Oatmeal Peanut Butter Snack Squares.
I know you really need another one.
Because the other 931 versions just don’t tickle your fancy.
Because I just… know you.
Because what’s more fun that a humongous ball of dough?
I know that you like to take a bite of a pretzel then a bite of a brownie, preferably double fist style. Maybe you like to squish potato chips on your sandwiches like I used to do at Mother Lovett’s house on Sunday afternoons? Yes, yes… you probably do. We’re like peas and carrots.* Â But really, nothing like peas and carrots since you won’t find either of those items in my house nor would I ever want to be one. Ever. Â I’d much rather be peanut butter and chocolate, bacon and eggs, or cheese and wine.
Much better.
I know that you like pizza for breakfast and beer in weird things, like marshmallows and pasta, and sometimes… in breakfast.
Hey… don’t shoot the messenger.
And I don’t really feel like making a big stink to convince your that these bars are amazing, because um… I’m watching Sweet Home Alabama for the millionth time and 932 variations of peanut butter oatmeal bars is no exaggeration. You’ll make them if you want to. Hopefully you’ll love them too and won’t pay me to go away a la A+ F and the Situation. Speaking of, can I just tell you that I’ve had to watch Regis and Kelly each morning for Regis’ Mother Lovett-isms, like yesterday when he called the Situation the “Satisfaction?” I sat and laughed to myself for about four full minutes. Then I cried.
So I like these bars because they are: peanut buttery, oatmealy, dense, sort of sweet, kind of cake-like and non-granola like. Plus, they are snacky type bars and… I really love snacks. I also put about 8000 mini chocolate chips inside because they are mini. Which is probably another giant reason that I like them. Which means that there are tiny bite sized antioxidants in here and I really need some of those. Don’t you?
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Squares
makes 9 squares
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cups creamy peanut butter, like Skippy Natural
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add peanut butter and sugar and mix on high speed until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in vanilla extract and mix until combined.
3. Add in flour, oats, salt and baking soda, mixing on medium speed. The dough will look crumbly and you want the peanut butter mix to be broken up into clumps. Add milk with the mixer on low speed, and mix until a dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Make sure dough is completely combined, and roll it into a ball with your hands. Place it in the middle of an 8×8 baking dish, pressing it to fit. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until set and golden on top. Let cool completely, then cut into 9 squares.
*Ew.
352 Comments on “Oatmeal Peanut Butter Snack Squares.”
Jessica, your recipes this week have been out of control. I make a to-do-list every day and I’m constantly updating it with making everything you put on your blog. Haha. These just went to the top of the list!
You took the words out of my mouth! Want this now!
Thanks so much Casey!
It’s about 6am and I actually just debated whether or not I’d have time to make these before school. *sigh* They’ll have to wait for tonight.
I think you can make it to 1,000 variations and then some…these look AWESOME…
My mom’s world famous Oatmeal Bar recipe is very close to this one–so I *know* these must be delicious!
I’m making these today! Maybe topping them off with some toasted pecans/nuts!
I watch Regis and Kelly EVERY morning while I read blogs/have my morning coffee.
Regis makes me laugh like no other and he reminds me of my mommom, as well.
I love how he refers to Snookie as “Snoozy” and his hatred for all technology.
I really would not start my morning any other way, I can’t believe he’s going to be leaving the show soon.
I’m pretty sure I shed a tear a little when he announced it earlier this year.
Just won’t be the same!
I used to stuff my sandwiches with potato chips…
I STILL stuff my sandwiches with potato chips.
Me too. I totally did that on Saturday.
these look SO good. and considering all i’ve eaten this morning is a small peach, i’m rully rully hungry right now. they look EXTRA good on top of already looking damn good anyway!
the thing i like about your blog and recipes is that you show pictures of the finished product, and maybe a couple here and there of the stirring in of the goods, but not a step by step by (detailed step!), of each thing. like, i know how to put flour and sugar together and i know it will still look white, so adding a pic of that in… well, it’s okay, but i’d rather see more of the yummy finished product! so yeah, that’s one (of the many) things i like about this blog.
/blogloverant.
Heheheh well THANK YOU! :)
I say keep em comin. One can never have too many variations of chocolate peanut buttery goodness.
And when Reg (I call him Reg’ we’re cool like that) calls Snookie “Snoozie”, I love him even more.
These look amazing! Can’t wait to make them this weekend. Do you think I can use regular whole wheat flour? Or does it need to be whole wheat pastry flour?
I wouldn’t use regular whole wheat because it will make them dry and gritty (most likely). You could do a 50/50 mix of all-purpose and regular whole wheat, or else I would just use all-purpose.
Great, thanks so much! Definitely can’t wait to make these. Every single one of your recipes I’ve tried so far have been a hit!
So glad!
This variation is pretty healthy looking! Probably a good thing after yesterday’s beer macaroni & cheese!! LoVe your blog…you make me laugh every day!!
Thanks so much!
Drool!
Hey I didn’t see all 931 other varieties, but I’m thinkin’ this had gotta be the best one!
These look awesome! I noticed no eggs in this recipe– really? I mean that’s great since I happen to be out of eggs right now anyway, but have all of the other ingredients. Would love to make these for the kids (yeah right) for after school today. Thanks for this blog and your awesome inspiration in the kitchen!
Yes, really – no eggs! It was more accidental on my part, but I’ve made them twice now and they work!
These remind me of Anzac biscuits with the eggless, butterlessness. If you haven’t tried them, you really should- they’re super simple!
The Situation is getting the best deal ever. I’ll accept money to not wear a brand I don’t like anyway, yes please! Also, would you like to pay me to not eat peas and carrots? I’m ok with that. I’m chuckling like Anderson Cooper last night.
I’m wondering though if he will actually accept it, or continue to wear it to make them mad?! I guess everyone has a price.
I didn’t hear exactly how much they are offering him, but I did hear that it was “a lucrative amount.” He could REALLY make them mad by resurrecting the shirts they made that said “The Fitchuation” and exclusively wearing that, forever. They would probably raise their price.
Hahah!
Wow these look amazing! I wish I wasn’t at work so I could make them right now, guess I will have to wait for tonight :) Peanut butter and chocolate chips were made for one another. Thanks for all the great recipes.
Dear Jessica – Please send me the big ball of dough. Thank you + goodbye. :)
You’ve combined two of my favorite things: PB and Oats. I’m sure these would ship well..ya know if you have extra..just sayin’…
The flavors and texture of this recipe sound so good together. Your pictures of it are great….makes me want them right now for breakfast! (and later for lunch, then for a snack…and then for dinner…and maybe one more for a snack after that).
Can I use white whole wheat, substitue whole oat groats for the rolled oats, and maybe honey for the sugar? Trying to work with what I have here…these look AMAZING!
Yes on the white whole wheat, I’ve never used oat groats so unfortunately I am not sure how they would work, and I would try maybe 1/3 cup honey to start – then only add the milk if needed. The honey will make the bars much moister and I think the 1/2 cup of milk will make them too wet? Keep me posted!
I really can see no reason for you to not keep posting peanut butter snack bars…who doesn’t love them?!
I made oatmeal bar cookies with my sister over the weekend and while they were good yours look better with the addition of peanut butter and chocolate chips! But since my nephew can’t have peanuts I guess it is ok that we made that batch plane and just means I now have an excuse to try your version (for taste comparison purposes of course!).
Mmm! I’m going to make these tonight!
Regis kills me every day. I’m actually watching him and Cat Deely right now, just waiting for him to say something old and hilarious. And I’ll never get sick of oats, chocolate chips, and peanut butter. Never.
Wow! These look so good and kinda good for you. I mean there is whole wheat flour and oats! Also I have been watching Sweet Home Alabama b/c it has been showing on E or TBS or one of the stations for the last few weeks. I think I have watched it almost 10 times in the past 2 weeks! I love it.
I want tiny bits of antioxidants in my mouth…right now. ;-)
I would happily adorn false teeth for the rest of my life, to be given the chance to gnaw at that dough ball. I found your site after David Lebovitz posted it on Facebook. You have a new fan! Although, being from Scotland, I have no idea what Regis and Kelly is. I want to know about The Situation :|
Welcome! :) And don’t worry, you really don’t want to know what The Situation is, but here is a link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sorrentino :)
Ahhh the Jersey Shore guy! I’ve never seen it, but read that Abercrombie & Fitch wanted to pay them not to wear their clothes :o I must watch this :D
You can’t get sick of this kind of flavor combo. It’s like saying you’re tired of Mexican food, which is the same ingredients redone in a different form, and that’s just wrong.
I like a baked good that feels heavy in your hand. These look like they have some girth to them. My kinda bar!
You said girth. Hahahaha.
i’m crying a little bit inside because school started yesterday and i can’t make these immediately. 3:30 can’t come soon enough!
in the oven right now…should be out in approximately 9 minutes!!!! i’ll keep you posted!!!!
Ok…I don’t know if you know this…but I’m getting ready to try on some wedding dresses Saturday. I had planned to try and slim down and now am finding myself get comfortable with the idea of stretchy pants. These are too good to turn down!
These. look. awesome. And they’re healthy because there’s oats in them, right? ;)
You’re on fire this week with the recipes! This one is going on the must make list. Chocolate and peanut butter and oats? Yes, yes, yes!
Looks amazing! You mention their cake-like texture…like-soft or chewy?
I’d say a little in between both.
Wow- these could very well be my husband’s sweet treat for his lunches next week ;) Thanks for posting :)
Obviously anything combining oats + pb + chocolate is destined to be a star, so keep those coming.
I think just about everything needs more mini chocolate chips in it… And what’s this beer for breakfast thing?
i just made your puffy peanut butter cookies and then you go and put this up! woohoo! my guy friends love you.
jeez, two things in a row I’m making right away! haha I’m definitely making these tonight.
these are a must!
Those look absolutely heavenly. :) :) :)
I noticed the recipe calls for ONLY 1/3 cup chocolate chips–from the photos (and description..8000) it looks like you used way more. Who only uses 1/3 cup of chocolate chips (in anything), anyway?! They looks great! Thanks for sharing.
These look amazing and come in great timing! I was looking for something like this the other day-now I’m set!
Seriously, I don’t know how you do it. Every day your recipes make me salivate and just want to cook, bake, and eat delicious food ALL day long. Yummo these snack squares look great and really easy to make!
Ok so first I have to thank you for using almond milk in your recipes. I have crohns disease and have to use milk fats sparingly and it’s so nice to see that almond milk can be used for just about anything. ( though I must say- i still can’t make a great Alfredo and miss the creamy!!) Second I am totally in love with this site and am making several items for a small get to gather with friends. You have the best sweets and I think your food ideas are really creative and fun!! Thanks for inspiring me! :-)
These look amazing… Makes me wish I was going back to school so I could eat them as an after school snack. Perhaps I will just pretend. I deserve an afternoon snack, right?
Wow… I wasn’t too excited when I read the title… But as I read the post I got more and more excited. These are so going on my to bake list. I eat every couple hours. I am known as the snack girl at work. I can’t wait to make everyone jealous
Amazing! I am craving chocolate and oats…good thing I have some of the dough already in my fridge!! Must be a choco-oat vibe on the blog wavelength…
Delicious! If I had oatmeal on hand, I’d make these right now :)