Pin
Share
Tweet
Email

Perfectly thick, soft and chewy Peanut Butter Bars with a peanut butter and chocolate glaze

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

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 🙂 .

How to Make Peanut Butter Bars:

Make the batter: 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. 

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

Bake. Press firmly into a greased 9×13” 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.

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

Spread with peanut butter. Once cooled, spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the bars.

Top with Chocolate Glaze. Add butter to a small skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in cocoa. Remove from heat and add milk, powdered sugar and vanilla. Whisk until smooth, using electric beaters to get out any lumps, if needed. Spread chocolate frosting over the top of the bars.

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions:

Peanut Butter Bars will keep well for up to 1 week, stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Freeze, covered well, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before serving.

FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for more great recipes!

Recipe

A plate full of the world's BEST peanut butter bars. Thick and chewy, with layers of smooth peanut butter and chocolate frosting.
4.85 from 215 votes

World’s Best Peanut Butter Bars

Perfectly thick, soft and chewy peanut butter bars with a peanut butter and chocolate glaze, and oats baked in the chewy cookie bars.
Print Pin Rate
Author Lauren Allen
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 28
Calories 202
Cost 5
Prep 15 mins
Cook 20 mins
Total 35 mins
Save Recipe

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)
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons 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 9×13” 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:

  • Add butter to a small skillet over medium heat. Once melted, stir in cocoa.
  • Remove from heat and add milk, powdered sugar and vanilla. Whisk until smooth, using electric beaters to get out any lumps, if needed. .
  • Spread chocolate frosting over the top of the bars.

Notes

Make Ahead and Freezing Instructions: Peanut Butter Bars will keep well for up to 1 week, stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Freeze, covered well, for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bring to room temperature before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 202kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 3gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 29mgSodium: 216mgPotassium: 76mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 220IUCalcium: 17mgIron: 0.8mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @TastesBetterFromScratch on Instagram with #TastesBetterFromScratch!

@TastesBetterFromScratch

I originally shared this recipe in April 2013. Updated February 2018 and May 2021–Frosting recipe was amended. 

Have you tried this recipe?!
RATE and COMMENT below! I would love to hear your experience.
Pin
Share
Tweet
Email

Related Posts

Share Recipe

Pin

Published

Categories

About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

Learn More

Leave A Comment

Your email address will not be published.

Recipe Rating




Comments

  2. 5 stars
    These came out awesome! I only had enough peanut butter for the bars, so did not spread on top, just the frosting. They still came out great! Most importantly, do not over-bake! Great recipe!

    Reply

  4. Can I make these with oat flour rather than with oats? The recipe looks delicous. I will need to adjust it to be Gluten Free.

    Reply

  5. Got this recipe years ago from a local school lunch lady but eventually misplaced it over time. My hometown school made these for lunches from kindergarten to 12th grade!
    It was great to find the recipe again.
    I made them for our family reunion and all the adults carried on how they grew up eating these in school. Big hit! Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

  6. 3 stars
    Not quite sure what I did wrong… felt like I followed the directions exactly but at the 18 minute mark the edges were looking quite brown and the center was completely liquid in the center with a pretty done looking edge; lowered the temp to 300 and baked for another long while, still rather underdone. My only thought is that I may have overbeat the butter but I’m not sure. Thanks!

    Reply

See More Comments