Print

Oatmeal Bars Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 114 reviews

Delicious and easy-to-make oatmeal bars featuring a buttery oat base layered with a peanut butter and maple syrup filling, topped with a crumbly oat mixture. These bars are perfect for a wholesome snack or a quick breakfast treat.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 cup (150 g) all-purpose/plain flour
  • 1 cup (80 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking/bicarb soda

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup (125 g) butter – melted
  • 1/3 cup (70 g) brown sugar
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup peanut butter (preferably crunchy)
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 175 Degrees C (350F) to ensure it’s ready for baking the bars.
  2. Prepare Baking Dish: Line a 20 x 20 cm (8 x 8 inch) baking dish with non-stick baking paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal of the bars after baking.
  3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, rolled oats, sea salt, and baking soda. Stir well to evenly distribute the ingredients.
  4. Prepare Butter Mixture: Melt the butter and place it in another bowl. Add the brown sugar and vanilla extract to the melted butter, stirring until well combined.
  5. Combine Mixtures: Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix thoroughly until a cohesive dough forms.
  6. Form Base Layer: Reserve about 1/4 of the mixture (approximately 100 g or a firmly packed 1/2 cup). Firmly press the remaining 3/4 of the mixture evenly into the lined baking dish to create the base layer. Bake this base for 10 minutes.
  7. Prepare Peanut Butter Layer: In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter with maple syrup. If the peanut butter is too thick, heat it in the microwave for a few seconds to achieve a smoother consistency.
  8. Add Peanut Butter Layer: Remove the baked base from the oven and immediately spread the peanut butter and maple syrup mixture evenly over it.
  9. Top with Crumble: Crumble the reserved 1/4 mixture evenly over the peanut butter layer using your fingers.
  10. Bake Final Assembly: Return the assembled bars to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until the topping is cooked through and light golden brown.
  11. Cool Bars: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool on your bench for 30 minutes.
  12. Chill and Slice: Place the cooled bars in the fridge and chill for another 30 minutes to firm up. Remove from the tin using the baking paper overhang and cut into squares. Cutting while warm may cause the bars to crumble.

Notes

  • Note 1: Using all-purpose flour is standard, but whole wheat flour can be used for a healthier alternative.
  • Note 2: Old-fashioned rolled oats provide better texture than quick oats.
  • Note 3: Crunchy peanut butter adds texture, but creamy peanut butter can be used if preferred.
  • Note 4: Maple syrup provides a natural sweetness and helps with the peanut butter consistency.

Keywords: oatmeal bars, peanut butter bars, baked oat bars, healthy snack, maple syrup dessert

Find it online: https://cookwithlea.com/oatmeal-bars-recipe/