Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares

Humble and homely, there's something fundamentally loveable about these personal Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares of sugar and butter.

These peanut butter chocolate oatmeal squares fit nicely in your hand and feel reassuringly solid. They can be nibbled slowly or tucked into a backpack for later. It's no wonder that the bars and squares are always the first to go at any bake sale or potluck dinner.

There is a bar cookie out there for everyone. Fudgy brownies, fig and nut bars, lemon squares, butterscotch blondies and raspberry crumble bars are all welcome at this end of the dessert table. Most of these are pressed or poured into a pan, baked and ready to eat in less than an hour.

Bar cookies might not win any awards for beauty, but this makes little difference when it comes to what your sweet tooth craves. They never fail to deliver in either convenience or satisfaction.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares

    Prep Time: 20 minutes

    Cook time: 40 minutes

    Yield: Makes 24 squares

Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares Ingredients

    1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened

    1/2 cup white sugar

    1 cup brown sugar

    3 eggs

    1 1/2 cup peanut butter

    1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

    1 teaspoon baking powder

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour

    1 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats

    12 ounces candy-coated chocolates, like M&Ms

    1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares Recipe Instructions

    Pre-heat the oven to 350 F. Line a 9-by-13 baking dish with parchment paper, allowing some paper to hang over the sides to form a cradle.

    Using a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix in the peanut butter and vanilla to form a smooth batter.

    In a separate bowl, whisk together the baking powder, salt, flour and oats. Slowly mix this dry mixture into the peanut butter mixture just until the flour is entirely absorbed. This will form a very thick batter.

    Pour three-quarters of the batter into the baking dish and use a spatula to smooth the surface. Sprinkle the candy pieces in an even layer and then drop the remaining batter in spoonfuls over the top.

    Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the top is browned and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. If the top begins to brown before the middle is done, cover the pan with aluminum foil.

    Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper as handles. Melt the chocolate chips and use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate over the top of the bars. Cut into 24 equal pieces.

    Bars can be stored between layers of wax paper in an airtight container at room temperature.

Available at Amazon.com:

Anna Getty's Easy Green Organic

Cuisinart ICE-30BC Pure Indulgence 2-Quart Automatic Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, and Ice Cream Maker

The Lee Bros. Simple Fresh Southern: Knockout Dishes with Down-Home Flavor

Stonewall Kitchen: Grilling: Fired-Up Recipes for Cooking Outdoors All Year Long

Luscious Coconut Desserts

Tapas: Sensational Small Plates From Spain

Simply Organic: A Cookbook for Sustainable, Seasonal, and Local Ingredients

 

Subscribe to Receive our Gourmet Recipes


Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares Recipe

World-renowned chefs with an extraordinary passion for food share their passion on iHaveNet.com. These chefs make great cooking easier than imagined. Each gourmet recipe features expert advice and an easy-to-make recipe. Exactly what you need to transform your home cooking from acceptable to delectable

© Tribune Media Services