Peanut Butter Bars {with Chocolate Frosting}
/Peanut Butter Bars are one of the best treats and they're great for parties because they make enough for a crowd! You get a chewy oat cookie base that's loaded with peanut buttery flavor, then it's topped with a layer of peanut butter after baking and finished with a decadent chocolate frosting. /

#Cocoa #Oats #PeanutButter

Servings: 30
Ready in: 42 minutes
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes

Ingredients:
2 cups (283g) all-purpose flour
2 cups (181g) quick oats
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (226g) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/4 cups (260g) packed light-brown sugar
3/4 cup (150g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup (243g) creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
1 cup (243g) creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup 113g) unsalted butter, diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
1/4 cup (26g) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup (60g) milk
2 pinches salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups (360g) powdered sugar

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a rimmed 18 by 13-inch cookie sheet.
2.  In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, blend together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until creamy.  
4. Mix in eggs one at a time. Blend in 1 cup peanut butter and the vanilla. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until combined.
5. Drop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet. Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray and spread dough into an even layer.  
6. Bake in preheated oven 12 - 15 minutes until golden (see notes).
7. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes, then dollop remaining 1 cup peanut butter by spoonfuls over top. Let sit 1 minute then spread peanut butter into an even layer to cover top.
8. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in cocoa, milk and salt and bring mixture just to a boil over medium heat.  
9. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla, then stir in powdered sugar and mix until well combined (if needed you can add 1 Tbsp hot water to thin).  
10. Immediately pour over bars and spread into an even layer. Allow frosting to set then cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.

Notes:
Be careful not to over-bake or edges will be dry, don't wait for it to be golden brown. They should be puffed and beginning to set but still soft.
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home ...read more