Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars (Funeral Bars)
These Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are the easiest dessert or snack to make any day of the week. They’re a favorite recipe for a crowd with classic chocolate peanut butter flavor. Using just a handful of pantry ingredients, they’re a tried-and-true treat.
Growing up in Kentucky, Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars showed up at potluck events all the time. They’re an old fashioned recipe that’s requested over and over. A sweet lady at my sister’s church shared her recipe, and they’ve been a weekly treat for my family ever since! They’re perfect for church potlucks, family functions, and school events because they can be made in advance.
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We can’t wait to share this recipe with all of you. It’s easy for kids to participate in making too! If you love a peanut butter recipe, try our Lunch Lady Peanut Butter Bars, Peanut Butter Blondies and Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy to make bar recipe. With just 15 minutes of prep time, these peanut butter oatmeal bars will be assembled and ready to set for 2 hours.
- Crowd-pleasing peanut butter dessert recipe. If you love chocolate and peanut butter, this is a no-fuss, easy recipe to make any time of the year. They’ll be gone in no time.
- Great to make in advance. Make these bars up to a day advance to have a sweet treat throughout the week or for a party.
Ingredients
Scroll Down to the Bottom of this Post for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Printable Recipe Card
Base Layer:
- All-purpose flour: Base flour for the peanut butter oatmeal bars.
- Quick cooking oats: Be sure to look for quick cooking, they become tender more quickly in this recipe.
- Baking soda: Tenderizes the bars for a soft bite.
- Salted butter: The fat in the base layer that makes the moist, soft, and chewy.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the base layer just right.
- Brown sugar: Adds caramel notes and also sweetens everything nicely.
- Large egg: Binds the base layer together.
- Peanut butter: The key ingredient for that rich peanut butter flavor.
- Milk: Moistens the base flavor to make sure the dough isn’t too dry.
- Vanilla extract: Adds caramel and floral notes to every bite.
Top Layer:
- Chocolate chips: The perfect pairing for the peanut butter.
- Powdered sugar: Adds sweetness to the peanut butter drizzle topping.
- Peanut butter: We add more in the top layer for extra peanut butter flavor.
- Milk: Makes the top peanut butter layer thin enough to drizzle to finish.
Tools You’ll Need
- Mixing Bowls
- Hand Mixer (optional)
- Rubber Spatula
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- 13”x9” Baking Dish
- Parchment Paper
How to Make Peanut Butter Oatmeal bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper or grease with butter or nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined, then set aside.
- To a large bowl with a hand mixer or stand mixer, add butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat for 30 seconds or until light and fluffy.
- To the butter, add the egg, peanut butter, milk, and vanilla. Beat until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Beat until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer.
- Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the base. Allow them to sit undisturbed for 1 minute or until softened, then spread evenly.
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and peanut butter. Gradually add enough milk to make it a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over the top.
- Allow the bars to set-up for 2 hours. Cut into squares and serve.
Expert tips
- Make sure you sprinkle over the chocolate chips while the bottom layer is still warm to help them melt quickly. You want the chocolate to melt evenly, so you can spread it easily on top into an even layer.
- If the peanut butter drizzle for the top layer is too thick, simply add more milk and stir until easy to drizzle. Be sure to let the bars set up for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving. You can pop them into the fridge if you need to help them set.
- Be sure to use the quick cooking oats. They’re softer in texture than old fashioned oats, so when they’re baked for a shorter period of time they will still be soft and chewy in texture.
- Don’t over-bake the bottom layer. You want to make sure these bars stay soft so they’ll melt in your mouth. Make sure you bake them until just golden brown, they will continue cooking as they cool in the pan.
- Swap out the chocolate chips. You could use white chocolate or butterscotch chips as well if you like those flavors.
Storage
Store the peanut butter oatmeal bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the bars as well in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
When it comes to prepping these ahead of time, it’s the perfect recipe to make in advance since they have to set for 2 hours prior to eating.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can add spices like cinnamon or nutmeg. We also love to chop up nuts like peanuts or pecans and stir them in as well for extra crunch. Coconut, vanilla extract, and chia seeds are also great choices too. Flaky sea salt sprinkled on top can add a savory balance to the sweetness of the bars.
You can store them in a container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
You probably over-baked them which could make them dry and dense. Or you over-mixed the peanut butter cookie batter prior to baking.
More Easy Dessert Recipes
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
Base Layer
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup quick cooking oats
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Top Layer
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1-2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 13×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper or grease with butter or nonstick spray.
- In a medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, oats, baking soda, and salt. Mix until combined, then set aside.
- To a large bowl with a hand mixer or stand mixer, add butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat for 30 seconds or until light and fluffy.
- To the butter, add the egg, peanut butter, milk, and vanilla. Beat until well combined.
- Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Beat until smooth.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread in an even layer.
- Bake 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
- Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the base. Allow them to sit undisturbed for 1 minute or until softened, then spread evenly.
- In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and peanut butter. Gradually add enough milk to make it a drizzling consistency. Drizzle over the top. Allow the bars to set-up for 2 hours. Cut into squares and serve.
Video
Notes
Store the peanut butter oatmeal bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. You can also freeze the bars as well an airtight container for up to 2 months. When it comes to prepping these ahead of time, it’s the perfect recipe to make in advance since they have to set for 2 hours prior to eating. Expert Tips:
- Make sure you sprinkle over the chocolate chips while the bottom layer is still warm to help them melt quickly. You want the chocolate to melt evenly, so you can spread it easily on top into an even layer.
- If the peanut butter drizzle for the top layer is too thick, simply add more milk and stir until easy to drizzle. Be sure to let the bars set up for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving. You can pop them into the fridge if you need to help them set.
- Be sure to use the quick cooking oats. They’re softer in texture than old fashioned oats, so when they’re baked for a shorter period of time they will still be soft and chewy in texture.
- Don’t over-bake the bottom layer. You want to make sure these bars stay soft so they’ll melt in your mouth. Make sure you bake them until just golden brown, they will continue cooking as they cool in the pan.
- Swap out the chocolate chips. You could use white chocolate or butterscotch chips as well if you like those.
Nutrition
About Laura
Taught by some of the best, cooking and entertaining has always been my favorite hobby. Food is my love language! The conception of Dinner in 321 came from my family talks that sharing our dinners would help others learn new skills, tasty recipes, and make cooking fun! Read more…
Second time making this!! It’s a hit!! Thank you!
Awwww!! That makes my heart so happy to hear!! Thank you SO much!!!🥰 I’m so happy it’s been a repeat!!
Thank you
You’re very welcome! 🙂