Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars with Oatmeal feature mini Reese’s cups baked right inside along with peanut butter chips for an extra burst of peanut butter taste in every bite. Oatmeal makes them chewy and filling but doesn’t weigh them down. Peanut butter lovers, you’re in for a treat!
I know it’s the holidays and you might be overloaded with sweet treats, but the kids are still at home and Peanut Butter Bars with Oatmeal are an all time favorite for both kids and adults.
When I have a house full of family, I find that mine want a variety of sweets and you can never go wrong with a peanut butter treat in the freezer. If you are more of a cookie fan, you can still get alot of these flavors and textures in peanut butter oatmeal cookies, you just won’t get the Reese’s like you do with a bar.
You might think that an oatmeal bar is trying to trick you into eating a healthy dessert. Not so, these are not what I would consider “healthy”, but the oatmeal does give them some texture and keeps them together.
What I love most about these is the small bites of Reese’s cup that you get in each bar, it’s so creamy and has just the right amount of sweetness and peanut butter.
Why you’ll love them
- There’s a double punch of peanut butter in each bite!
- The bars are chewy like a blondie.
- The peanut butter’s creaminess is perfect in these bars.
- This dessert freeze’s well and you can ship them.
What you’ll need
- Unsalted butter
- Brown sugar
- Peanut butter – creamy for these oatmeal bars
- Eggs
- Vanilla
- Flour
- Old fashioned oatmeal – these are rolled oats and are different from quick or instant oaks which are cut into smaller pieces.
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Reese’s peanut butter chips – any peanut butter chip will work. Or if you want them to be more chocolate than peanut butter, you can use chocolate chips instead.
- Reese’s miniatures or Reese’s minis – if using the mini’s you don’t have to chop them in half.
How do you make peanut butter oatmeal bars
Step 1:
First you make a peanut butter cookie dough with peanut butter chips and peanut butter.
Step 2:
If using miniature Reese’s cups, cut them in half.
Place a little more than half of the dough on the bottom of the pan and then cover that layer with the Mini Reese’s Cups.
Step 3:
Top the Reese’s cups with the rest of the dough and bake. It won’t cover the Reese’s cups completely.
So simple but the flavors are amazing.
They look a little bit like a blondie but not near as sweet. I think they’re the perfect combination, and if you cut them into bite size squares, it’s a great afternoon reward after a hard day!
Before the kids go back to school, make a batch to have on hand. They freeze great, and ship well if you need to send off some care packages once everyone has flown the nest. Or pack them in lunches for a nice surprise.
FAQs and tips
Think of these as a dessert, not a breakfast bar.
A smooth peanut butter works best in a dessert bar. There is already enough texture from the oatmeal, peanut butter chips and Reese’s cups.
You will need to use old fashioned oatmeal and not instant in this recipe to get the best results.
These peanut butter bars freeze great in a freezer bag or airtight container. They don’t take long to thaw.
MORE Peanut Butter desserts
Adapted from Mom on Time Out
Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars with Oatmeal
Ingredients
- 1½ sticks unsalted butter room temp
- 2 cups brown sugar
- ½ cups peanut butter creamy
- 2 eggs room temp
- 1 tbsp. vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup old fashioned oatmeal
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup Reese’s peanut butter chips
- 2 cups Reese’s miniatures chopped or Reese’s minis
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Cream butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer. Add peanut butter and continue mixing. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add in vanilla.
- In a separate bow, whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture, mix until well combined. Stir in the peanut butter chips.
- Spread ⅔ of the dough on the bottom of the pan. Top with Reese’s minis or chopped miniatures. Drop the remaining dough on top by spoonfuls and spread over the top. It doesn’t have to be perfect and it won’t cover all the Reese’s.
- Bake for about 30 minutes. Let cool completely and then refrigerate before cutting into bars.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- If you use minis, then you don’t have to chop them.
- Smooth peanut butter works best for these dessert bars.
- Make sure you use old fashioned rolled oats, and not quick or instant.
- These freeze well and can be shipped.
Nutrition
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