Peanut Butter & Chocolate Oat Bars

This weekend I learned that some desserts are not worth trying to ‘healthyfy’ them. On Friday I made my first batch of these bars using whole wheat flour and while the flavor was very good, the consistency was not something to brag about. The bars were very dry! Yep, that’s what whole wheat flour does to your baking goods.

I was ready to share the bars with friends & family but since I wasn’t 100% proud of them I decided to re-make them on Saturday morning. When I share something I want to see their faces light up with gusto when they taste it! After all that’s the reason we share what we cook – right? The bars were very easy to make so it wasn’t that much extra work. This time I used white flour…..what a difference! They came out very moist and even the chocolate melted better making the bars very soft and chocolaty at the same time.

Next time I may use half whole wheat flour and half all purpose flour and see how they turn out. I still haven’t mastered the art of baking with whole wheat and I may make that my next challenge.  Also, I started to read a little bit about baking with whole wheat flour and it appears that there are a few different types of wheat flours. More to come!

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Oat Bars

 

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Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

20 mins

Total time

35 mins

 

Author: fit, fun & delish!

Recipe type: dessert, snack

Serves: 24

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• ¼ cup butter
• 3 large eggs
• 1½ cup granulated sugar (I used 1 cup regular sugar + ½ cup stevia)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup old fashioned oats
• 1½ cup teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1½ cups chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9×11 pan with aluminum foil leaving an overhang on opposite sides to lift the bars out. Grease lightly with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. Using a mixer, cream together the peanut butter and butter. Add the eggs, vanilla and sugar. Mix well.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients; flour, oats baking soda, baking powder and salt.
4. Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and combine until all is mixed well.
5. Fold the chocolate chips.
6. Press the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan
7. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until time is lightly browned. Mine took 20 minutes.
8. Allow to ool in pan completely before removing and cutting into squares.

2.2.8

Recipe adapted from Forgiving Martha