Perfectly thick, soft and chewy peanut butter bars with a peanut butter and chocolate glaze.
You wont see me use the words “BEST” in too many recipes, because a lot of people have great variations of a lot of dishes. However, without hesitation I can say these are THE BEST peanut butter bars in existence!
This peanut butter bars recipe has been a huge family favorite for many years. Simply put, they are completely addicting and you will want to eat the entire pan by yourself. Consider that my warning 🙂 
If I’m ever making these for a party I always have to make an extra pan for my family or else I’m in trouble! I’ve tried quite a few peanut butter bars in my day, and none compare to these.
First of all, they are thick, chewy, and soft. They’re in the same family as my Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars, but with a peanut butter twist. I love the taste and texture that the oats add.
They have the perfect ratio of chocolate and peanut butter, without being overwhelmingly sweet.
The dough for the bars has 1/2 cup of peanut butter in it. Once they’re baked and cooled, you spread a very thin layer of creamy peanut butter over them.
Then, you make a warm chocolate frosting and pour it over the top. YUM!
These really are the World’s Best Peanut Butter Bars!
Consider trying these popular “bar” recipes:
- Snickerdoodle Bars
- Butterfinger Cookie Bars
- Caramel Crunch Bars
- Perfect Lemon Bars
- Oreo Cookie Bars
- Butterscotch Blondies
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World's Best Peanut Butter Bars
Recipe Video
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 3/4 cup butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (plus more for spreading over baked bars)
- 3/4 Tablespoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
For the chocolate frosting:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 1/2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar.
- Add the eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter and mix well.
- In a separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to creamy mixture.
- Press firmly into a greased 9x13'' pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 17-21 minutes. Do not over-bake! They will look just barely set in the center, and they will harden as they cool. Allow to cool completely.
- Once cooled, spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the bars.
To make the chocolate frosting:
- Combine the butter, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Heat until boiling.
- Stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in confectioners sugar and vanilla.
- Spread chocolate frosting over the top of the bars. Chocolate will thicken once cooled.
Nutrition
I originally shared this recipe in April 2013. Updated February 2018.
Rory says
Delicious flavor! Loved the peanut butter and oat combo! I couldn’t get the chocolate frosting to come out right, however — the butter oils separated and the cocoa powder stayed as chunky little powder pieces. I tried twice and couldn’t get it to melt together properly like yours in the video. Any ideas if I was over boiling or not boiling long enough?
Anyway, I just melted dark chocolate instead and poured that over top — it turned out great! Recommend!
Lauren Allen says
Hi Rory,
Most likely the mixture was boiled to hot and too fast! Be sure to whisk it constantly and when it starts to boil and don’t boil it for more than the suggested 2 minutes. (You could even try removing it from the heat once it starts boiling)! Best of luck!
Sharon says
The recipe for the chocolate icing is incorrect. I wasted the last bag of my powdered sugar trying to make this icing. I think you screwed up and did not include the milk. I ended with lumps in the bottom of the pan.
Lauren Allen says
I’m so sorry it didn’t work for you–something must have gone wrong in the process. I make it with success all the time 🙂
Cathy says
My family loved these bars – they really are addicting! I made them like the recipe said, but didn’t see any reason to boil the milk for 2 minutes. I took it off the heat as soon as it started boiling (making sure I had whisked the cocoa powder in) stirred in the powdered sugar and it was perfect. Will make again!
Amber says
Everything about these bars are……PERFECT!!! They are the tastiest, chewiest oatmeal bars I have ever had! Might I add the frosting is SO DELISH! Your instructions were easy to follow and I had all the ingredients on hand!! This one is going in the cookbook! Thank you for sharing!
Lauren Allen says
I’m so happy to hear it! Thanks Amber <3
Jacy says
Thank you for notes to prevent over baking … I resisted the urge to bake longer because it appeared to need a few more minutes … So glad I followed your directions !!!
Now waiting for cooling and final steps … Yum … … 🙂
Mary-Ann Laevens says
Just put icing on ..looks delicious ???
Mary-Ann Laevens says
The squares turned out delicious ???
Coni says
Delicious and chewy!
When making the icing, my butter cake separated during the cooking process and I thought it was botched, but I just powered on ahead and added the icing sugar and everything turned out wonderfully!
Jonathan says
Let me preface by saying that I’m NOT an avid baker. I have probably baked a total of 8 times in my entire life.
Still, this recipe was easy enough for even a novice to follow, and has enough detail to make you feel like a pro (sort of).
Everyone loved them! Consistency and flavour are remarkable. I only had about half the amount of rolled oats in the cupboard, but they still turned out great.
I drizzled the frosting, since I was confident that my attempt to make the frosting smooth and even would turn out poorly. As such, bites that don’t have much chocolate drizzle would not be as sweet, but are still delicious. I have a very sweet tooth, so I was the only one who cared about this. If I drizzle the frosting again next time (yes, will definitely make these again), thinking maybe to put half the confectioners sugar into the dough, and half into the frosting for a more even distrivution. Unless that would be uncouth? ?
Five stars all the way, this recipe is one for the books!
Pamela Romines says
I made these tonight for our sons and visiting nephews, and they were a huge hit! The chewy texture and delicious flavors were an irresistible combination! I made a favorite topping instead of the recipe’s frosting because of the mixed reviews. Glad I did because it really complimented the bars, is quick and easy, & can’t fail: 1 c. chocolate chips, 1/2 c. butterscotch chips, and 2/3 c. peanut butter melted together, and spread on top of cooled bars! Home Run! Will definitely make these again!
Lauren Allen says
So happy to hear it! Thanks for your comment.
Holly says
Found this a few weeks ago and they are easy to made and delicious. I am about to make my third batch lol —- all the family loved them and we are in Argentina and peanut butter is not popular or used much, so to begin I had to make my own peanut butter. ( very easy too) I adapted the recipe the 2nd time I made them adding crushed nuts in the batter as well as chocolate chips. I also added crushed nuts atop the layer of peanut butter on the top and instead of the icing I simply used melted semi- sweet chocolate. They were a hit and I’ll make them this way again tomorrow adding a bit of coconut on top of the nuts before adding the melted chocolate — lol I want it all! Thanks so much for your recipe …
Kendi says
Is 1/2 Tablespoon baking soda correct? I’ve made these twice and used 1/2 teaspoon. Yummy recipe, but I double the frosting recipe.
Lauren Allen says
Yes, 1/2 Tablespoon is what I use (it’s equal to 1.5 teaspoons).