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World’s Best Peanut Butter Bars

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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!

A plate full of the world's BEST peanut butter bars. Thick and chewy, with layers of smooth peanut butter and chocolate frosting.

There. I said it.  And it feels good to get that out there…because it’s soo true! They are the best ever!

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 🙂 Overhead photo of a glass 9x13'' pan full of peanut butter bars, cut into pieces.

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. 

A glass mixing bowl filled with the dough for making peanut butter bars.

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!

Process photos for spreading peanut butter over the top of baked peanut butter bars, and then pouring chocolate frosting on top.

These really are the World’s Best Peanut Butter Bars!

Consider trying these popular “bar” recipes:

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5 from 10 votes
A plate full of the world's BEST peanut butter bars. Thick and chewy, with layers of smooth peanut butter and chocolate frosting.
World's Best Peanut Butter Bars
Print Recipe
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Perfectly thick, soft and chewy peanut butter bars with a peanut butter and chocolate glaze, and oats baked in the chewy cookie bars.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: oatmeal peanut butter bars
Unit: cup, large, Tablespoon, teaspoon
Servings: 28
Calories: 202 kcal
Author: Lauren Allen
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

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter, sugar and brown sugar. 

  2. Add the eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter and mix well.

  3. In a separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to creamy mixture. 

  4. 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.

  5. Once cooled, spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the bars.
To make the chocolate frosting:

  1. Combine the butter, cocoa and milk in a medium saucepan. Heat until boiling. 

  2. Stir for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in confectioners sugar and vanilla.

  3. Spread chocolate frosting over the top of the bars. Chocolate will thicken once cooled.

Recipe Video

I originally shared this recipe in April 2013. Updated February 2018. 

 

Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Perfectly thick, soft and chewy peanut butter bars with a peanut butter and chocolate glaze. These are the BEST cookie bars ever and they're really easy to make. #peanutbutter #bars #cookies #dessert #chocolate
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Comments

  1. These are delicious, however, instead of the frosting, I top them with melted Hershey bars. The chocolate sets up so you can stack them and the Hershey seem to be a little less sweet.

    Reply

    • Hi Lisa, this usually happens because of a shock in temperature when your cooking on the stovetop (using super high heat and then removing it from heat to cool abruptly). Make sure to bring the mixture to a boil slowly, over medium heat–and stir constantly. Hope this helps!

      Reply

      • I had this same problem even after going really slowly and stirring constantly. But I saved it by putting the mixture (including powdered sugar) into my mixer and while whipping adding a dribble of milk. Smoothed out beautifully and was no longer a greasy mess. The frosting still set up and everything. Thanks for the recipe!

        Reply

  6. Is the baking soda amount correct at 3/4 tablespoon? That’s a lot of baking soda! I cut it back a bit when I made the recipe today and still feel there is too prominent of a soda taste. Otherwise a great recipe for texture and flavor.

    Reply

  8. I am eating this now. I made it with tahini instead of peanut butter. And a gluten free flour baking mix. I added some chopped cooked apples. It is really good.

    Reply

  9. Followed your recipe exactly and they wouldn’t set cooked 5 minutes more still wouldn’t set turned heat up to 400 for another 5 minutes still an awesome tasting peanut butter mush but wouldn’t call em bars.

    Reply

    • Hi Russell, I’ve never had that problem–especially having the texture be “mush”? Something must have went wrong, possibly your leavening ingredients were not fresh, or the amount used was incorrect. I’m so sorry they didn’t turn out.

      Reply

  11. These are insanely good, I could have eaten all of them. lol. Brought the extras with me to work and everyone went crazy saying they were the best peanut butter bars they had ever had.

    Reply

  12. I just found your recipe and baked these for a family gathering today. They were definitely the hit of the party – everyone was raving how delicious they tasted. Thank you for a new favorite!

    Reply

  13. Mine did not set either after checking several times. I took the bars out of the oven and let them cool, but still they did not set. So I put the bars back into the oven for an additional 10-15 minutes and then took them out. When they cooled the second time, they set just perfectly. I had brand new baking soda and they sunk a bit in the middle after cooling, but at least were done and tasted wonderfully.

    Reply

  14. These are SO good! Possibly my new favorite dessert. I really like how they have oats in them and the taste and texture were great. Thank you.

    Reply

  17. This recipe is awesome! I have made it twice and it came out great both times. Great bar consistency! Rave reviews from all who tried it including myself, LOL My variation was using Hershey‘s special dark cocoa and a little espresso powder in the chocolate layer! Perfect combo of chocolate and peanut butter! Thanks so much for sharing such a great recipe! It’s a keeper!

    Reply

  22. This is our favorite cookie bar also. I double the recipe and put in my jelly roll pan. I also take the easy route with the frosting. I put a few dalops of peanut butter around on top and sprinkle dark chocolate and milk chocolate chips around and stick back in the oven for approx 1 min. with oven off then spread around. Wonderful!!

    Reply

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