No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
from Chow Bella
3/4 cup unsalted butter (save the butter wrapper to butter the baking dish)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup natural peanut butter (smooth or chunky, I like Jif Natural)
1. Melt the butter in a large sauce pan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, and oatmeal. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Press half of mixture in to the bottom of a buttered 8x8-inch dish, however I used an odd-shaped 7x9-inch dish.
2. Meanwhile, add the chocolate and peanut butter to a microwave safe bowl. Microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and blended. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the oats pressed into the pan. Reserve about 3 tbsp to drizzle over the top.
3. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate and peanut butter layer. Using a flat-bottomed measuring cup and/or your hands, gently press the top layer of oats until they are relatively smooth on top. Using a fork, drizzle the remaining chocolate and peanut butter over the top of the bars in a decorative pattern.
4. Refrigerate for 3 hours before cutting and serving. A thin-bladed sharp knife worked well to cut these. Clean the knife off on a towel in between cuts to make sure you get smooth edges.
Servings per recipe: 16
Per serving:
Calories: 259
Fat: 16.7 g
Saturated fat: 8.6 g
Cholesterol: 25 mg
Sodium: 73 mg
Carbohydrates: 22.6 g
Fiber: 2.4 g
Sugar: 10.5 g
Protein: 5.4 g