CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER BARS
Delectable peanut butter bars made with chewy oatmeal and a creamy peanut butter center, generously topped with a velvety, nutty icing. These crowd-pleasers will be devoured in no time.
This is the first recipe in my new series called “Cookbook Chronicles”.
I am kicking off this season with recipes taken from church cookbooks from across the country.
I decided to start this series because I am growing tired of making the same things on repeat and I’m hoping this will inspire me to try new recipes.
I enjoy the process of uncovering hidden gems like this recipe, as it not only adds variety to my baking and cooking repertoire but also provides a glimpse into the cherished culinary traditions of different communities.
This amazing peanut butter bar recipe came from a cookbook called “Feeding the Flock” Clearview United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida.
I have adapted it a bit by adding butter to the icing and increasing the powdered sugar, vanilla and peanut butter.
One thing I am loving about the church cookbooks are the cute little additions that they have inserted among the pages. The little scripture recipes, prayers, tips and tricks, etc.
Choosing good old fashioned ingredients is very important to me when baking for my family. So I use Organic Unbleached flour, Organic Cane sugar, sprouted oats, pure sweet cream butter and Pasture raised eggs.
I’m lucky enough to buy farm fresh pasture raised eggs from my daughter and grandson. If you look closely, you can still see a feather on one of them.
TIP: If your eggs are straight from the fridge, put them in a bowl of warm tap water for five minutes before adding them to your mix.
I always buy Organic peanut butter that has two ingredients: peanuts and salt. If you’ve ever bought this type of peanut butter then you know oil will accumulate at the top since it doesn’t have additives and emulsifiers. I simply take a butter knife and mix it thoroughly before I use it. Although, this can sometimes be messy, it is on worth not feeding my family the preservatives that most peanut butters contain.
I typically buy One Degree sprouted oats since they are easier for digestion. You can read more about why sprouted grains are better for you HERE. I store them in the freezer to keep them fresher longer.
TIP: A trick to getting butter to room temperature is to place the sticks in the microwave and heat in 10 second intervals making sure to flip them over in between each one. This usually takes 3 times with my microwave, but this will vary.
This recipe for peanut butter bars was amazing and my family raved about them!
I did change the icing a bit so I have included my adapted version below.
This recipe makes about 30 3×3 inch squares but you could cut them even smaller for larger gatherings.
TIP: Wet your hands and press the peanut butter mixture into the pan. This makes it much easier to spread.
CHEWY PEANUT BUTTER BARS
These indulgent peanut butter bars resemble a large, chewy oatmeal peanut butter cookie topped with a velvety and creamy peanut butter frosting.
Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs at room temp
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 cups oats
- ICING
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 stick salted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3-4 Tablespoons of milk
Instructions
1. Cream together butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
2. Add in flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until completely combined.
3. Add in Oats and mix.
4. Spread mixture onto sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
5. Bakes at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
6. Allow to cool completely before adding icing.
ICING:
1. Cream together butter, sugar, vanilla and peanut butter in a bowl using an electric mixer.
2. Add in milk one tablespoon at a time until icing is creamy and smooth.
3. Spread icing on top of cooled bars. Cut into squares using a pizza cutter.
*Recipe adapted from Cookbook "Feeding The Flock" Clearview United Methodist Church
Notes
*Heat butter in microwave in 10 second intervals flipping each time to get it to room temp. This usually takes about 30 seconds, but this may vary depending on microwave temp.
*To spread peanut butter bars evenly in pan, wet your hands and press dough flat into pan.
* Place cold eggs in a bowl of warm tap water for five minutes to get them to room temp.
*I prefer organic peanut butter just be sure to mix the oils in since it tends to separate.
*I used sprouted oats but any oats will do.
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