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Easy Peanut Butter Bars Recipe – Chewy Homemade Chocolate Dessert Bars

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These old-fashioned Peanut Butter Bars are rich, chewy, and layered with creamy peanut butter and smooth chocolate frosting. Perfect for parties, potlucks, or make-ahead desserts, they’re a nostalgic treat that’s easy to freeze and even easier to love.

  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 24 bars

Ingredients

Scale
  • Peanut Butter Bars:
  • 3/4 cup butter (170g), room temperature
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar (220g)
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (135g), plus more for topping
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (188g)
  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (170g)
  • Chocolate Frosting:
  • 1/4 cup butter (57g)
  • 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoons milk
  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar (150g)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan.
  2. Cream butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
  3. Mix in eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter until smooth.
  4. In a separate bowl, combine flour, oats, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Gradually mix dry ingredients into wet ingredients until fully combined.
  6. Press mixture evenly into prepared pan.
  7. Bake for 17–21 minutes, until just set and no longer glossy. Do not overbake.
  8. Cool completely, then spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the top.
  9. For frosting, melt butter in a pan, stir in cocoa, then remove from heat.
  10. Whisk in milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
  11. Spread chocolate frosting over bars and let set before slicing.

Notes

  • Do not overbake or bars will become dry.
  • Best texture after fully cooled before frosting.
  • Can be refrigerated up to 1 week or frozen up to 3 months.
  • Author: Emma
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American