This easy recipe for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars is certain to become a family favourite. The bars have a crisp base, a slightly chewy peanut butter centre and a crisp crumble topping. If you love an easily-made snack that the whole family will enjoy, then this recipe is for you. You can have them prepared and baked in 30 minutes. The hardest part is waiting for them to cool down. It doesn’t come much easier than this!
Line a 20 x 20cm (8 x 8 inch) baking dish with non-stick baking paper. (Allow an overhang with the baking paper - it makes it easier when removing the slice!)
In a medium-sized bowl, add the flour, rolled oats, salt and baking soda. Mix well.
Melt your butter. Add this to another bowl, and combine with the vanilla and brown sugar.
Combine the contents of both bowls, and mix well.
Firmly press about ¾ of the mixture into the tin. (You'll need to reserve about 100 g/a firmly packed ½ cup of the mixture).Bake for 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter and the maple syrup. If your peanut butter is super thick, you can zap it in the microwave for a few seconds to make it a little runnier.
Remove the base from the oven, and immediately spread over your peanut butter. Crumble the remaining mixture, using your fingers, over the top of the peanut butter.
Return to the oven, and bake for a further 10 minutes or until the topping is cooked through and a light golden brown.
Remove the bars from the oven, and allow them to cool for 30 minutes on your bench.
Put the slice in the fridge, and chill for a further 30 minutes or until completely cool. Cutting the bars while too warm will cause them to fall apart. Remove the slice from the tin, and cut the slice into squares.
Notes
Flour: use a gluten-free all-purpose/plain flour if you require it- this has been tested and works perfectly.
Rolled oats: use gluten-free oats if required.
Peanut butter: I use a natural peanut butter. If your peanut butter is quite thick, give it a quick stir in a bowl before spreading it over the base or zap in the microwave for a few seconds. The heat from the base of the bars will also help the peanut butter to spread more easily.
Tablespoon: we use a standard Australian tablespoon which is 20 ml (4 teaspoons).
Measurements: for the most accurate measurements when baking, we suggest you weigh your ingredients.
Chill the bars: the Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars really need to chill before cutting, otherwise, they will fall apart.
Storage: store in an airtight container in a cool location. The bars will be at their best for the first two days but will last for four (they will just soften a little). If the weather is warm, keep them in the fridge in an airtight container for up to a week. Remove them about 10 minutes prior to serving.
Freezing: allow the bars to cool completely, and then put them in an airtight container before placing them in the freezer. If storing them in layers, place a sheet of baking paper between the layers so they don’t stick. Thaw them at room temperature. Freeze for up to two months.