These Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars are the perfect mix of rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter!

Whether you’re making them for a family gathering or a cozy treat, this recipe will satisfy every sweet tooth.

Ingredients

2 cups quick-cooking oats
1 3/4 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1/2 cup chopped peanuts
1 cup (6 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 large egg, beaten
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, combine oats, brown sugar, flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

Step 2: Cut in butter using a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in peanuts.

Step 3: Reserve 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture. Stir the egg into the remaining mixture and press it into the bottom of a 13×9-inch baking pan.

Step 4: Bake for 15 minutes.

Step 5: In a small bowl, stir together sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter until smooth. Pour this mixture over the partially baked crust.

Step 6: Sprinkle the reserved crumb mixture and chocolate chips evenly over the peanut butter layer.

Bake for another 15 minutes. Let cool before cutting into bars.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?

Yes! Crunchy peanut butter will add extra texture to the bars.

2. How do I store these bars?

Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week, or freeze for longer storage.

3. Can I substitute different nuts?

Absolutely! You can swap out the peanuts for almonds, pecans, or even leave them out.

4. Can I use whole oats instead of quick-cooking oats?

Whole oats might make the bars a bit chewier, but they’ll still be delicious.

5. What’s the best way to cut the bars?

For clean slices, wait until the bars are completely cooled before cutting with a sharp knife.