I have been baking a lot more than I usually had time for since I have been temporarily laid off. Likely you have been baking more too due to the coronavirus, unfortunately that means my pants are not fitting well lately. So, I decided to try to make a slightly healthier oatmeal bar than my monster cookie bar.

It almost came out too well! I could not stop from eating them they were so good. Does not help that when I make healthier things, I usually feel like I can eat more. Does anyone else have that kind of thought process or is it just me? Rationally it makes sense less calories, means you can eat more. Like why else do we exercise out if it isn’t for eating food. Let us get back to the real reason you are here though. This recipe has the perfect texture, slightly chewy, a little crunchy and oh so chocolaty.

This recipe uses creamy peanut butter because I think it is so much better than crunchy. If you have the opposite opinion feel free to use crunchy. This recipe can be made in as quick as 15 mins. The real struggle comes in waiting for the bars to set so you can eat them!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup peanut butter

½ cup honey

½ cup sugar

2 ½ cups old-fashioned oats

1 ½ cups chocolate chips

¾ cup peanut butter

Directions:

• Cook the peanut butter, honey, and sugar on medium for 3 minutes. Turn heat to medium low and add the oats, cook for 3 more minutes, just until the oats have softened a little and the sugar is dissolved.
• Pour into ungreased 9×9 pan and pat down.
• Melt chocolate and peanut butter in a saucepan on low, until melted, about 5 minutes.
• Pour on top of oat bar and then pop them in the refrigerator to set. I like to store them in the fridge just so the chocolate stays nice and set.

This recipe makes 9-12 bars depending on the size you cut them.

I love the chocolate layer which is why there is a thick layer. If you are trying to be healthier though you can totally cut down on the chocolate peanut butter layer. I would suggest cutting back to 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/3 cup peanut butter.