The Best Peanut Butter Bars

This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my privacy policy.

These peanut butter bars are thick, rich and heavenly! A thick layer of peanut butter with rolled oats mixed together making a creamy filling with a smooth chocolatey frosting that is an irresistible combination.
Followers love these peanut butter bars with the peanut butter, chocolatey taste. Add a twist with these crunchy peanut butter bars and enjoy that crunchy munch treat!
Peanut butter bars stacked on top of each other on a plate.

Peanut Butter Bars

I call these babies the devil. Probably because you can’t eat just one. They sit there and tempt you and you eat them all square by square. I have this recipe memorized because people always ask me to make them. They make a lot. You could feed a small army with them. Or keep half for yourself. I  usually cut them in little squares so I feel better about eating 100 of them. True story. I made these and my Cafe Rio Pork on me and my hubby’s second date. Yeah. We are married now. They are that good. This is definitely a recipe to try and keep in the recipe box!
The perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate. Every bite is amazing with rich chocolate and sweet peanut butter with rolled oats for a great texture. All together this is the best dessert paired together. For more chocolate, peanut butter combination try these amazing Reese’s peanut butter cookies or no bake buckeye peanut butter balls for more delicious treats that are simple to make. These simple peanut butter bars are truly the best and take pantry staples to help make these in no time.

Peanut Butter Bar Ingredients:

Simple ingredients for this simple peanut butter bar recipe. It is easy to make and only takes minutes to mix together. It all comes together perfectly making this a quick and simple treat everyone will love.

  • Brown Sugar: This is where the rich comes from. The sweetness from the brown sugar is more delicious.
  • White Sugar: Adding in the sweetness with the brown sugar is pure sugar goodness!
  • Butter: The butter will combine all the ingredients together as it is being blended.
  • Peanut Butter: Creamy is best and this peanut butter is the most important ingredient.
  • Eggs: Bind the ingredients together with eggs in the mix.
  • Salt: Just a pinch will do the trick!
  • Baking Soda: Help the peanut butter filling to rise as it is baking.
  • Rolled oats: Thickens and creates a soft, smooth taste.
  • Flour: All purpose flour is best and will thicken the peanut butter bars in the pan.
Frosting:
  • Butter: Soften your butter to help make the frosting smooth.
  • Cocoa: Creates a chocolatey taste.
  • Vanilla: Just a dash for flavor!
  • Milk: Makes the frosting nice and creamy.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens the frosting and thickens it at the same time.

How to Make Peanut Butter Bars:

  1. Cream together: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the brown sugar, white sugar, butter, and peanut butter.
  2. Add in: Add the eggs, salt, baking soda, rolled oats, and flour. Blend until until it is all mixed together.
  3. Layer the peanut butter filling: Spread on a large 15×9 inch pan. Bake for 15 minutes, no longer, and let cool completely.
  4. Spread peanut butter on top (optional): After cooled spread a thin layer of peanut butter on top of the cookie. I use about ½ cup and soften it in the microwave so it is easier to spread.
  5. For the frosting: Melt butter and add the cocoa. Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Mix together very well and spread the final frosting layer on the very top. Also I have found that if you let the bars chill with the frosting in the fridge for an hour, the frosting will set up faster so that you can consume them quicker. 🙂

The Recipe Critic Pro Tip:

My advice is to give most of these away. You will eat them slowly until too many are consumed. Make sure you have a tall glass of milk to go with them! These are seriously the best that I have tried and a recipe you will want to make again and again!

Peanut butter bars sliced up and sitting in the photo.

 

Tips for Making Peanut Butter Bars:

  • Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is best but if you prefer a little more crunch in your bars then try it with the crunchy peanut butter.
  • Rolled oats: If you do not have rolled oats, graham cracker crumbs will also work in replace of them. The bars will not be as full but they will have the same concept.
  • Frosting: Make these even easier and buy store bought chocolate frosting to spread over top of the peanut butter filling.
  • Prepare pan: It is best to line the pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper before adding the peanut butter filling. When slicing them, it will be easier to lift the bars out of the pan with the foil or paper on the bottom.
  • Storing: Place bars in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days long.

More Delicious Dessert Bar Recipes to Try:

Peanut butter bars stacked on top of each other.

Peanut Butter Bars

No ratings yet
These peanut butter bars are thick, rich and heavenly! A thick layer of peanut butter with rolled oats mixed together making a creamy filling with a smooth chocolatey frosting that is an irresistible combination. 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Author Alyssa Rivers
Servings: 16 Bars

Ingredients
  

Peanut Butter Filling:

  • 1   cup Brown Sugar
  • cup White Sugar
  • cup Butter
  • 1 cup Peanut Butter
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 2 cup Rolled Oats
  • 2 cup Flour

Frosting:

  • 1/2 cup Butter
  • 3 Tablespoons Cocoa
  • 1 cup Powdered Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla
  • 6 Tablespoon Milk

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cream together the brown sugar, white sugar, butter, and peanut butter.
  • Add the eggs, salt, baking soda, rolled oats, and flour.  Blend until until it is all mixed together.
  • Spread on a large 15x9 inch pan.  Bake for 15 minutes, no longer, and let cool completely.
  • After cooled spread a thin layer of peanut butter on top of the cookie.  I use about ½ cup and soften it in the microwave so it is easier to spread.
  • For the frosting, melt butter and add the cocoa.  Remove from heat and add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk.  Mix together very well and spread the final frosting layer on the very top.  Also I have found that if you let the bars chill with the frosting in the fridge for an hour, the frosting will set up faster so that you can consume them quicker. 🙂

Video

Notes

Updated on March 14, 2020
Original Post on June 15, 2012

Nutrition

Serves: 16

Calories457kcal (23%)Carbohydrates49g (16%)Protein8g (16%)Fat27g (42%)Saturated Fat13g (65%)Cholesterol67mg (22%)Sodium455mg (19%)Potassium209mg (6%)Fiber3g (12%)Sugar28g (31%)Vitamin A571IU (11%)Calcium42mg (4%)Iron2mg (11%)

All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword peanut butter bars, peanut butter bars recipe
Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic
Two peanut butter bars stacked on top of each other being held by a hand.

Alyssa Rivers

I am Alyssa and the blogger behind The Recipe Critic. I started my blog in June of 2012 as a place to share my passion for cooking. I love trying new things and testing them out with my family.

Read More Posts by Alyssa

facebook twitter pinterest instagram

Categories

Comments

Leave a reply
  1. Jerriann,

    Do you use light or dark brown sugar? & regular or quick oats? This I must try, sounds so yummy👍

  2. My Bible study is studying Esther. I have to take a snack tomorrow and are taking these. I’m calling them Haman Bars. If you don’t know the story, Haman is an evil man.

  3. These look great. I love your comment that they are the devil! I think I might have to give these a try!

    Thanks so much for following me on Google+. I am following you there and here and hope you might be able to join me at my blog this weekend at my weekly Say G’day linky party! I would be thrilled if you could link up this yummy post to the link up!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

  4. Hey, I think you found me on google so I clicked on your blog and it’s adorable! I love your recipes. Definitely a new follower- visit mine when you get a chance! 🙂

    -Alyssa
    sugarspiceandadvice.blogspot.com

  5. Hi Alyssa! Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your sweet comments on my post – Create a College Student Sewing Kit, and for following me too! I wanted to reply to your comment but couldn’t because you are a “No Reply Blogger” which means that when you leave a comment on a blog that blogger can’t reply back to it…but don’t worry its easy to fix in your Blogger Profile Settings. There is a great article to read about how to fix it here at Turnstyle Vogue blog : http://www.turnstylevogue.com/2012/02/replying-to-comments/

    Hope this helps as you grow your blog and your bloggy network of friends! Take care, Heather

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating