Real quick, just have to share my weekend recap: We finally went skiing/boarding! The lift ticket on my jacket told me I hadn’t been on the slopes since 2007 – even longer for Tom – but after the first nerve-racking run, we both remembered how to do it and now I’m craving more. Ski trip next year?
First time on that board in six years…and I survived!
Yesterday, my friends hosted a Sunday dinner – something we always claim we should do every week but it turns into a once-every-few-months type of occasion. These nights are what make me so happy to be living here, only a few blocks from friends, doing what we love most: eating, drinking, and hanging out.
Of course, I offered to bring dessert. There was a lot of Pinterest searching and cook book browsing until I finally settled on a recipe I haven’t made in ages – Peanut Butter Oat Bars.
I even had all of the ingredients, so I was whisking away in the kitchen while Tom made some updates to the bedroom with our new TV mount. Productive Sunday!
His & Hers Power Tools
And so I started scooping, beating, cracking, stirring, spreading, piping, and cutting…
Beat together butter, sugars and peanut butter, then add eggs and vanilla and mix well.
Brown Sugar Tip: If your brown sugar is rock-hard like mine always is, put it in the microwave (in a microwave safe bowl) with a cup of water sitting next to it, heating for 30 seconds at a time until it becomes soft enough to scoop.
Combine all dry ingredients and add to the mixture slowly. Stir in chocolate chips.
Spread into greased 9×13″ baking pan.
Tip: save the butter wrapper and use it to grease the pan!
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 – 30 minutes, or until top is browned and center is solid.
Yes, I need to clean my oven.
While the bars cool, prepare your icing. Mix together peanut butter, powdered sugar, and a little milk. Depending on desired consistency, you can add more milk to thin it out or more sugar to make a thick icing. Spread or pipe onto cooled peanut butter bars.
(I put the icing in a plastic baggie and snipped off the corner so i could pipe into a criss-cross pattern.)
Ignore my nails, I’m overdue for a mani.
Finally, just cut into bars and serve!
Peanut Butter Oat Bars
Adapted from Taste of Home Cook Book
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
Icing:
- 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons milk
Preheat oven to 350°.
In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugars, and peanut butter with a mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in egg and vanilla.
Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add to the wet mixture and mix well.
Spread into a greased 13 x 9-in. baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool for about 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine icing ingredients and beat together. Add more powdered sugar to get desired thickness. Drizzle over the top of peanut butter bars. Cut into small squares.
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