Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

5 from 1 vote

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are soft, gooey, chewy bars loaded with wholesome ingredients like natural peanut butter, old fashioned oats, and pure maple syrup. Healthy-ish, easy snack or lunchbox treat for peanut butter lovers.

Prep Time5

Cook Time23

Total Time28

Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Calories: 253kcal

Author: Cara Lanz

Ingredients

¼ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
¾ cup creamy or chunky peanut butter I use natural "no-stir" peanut butter -- the kind that stays solid at room temperature
¾ cup pure maple syrup
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8x8 or 9x9 square baking pan with parchment paper.
Mix the butter and peanut butter on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until smooth. Add the maple syrup and mix for another minute. Mix in the egg, then the vanilla.
Mix in the baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Sift in the flour and mix until just combined. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips on low speed until incorporated.
Spread the dough into the pan. Bake for 17-23 minutes, until set and the edges are light golden brown. A toothpick inserted in the center won't come out clean. The internal temperature should read 175-180. Do not overbake.
Cool in the pan on a wire rack. These bars will be very soft and gooey until completely cooled. If they're too soft to lift out of the pan, chill them in the refrigerator. Store covered in the refrigerator.

Notes

Be careful not to overbake, check the baking time early.

Bake until risen, the very edges are golden brown, and the top is lightly golden brown. The toothpick test won't work because the center will be underdone, but there shouldn't be any wet batter.

For best results, use an instant read thermometer to test for doneness. Look for a range between 175 to 185, with 175 for super gooey bars.

These bars are very soft. Let cool completely before lifting them out of the pan. If they're too soft, chill them in the refrigerator.

Nutrition