Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars

Chocolate peanut butter no-bake bars combine the mouthwatering richness of the classic cookies with the ease of making bars.

Who doesn’t remember these cookies from childhood?

My mom never made them much, but I have distinct memories of my Dad’s Mom, Granny, making treats like these cookies in the kitchen of her home in Mississippi. I remember my brothers and my cousins and I waiting impatiently for the cookies to set up, watching for that tell-tale change from wet to shiny that would signal they were ready to be devoured.

It’s entirely possible that we didn’t always wait for them to set up. In fact, way before the days of cake batter-flavored anything, my brothers and I pestered Granny so often for tastes of the cake batter she was preparing that she finally handed us the yellow Tupperware bowl full of batter, along with three spoons, and shooed us into the living room with strict instructions to not return until we’d emptied the bowl.

You may very well find yourself in the same situation Granny did when you make these chocolate peanut butter no-bake bars. The chocolate sauce is rich and thick; I doubt you’ll be able to resist dipping your finger- or a fresh strawberry, hint hint- in a couple times. After you’ve added the oatmeal and transferred the whole thing to a dish, feel free to sneak into a corner with a spoon and the saucepan to enjoy the remnants in peace.

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Bars

adapted from Quaker

Ingredients

1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. milk
1/3 c. cocoa powder
1/3 c. chocolate chips
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla
3 c. old-fashioned or quick oats

Instructions

In a medium to large saucepan, combine sugar, butter, peanut butter, milk, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and salt. Put pan over medium heat and stir constantly until mixture is melted and thickened. Add vanilla and oats and stir until combined. Transfer mixture to an 8 x 8 parchment-lined pan and smooth out. Allow bars to cool and set up before cutting, about two hours.