It’s true I am a huge sucker for anything that puts oatmeal and peanut butter together, especially at breakfast. Chocolate is a frequent accomplice. These Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars fit right in with this obsession. Am I bordering on insanity? Let’s review the evidence.
♦ I smother my bowl of oatmeal in peanut butter and chocolate at least twice a week.
♦ Peanut Butter Baked Oatmeal with Chocolate Chips. Need I say more?
♦ I hawk healthy cookies like No-Guilt Peanut Butter Banana Oat Chippies.
And now, these little darlings – chewy peanut butter oatmeal bars. They represent the latest addition to our dessert-for-breakfast family.
Guilty as charged? Of course. Before you sentence me, though, I do have something to say on my behalf.
These scrumptious morsels of deliciosity are truly wholesome. Peanut butter, oatmeal, and whole wheat flour are SO GOOD for you! Protein, heart-healthy fiber, vitamins from all across the alphabet…I could go on, but you get what I’m saying. If craving these is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
Now, take me away. Just promise you’ll mail me a batch of these every so often, ‘kay? Thanks.
Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Makes 16
Prep time: 15 minutes Baking time: 22-25 minutes
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
1 cup natural peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup old-fashioned oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup non fat milk
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup raisins
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare an 8×8 baking pan with spray oil.
Mix the dry ingredients (oats, flour, baking soda, and salt) together in a small bowl and set aside. Using an electric mixer, beat the sugar and peanut butter together on medium speed until well combined. Beat in the vanilla.
Next, add the dry ingredients and the milk alternately, beating on medium speed between each addition. By the time both are all added, the batter will be thick and difficult to stir. Mix in the chocolate chips and raisins with your hands until they are well incorporated. Press the mixture into the prepared pan, and bake for 20-22 minutes. Do not over-bake! The bars are done when they are set and slightly browned.
ENJOY!
I’ll have to try these, since that combo is also a household favorite here. One of my newspaper customers, NR’s Edna Ferrell, used to leave oatmeal peanut butter no-bakes cooling on her porch, and would always give me a few. We call these Edna’s No-bakes (though they aren’t as healthy as your bars). Here’s the recipe: Boil together a stick of butter, 1/2 cup milk and 2 cups sugar in a saucepan for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from stove and add 3/4 cup peanut butter, stirring until smooth. Mix in 3 cups oats (quick or regular). Drop by teaspoon onto wax paper and cool. Then melt 6 oz of chocolate chips and drizzle on top of cookies…makes about 5 dozen!
I think used to make these with Theresa Monaghan. They are yummy! These ones on the blog are definitely healthier 🙂
These are AMAZING!! My boys (2 and 4) love them and at this rate they won’t last until tomorrow. Thanks for a great recipe 🙂
Fantastic!!! Thanks for stopping by to let us know 🙂
Hi! I just wanted to say that I made these last week and they were delicious!! Going to make another batch this weekend. Perfect snack or quick breakfast option. Thanks for the recipe!
Fantastic – glad you liked them. I’m planning for another batch this weekend as well. Love them for breakfast!
Thoughts on subbing honey for the brown sugar?
I am not sure how that would work. Honey provides more moisture so it may end up much stickier. Usually you don’t need as much honey when replacing it for sugar. Let me knowing you try it.
Might have to make these in the snowstorm!
Please do!!