Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Today I’m sharing my oatmeal chocolate peanut butter bars. I confess I love peanut butter, and if you combine it with chocolate, it’s a winner in my book. We love peanut butter ice cream and peanut butter sandwiches, and I’m known to grab a spoon and eat peanut butter right out of the jar as well! I love to spread it on Ritz crackers, I could go on and on.

These bars are so easy to make with oatmeal, semi-sweet chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and peanut butter! They are perfect for your next family reunion, or to take to a neighborhood party.

It’s the combination of oatmeal, chocolate, peanut butter chips, and semi-sweet chocolate chips that make it the perfect treat to enjoy making and serving. These bars are moist and chewy and have just the right sweetness. In case you missed this post, Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Kitchen Items You May Need:

• Stand Mixer or Large Mixing Bowl
• 9-inch Square Pan
• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons

Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Step One

Gather the ingredients so you’re ready to make the recipe. Preheat your oven to (350°F) = (176°C). Grease a 9-inch square baking pan. Set it aside.

Step Two

Grab a medium-sized bowl and mix the flour, baking soda, salt, and oats together.

Step Three

Use a stand mixer, or large bow if mixed by hand, to cream the egg, butter, peanut butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Cream it until fluffy.

Step Four

Stir in the dry ingredients and mix through.

Step Five

This is the picture after adding the wet and dry ingredients together.

Step Six

Stir in the semi-sweet and peanut butter chips and mix until evenly distributed.

Step Seven

Scoop the mixture into your baking pan and pat the dough down until evenly spread out. The dough is really sticky, but the whole kitchen smells yummy!

Finished Product

Bake the mixture for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. DO NOT OVERBAKE! Let the Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars rest for 30 minutes before cutting them. Enjoy.

Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Recipe

How do I store these after I bake them?

I store them in a Tupperware-type container that is airtight.

Can I freeze these after baking them?

Absolutely, these freeze very well. Place them in an airtight container and freeze them for up to 2 months.

Can I substitute different chips in this recipe?

Yes, you can for sure. I realize some people like milk chocolate chips over dark chocolate/semi-sweet chips. You can trade them out for butterscotch chips, Reese’s peanut butter chips, sea salt caramel chips, cinnamon chips, or white chocolate chips. Any of these work, depending on your family’s taste preference. You can trade out any or all of them. This recipe is so versatile, any of these make the bars delicious.

Is it possible to use chunky peanut butter?

We love using both creamy and chunky/crunchy peanut butter, either one will work.

Would steel-cut oats work with this recipe?

That isn’t something I’ve tried using them because they have a different texture than old-fashioned oats.

I only stock quick-cooking oatmeal, will that work in the recipe?

It isn’t something I can recommend because this recipe needs a bit more texture.

Who put chocolate and peanut butter together?

I quote, Times Record News: “It was invented by a struggling dairyman named Harry Reese. Reese worked on a dairy farm owned by Milton Hershey, the Hershey chocolate king, and in 1928 Harry began toying with the idea of mixing peanut butter and chocolate in cups.”

Are there health benefits to eating peanut butter?

Many people who try to be health-conscious when planning meals will tell you they like peanuts and peanut butter because it is packed with protein. If you look to meat as your main protein source, you may want to consider trying peanuts as an alternative. Yes, peanuts have fats, but they are what are termed “good fats” and are called polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats. They are known for providing a lower risk of weight gain and related obesity, as long as eaten in moderation, mainly due to the high-calorie factor.

Peanuts have great nutritional value due to being a great source of magnesium, vitamins B6 and E, niacin, and manganese. We all need certain metals in our body, and peanuts provide copper, a good mineral that we need to strengthen our bones, increase our immune functions, and provide strong blood vessels.

I hadn’t heard of it before, but my research came upon the fact that peanuts have a fat called oleic acid. This fat can help you maintain proper levels of cholesterol and blood sugar, and lower blood pressure, all worthwhile goals as you strive to lower your risk of heart disease. This fat can also reduce your body’s resistance to insulin, thus reducing the chance of type 2 diabetes.

One other positive feature of peanuts is the number of antioxidants they contain. Antioxidants are great to help prevent any cell damage, and they do some repair work on cells.

Are there health concerns with peanut butter?

One of the main concerns relates to the possibility of allergies. Many manufacturing plants will state on products that their equipment has been used to process peanuts, even though the product doesn’t contain any peanuts. Those who are allergic to peanuts have to be very cautious since the allergy can truly be fatal to some.

There are other nuts and nut butter that provide favorable flavor to use as a substitute for peanuts and peanut butter. If you have an allergy concern, try almond, macadamia, or walnut butter.

Peanuts do have a fairly high level of saturated fat. Again, eating peanuts in moderation should help shield you from future heart problems.

One approach to take when wanting to eat peanut products is to purchase those that incorporate “natural peanut butter” that hasn’t had any sugars, oils, or salt added. Check with your local natural or health food store, they should be able to guide you to the most healthy product they stock.

Why is peanut butter so popular?

Here are a few things to consider in response to that question:

• It tastes great with so many other foods and baking ingredients.
• Has tons of protein.
• No need for refrigeration.
• Great food storage item.
• Can be eaten right out of the jar.
• Good for quick and easy meals.
• Doesn’t need to be cooked, or otherwise prepared, before being used.
• It is relatively inexpensive.
• Full of nutrients.
• Good in various sauces.

Final Word

I hope you try making my Oatmeal Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars. This is a great recipe to teach our kids and grandkids how to cook or bake from scratch. I love hearing from those readers who try out my posted recipes. Let me know how your experience making and serving it went. I made this batch today, and it’s already gone. Gotta love it! Please keep stocking up on food products, we must if we expect to be properly prepared for emergencies. Stay safe. May God Bless this world, Linda