Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Satisfy your sweet tooth with these chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars! There’s an peanut butter oatmeal cookie layer with a rich buttery taste and a thick layer of chocolate with a peanut butter drizzle. This is a great recipe for dessert, school lunches, or just a delicious treat when your sweet tooth is calling!

Try my Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars and Homemade Cosmic Brownies next!

So these chocolate peanut butter oatmeal bars are such a fun treat. They consist of two layers – the bottom layer is a peanut butter oatmeal cookie and the top layer is melted chocolate with peanut butter swirled throughout.

I am a peanut butter lover through – so these bars are one of my favorite treats. They’re rich and buttery and the dark chocolate topping adds a really nice contrast to the buttery flavor with the deep cocoa notes. What’s even better is that my baby boy loves them too! He kept saying “Mommy, more!” – which always makes my heart burst.

To make this recipe, all you need are a few easy ingredients, combine everything and bake the chocolate peanut butter bars. Add the chocolate and peanut butter on top and you’ve got a delicious treat that everyone will love!

Ingredient Notes

Oatmeal Layer

Peanut Butter – ok, I typically LOVE crunchy peanut butter – but for these oatmeal bars, I used a creamy peanut butter. For me, it’s a matter of texture – especially for the chocolate layer on top. Perhaps I’m a bit of perfectionist when it comes to presentation. However, if you want to use crunchy PB, you absolutely can!

Oats – I recommend using old fashioned oats for the best results. You can use quick oats but the grains aren’t as large so you don’t really get that true “oatmeal” texture in my opinion.

Butter – be sure to use room temperature butter that’s been sitting out for at least 30 minutes. This helps the batter come together smoothly without breaking apart when the liquids are added. For this recipe, I used salted butter because I love the salty peanut buttery chocolate flavor together.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer

To make the chocolate topping, you’ll need just three simple ingredients:

• Dark Chocolate Chips – use your favorite chocolate. I like using Guittard dark chocolate chips
• Creamy Peanut Butter
• Flaky salt (optional)

Variations

• Add peanut butter chips to the oatmeal cookie layer before baking for added peanut buttery goodness!
• Use a different kind of chocolate – semisweet chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips add a sweeter flavor to these peanut butter oat bars.
• Add a little spice! For a little extra flavor, add a dash of cinnamon to the oatmeal cookie batter for a little spice.

How to Make Oatmeal Bars

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 9×13 baking pan with parchment paper.

• Mix together the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl – flour, old-fashioned oats, baking soda, and salt. (Image #1)

• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine room temperature salted butter, brown sugar, and sugar. Mix on medium speed for 3 minutes, until fluffy and lighter in color. Then add creamy peanut butter and vanilla extract and continue to mix until combined. Add eggs one at a time. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. (Image #2)

• Add the oatmeal mixture to the stand mixer and mix until just combined. Batter should be thick. Add batter to the baking pan and mash to make flatten to make an even layer. (Image #3 and #4)

• Bake peanut butter oatmeal bars for 30-35 minutes, until the center is set. Allow the bars to cool completely.
• Make the chocolate layer. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds and then in 15 second increments until the chocolate is fully melted.
• In a separate bowl, melt remaining peanut butter.
• Once the baked bars have cooled completely, pour melted chocolate on top of the bars. Drizzle the melted peanut butter on top and use a toothpick to swirl the peanut butter through the chocolate. Refrigerate or 30 minutes. Add flaky salt or sea salt on top (optional). (Image #5)

Tips

• For easy cutting, run a sharp knife under hot water for about 30 seconds. Wipe off the water and press the knife into the bars and remove the blade in one motion for a nice clean cut.
• Be sure to wait until the bars have cooled completely before adding the chocolate peanut butter mixture on top.
• Don’t skip the parchment paper! It’s SO much easier to get the bars out of the pan by using parchment paper.

Storage, Freezing, Make-Ahead

• Storing: store the bars in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container or cover with plastic wrap.
• Freezing: these bars freeze very well. Same with storing in the fridge, store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
• Making Ahead: these oatmeals bars can be up to 2 days prior to enjoying for the freshest taste.

For more Peanut Butter Desserts

• Peanut Butter Cup Blondies
• Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
• Honey Peanut Butter Cookies
• Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Cups