Food & Swine

Peanut Butter Bars

PBBars1

Do you share your recipes?

This recipe is one of the first recipes that I thought enough to ask someone for way back in July of 2009. (Before I began baking more seriously in my home).  The person I asked of it actually told me “nope, you can’t have that recipe”, I casually laughed because she had to be kidding, right?  No recipe for this simple pan of school lunch room bars?!  Nope.  I was kind of surprised (she’s a really nice person, why wouldn’t she share?). I never could understand why this recipe couldn’t be shared, still don’t I guess. However, that was one motivator in my learning to bake and share. That also is part of the reason I decided to start this blog.

Blah Blah Blah… long story.  PB Bars are the bomb in my book! They require limited ingredients that are typically on hand in anyone’s pantry.  They are the old school treat that you loved getting at the end of the lunch line.  (Not sure if the school kids get decadent treats like this anymore…)  That frosting… oh boy, gets me every time!

Truth! *A note on preparation:  I’m guilty of not sifting my dry ingredients before adding, I’ll admit.  I know that it is not recommended. I can’t tell you that for me, it has ever made a difference.  Soda, for example, I just sprinkle evenly over the creamed butter/sugar/eggs mixture before incorporating with flour and salt which I sprinkle evenly too.  Make sure there are no clumps in any of the dry ingredients prior to adding.  This is quicker and one less bowl to deal with is great for me!

Enjoy!  (And do share your recipes!)

PBBars2

Peanut Butter Bars

By: Cristen     www.foodandswine.com Makes one 9x13 inch pan of bars
Author: Cristen

Ingredients

  • 3/4 C butter at room temperature
  • 1/2 C creamy peanut butter
  • 1 1/4 C brown sugar
  • 1 whole egg + 1 yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp salt use less if desired. 1/4 tsp is fine
  • 1 3/4 C flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 3/4 C rolled oats

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees Cream butter, peanut butter and brown sugar together until fluffy.  Add whole egg, egg yolk and vanilla, mix until combined.  Add salt, flour, soda and rolled oats, mix thoroughly.  Spread in greased 9x13 inch pan.  Bake for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean when pushed into center of the dough.  Remove from oven, cool until warm or cool completely so frosting (recipe followwill not melt.
  • Peanut Butter Frosting
  • by Cristen       www.foodandswine.com
  • 1 stick of butter
  • 1/4 C peanut butter
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • 3-4 C powdered sugar
  • 3 TBSP milk (more or less until smooth consistency is reached)
  • Combine all ingredients and beat together with hand mixer or in stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, add more milk to reach desired consistency.  Frost cooled bars.

Notes

*Optional additional toppings: chopped dry roasted peanuts, chocolate ganache drizzle, sparkling sugar, sea salt.
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11 Comments

  • Reply countrylinked June 16, 2014 at 10:57 pm

    I am going to go and make these right now! Really I am! I have all of the ingredients just like you said on hand. YUMMY!

    • Reply Cristen June 17, 2014 at 2:12 am

      Awesome! This makes me happy! :)

  • Reply Jenny Casteel Unternahrer June 17, 2014 at 3:20 am

    I don’t deny. I love to share, even family recipes. What is the point of keeping it all to yourself?

    • Reply Cristen June 18, 2014 at 1:02 am

      I completely agree! :)

  • Reply Ally's Sweet & Savory Eats June 17, 2014 at 7:30 am

    These look incredible!

    • Reply Cristen June 18, 2014 at 1:02 am

      Thanks Ally! I wish I had some of your strawberry jam to swirl through the frosting! :)

  • Reply Jodi June 18, 2014 at 12:26 am

    Ahh, I’m out of brown sugar! They look tasty, PB is my weakness!

    • Reply Cristen June 18, 2014 at 2:42 am

      Get that brown sugar, asap!

  • Reply huntfortheverybest June 20, 2014 at 11:50 pm

    they look yummy!

  • Reply Stacey McCullough August 2, 2014 at 12:40 am

    These are for dessert tonight, Cristen! :)

  • Reply Beth @ Sawdust and Embryos December 5, 2014 at 5:02 pm

    These look sooooo yummy, and will quench both of my main pregnancy cravings! (peanut butter and oats)… :) Making these immediately!

    P.S… LOOOOOVE your new floral background on your blog!

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