Recipe: Chocolate Oat Bars

I am working on a few posts but it may be a week or so before I finish them so here is a recipe for now. I have made it numerous times because it is easy, tasty, I tend to have all the ingredients on hand & it requires no oven time. My comments are in red.


Chocolate Oat Bars
1 cup butter (2 sticks) you could safely use less
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla  I use slightly more
3 cups uncooked quick oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter (crunchy or creamy) I use slightly more

Grease 9 inch square baking pan.

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add sugar & vanilla, mix well. Stir in oats. Cook over low heat 2-3 minutes or until well blended. Press half of mixture into pan & - use spatula to flatten & spread evenly (I do more like 2/3rds on the bottom).

Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips in small heavy saucepan over low heat (low heat takes too long on my burners, I do medium & keep a close eye on it), stirring occasionally. Stir in peanut butter. Pour over oat mixture, spread evenly with spatula. Crumble remaining oat mixture over top of chocolate (I do this by hand. Careful though - it can be hot!). 


Cover & refrigerate 2-3 hours or overnight. Bring to room temperature before serving. Drink a big glass of milk with these!