like to drizzle because I like the way it looks.
If that isn’t a good enough reason it’s also incredibly easy to throw together. All you need is one bowl, 30 minutes and a few easy to source ingredients that you probably already having hanging around your kitchen. Instead of going through the more traditional cookie route of forming and dropping balls of dough on a cookie sheet I like to dump the dough in an 8×8 in baking dish for easier prep and cleanup.
I’ve made this recipe successfully with both natural, oily peanut butter and regular peanut butter. If you are going to use natural peanut butter that comes with a layer of oil on top just do your best to drain as much of the the oil from the PB after you’ve stopped out one cup before adding it to the rest of your ingredients. Otherwise the cookie bars will come out oily as well. Also be aware that using natural peanut butter that has no added sugar will mean that the cookie bars will be less sweet than using regular peanut butter.
Now that we’ve got that all sorted out, I hope you like these peanut butter oatmeal bars as much as we do around here!
Peanut Butter Oat Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter*, 250 grams
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup packed brown sugar, 100grams
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 cup certified gluten free oats, 90 grams
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips optional, 45 grams
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F/180°C and line/grease an 8x8 inch square baking tin.
- In a medium sized mixing bowl add the peanut butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla. Mix to combine. Stir in your baking powder and oats until everything is evenly incorporated.
- Once everything is mixed together completely, dump and press the dough in to the lined/greased baking dish making sure it's evenly distributed. Bake it in the oven for 15-17 minutes. To check that it's finished, stick a tooth pick or knife into the center and when it comes out clean you're done.
- You can either stop here and enjoy your freshly baked bars, or keep going to add a little chocolate. While you're letting your bars cool on a wire rack, begin to melt your chocolate in a small sauce pan, stirring constantly. You can either do this part in the microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring between intervals until it's completely smooth.
- Once your chocolate is melted, drizzle it over the tops of your bar. Just go crazy with it. Slice, and enjoy.
Notes
*If you're using natural peanut butter with an oil layer on top make sure that you drain any excess oil from the peanut butter before adding it to the rest of your ingredients otherwise everything will come out too oily.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16Serving Size:
barAmount Per Serving:Calories: 173 Saturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 20mg Sodium: 84mg Carbohydrates: 18g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 13g Protein: 5g
Helen says
24th May 2018 at 8:23 amHi Sarah, do you think I could add a couple of tablespoons of cocoa powder to the ingredients or would this not work?
Sarah says
25th May 2018 at 8:44 amHi Helen! I think it would technically still work but I think it might start erring on the side of being a bit too dry. A couple things you could try: melt chocolate and mix that in instead of using cocoa powder or add an extra egg yolk for a little extra moisture. I haven’t tried doing either of these things myself though so I can’t say for sure
Che says
8th May 2018 at 1:30 pmThank you for sharing your recipe. My youngest son and me loves your Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars. We can’t resist to finish the whole batch. Soo yummy and also healthy.
Sarah says
8th May 2018 at 5:15 pmYay! So glad you guys like them!
Michelle says
24th April 2018 at 11:33 pmJust made these and they’re tasty! I put them in muffin tins as I don’t have a 8in square pan, baked for about 15min. I reduced the sugar to 1/4, but will add more next time. Instead of the chocolate glaze I added mini chocolate chips which are great! My husband hasn’t tried any yet, but I’m betting he’ll slather some Nutella on the bars 😛
Sarah says
25th April 2018 at 7:07 amOooh! I love all those ideas – especially the nutellas 😉 So glad you enjoyed them! Thanks for coming back to let me know what you thought!
Christos says
1st November 2017 at 12:33 pmThe 90gr of oats are correct?because the fluid ingredients seems much more!!thank you
Sarah says
2nd November 2017 at 4:37 pmThat’s right! It might seem like a lot, but once you mix it altogether it won’t seem like too much
Eileen Ross says
24th July 2016 at 6:48 pmMost of the comments state that these LOOK good. Has anybody actually MADE them?????
Sarah says
25th July 2016 at 2:35 pmHi Eileen! Here’s a comment someone left on my blogspot blog before I moved everything over to this blog. It’s the same recipe, I’ve just updated the photos since then.
http://empoweredkitchen.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/oatmeal-peanut-butter-bars.html
I must admit that I go a little crazy sometimes trying to find comments from people who have actually made recipes on other blog, but I’m always happy to have people leave positive feedback. I’ve found most of my readers tend to tag me on instagram with something they’ve made from the blog. As much as I love those, it does make them harder to track.
Hope this helps!
Tricia says
12th September 2017 at 12:19 amI made them, they’re really good! Both of my kids liked them.
Sarah says
12th September 2017 at 10:37 amYay! Glad you guys liked them 🙂 Thanks for coming back to leave a comment/review letting me know how it went!
Ducks n a Row says
20th January 2016 at 3:46 pmOh they do look good Really really good!
Yummed and shared in various ways 🙂
Sinea
Sarah says
21st January 2016 at 11:31 amThanks so much, Sinea! <3
Ducks n a Row says
23rd January 2016 at 5:56 pmHey Sarah… this post was so popular at last week’s party that it will be featured on the upcoming Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop. Congrats!
Sinea
Sarah says
25th January 2016 at 9:26 pmThanks, Sinea! Can’t wait 🙂
Megan Marlowe says
20th January 2016 at 3:01 amOh these look so delicious. I just love peanut butter and oats together! Pinning to make these SOON!
Sarah says
21st January 2016 at 11:31 amThanks, Megan! Peanut butter + oats = love
Roomina says
18th January 2016 at 2:45 amIn the ingredients it says baking powder but in the instructions it says baking soda. Which is it?
Sarah says
18th January 2016 at 12:24 pmBaking powder! Thanks for pointing that out to me!
Bethany @ Athletic Avocado says
17th January 2016 at 2:50 pmMmmmm these bars are calling my name! I’d defs consider eating them for breakfast, no shame!
Sarah says
18th January 2016 at 12:25 pmYou and me both!
Lauren @ Create Bake Make says
21st September 2015 at 9:21 pmOoh these look amazing, you can’t go wrong with anything that is made with peanut butter!
Sarah says
22nd September 2015 at 9:17 pmTotally agree – everything is made better with peanut butter!
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile says
19th September 2015 at 2:58 amOh wow!! Two of my favourite things together!! Peanut butter and chocolate are just the best. These would make a very yummy treat with my cuppa right now! Thanks for joining our Fabulous Foodie Fridays party!
Sarah says
19th September 2015 at 10:42 amThanks, Lucy – my pleasure!
Sara @ Life's Little Sweets says
18th September 2015 at 5:17 pmI found this recipe on the Fabulous Foodie Fridays link party, these really look decadent and amazing.
Sarah says
18th September 2015 at 9:10 pmAww, thanks Sara! I love these things – peanut butter will be the death of me haha
Heather says
24th July 2015 at 1:18 amThere is nothing I don’t love about this recipe!! Thank you.. this is a MUST try!!
Sarah says
24th July 2015 at 9:48 amAww, thank you Heather! These are one of my favorite recipes…I mean…it has peanut butter! What’s not to love?
Patti @ CooksRecipeCollection.com says
18th July 2015 at 12:01 amI’m always looking for gluten free items for my Mom. This looks so yummy!
Sarah says
18th July 2015 at 9:56 amThanks Patti! What a good daughter you are making things for your mom. Let me know how she likes them!
Half of our house is gluten free because they’re coeliacs and the other half don’t. Even the non coeliacs eat these up just as soon as they are out of the oven – you won’t feel like you’re missing anything at all.
Framed Recipes says
17th July 2015 at 8:51 pmThese are so good!!! – Sreelatha
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 8:59 pmThank you – love positive feedback 🙂
Christopher Kimball says
17th July 2015 at 7:09 pmThese look so good and we are currently shifting to gluten-free in our home. I am going to save this recipe and definitely try them!
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 7:19 pmHi Christopher, hope the transition to gluten free goes well! It can be a bit challenging at first, but then once you do it for a bit it’s no problem. This recipe is great for gluten free because there is no flour swap necessary – just good old fashioned gluten free goodness
Jenn says
17th July 2015 at 2:41 pmWhat a perfect snack…or breakfast…or dessert! Love peanut butter!
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 6:58 pmFact: peanut butter is good anytime of day…it’s science!
Julie @ Tastes of Lizzy T says
17th July 2015 at 11:20 amThis is my kind of gluten free snack! Yummed!
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 11:24 amThanks, Julie! Peanut butter…chocolate…what can go wrong?
Jane says
17th July 2015 at 11:17 amThese look delicious! I love that they are in bar form. My teen and I were just talking about finding an easy pb cookie recipe they could make! Perfect timing! Yummed!
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 11:24 amExcellent! Sometimes I’ll make then in cookie form, but nothing bakes the quick and easy prep that go along with bars. You two will love them!
MyCookingSerects.com Krystallia Giamouridou says
17th July 2015 at 11:02 amI like the fact that you are using certified gluten free oats. This means you are paying attention to detail. Will definitely try your recipe. Thanks for sharing Sarah!
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 11:19 amThanks Krystallia! Can’t afford to not pay attention to that kind of thing in this house – my husband is extremely sensitive to gluten – he developed arthritis in one of his hands because of being an undiagnosed coeliac and whenever he has even the smallest bit of crumbs his arthritis flares us and causes a lot of pain.
I just hope to spread awareness about those sorts of things to spare others the pain he’s had to go through because he wasn’t aware.
Blair @ The Seasoned Mom says
17th July 2015 at 10:55 amI love this simple ingredient list and the perfect combination of flavors! Yummed. 🙂
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 11:20 amThank you, Blair! I love simply, easy to prepare recipes. And how can anyone go wrong when peanut butter and chocolate are involved?
Harriet Emily says
17th July 2015 at 10:40 amWhat a beautiful looking oaty treat! I looove snacking on oat bars. I can’t believe how easy these are to make, and anything drizzled in chocolate is a must in my household. I have to try these! Thanks for sharing!
Sarah says
17th July 2015 at 11:22 amThanks Harriet! It’s almost a bad thing that these are so easy to make because then it means I can have a tray prepared and cooked and ready to eat in about 30 minutes. With my self control I always need to make sure there are others around to share because then I’d want to eat the whole thing 😉
Sarah says
13th July 2015 at 1:49 pmSo sorry Caroline! I recently changed the recipe format for this particular post, and when I did it I think I forgot to copy and paste the first line of instruction that says the oven heat. It’s fixed now – thank you for pointing that out to me! It’s 350°F or 180°C
asaucykitchen says
2nd June 2015 at 4:13 pmThat means so much to me 🙂 So happy to hear that you like them! I begrudgingly share mine with others too haha
Captain Rae says
2nd June 2015 at 12:26 pmThese are amazing! By far the easiest gluten free snack I have made so far. So nice to be able to whip these up after work and have something to munch on when everyone else at the office has a giant stack of biscuits I can't eat! And no, i'm not sharing, haha.