This is a family favorite recipe, of my moms creation, the chocolate frosting is what seals the deal! They have a peanut butter oatmeal cookie base, with a simple and sweet peanut butter middle, topped with the perfect chocolate frosting. The frosting stays nice and silky making the bars delicious for multiple days, if they last that long.
Whip up your base layer like a peanut butter cookie. Spread the batter evenly across the pan, making sure it is level, and in all corners. The trick to your peanut butter bars being good the next day is not to over cook the base layer. You want your cookie layer to be slightly golden and not too done in the middle. Be sure to let the cookie layer cool for 10-15 minutes before adding the frosting.
The peanut butter frosting is super simple, just enough milk needs to be added to make the frosting creamy and spreadable. If the frosting is too thick it will break the cookie layer when spreading.
This frosting creates a beautiful glossy chocolate layer. Whisking and sifting is the key to a smooth chocolate frosting. Use only enough heat to melt the butter and then whisk away! Test your frosting to make sure it has a great chocolate flavor, if it’s not chocolatey enough add another pinch of salt. As soon as your frosting is lump free, pour it over the peanut butter frosting. You want to do this step QUICK because the frosting thickens as it cools. Use an offset spatula to spread the frosting evenly over the whole pan. You can also give the pan a little shake to make it extra smooth.
We like to top my Peanut Butter Bars with crushed butterfingers for a little something extra! They add a nice crunch and camouflage any unevenness in the chocolate frosting.
Tracy’s Peanut Butter Bar Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
Base Layer:
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp soda
½ tsp kosher salt
2 cups flour
2 cups oatmeal
Peanut Butter Frosting
1 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
milk to make spreadable
Chocolate Frosting
1/3 cup milk
1/2 cup cocoa
10 tbs butter
1tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt to taste (salt brings out the chocolate flavor)
INSTRUCTIONS:
Base Layer
Cream together butter, sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter. Add 2 eggs and 1 tsp vanilla, stir to combine.
Sift together 1 tsp soda, ½ tsp salt, 2 cups flour, and 2 cups oatmeal and stir into wet ingredients.
Spread evenly on greased cookie sheet bake @350 for 15-17 minutes. Let cool 15 min before adding peanut butter frosting. This is the bottom layer of the bars.
Peanut Butter Layer
Make peanut butter frosting layer by mixing 1 cup powdered sugar, ¾ cup peanut butter. Gradually add milk 1Tbsp at a time to make spreadable.
Spread an even layer over the cookie layer.
Chocolate Frosting
Melt butter, milk and in saucepan over low heat. Once melted remove from head and gradually sift in powdered sugar and cocoa, whisking continually. Whisk in vanilla and continue to whisk until no lumps remain.
Immediately pour over the peanut butter layer and spread out with a flat spatula. you can shake the pan back and forth a little to get the frosting to spread flat.
I used crushed butterfingers to sprinkle over the top. It adds a nice crunch and camouflages any unevenness in the frosting.
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