An easy chocolate chip cookie bar recipe with peanut butter fudge sandwiched between an oatmeal cookie crumble layer, aka Oatmeal Dream Bars!
JUMP TO RECIPEWhen it comes to chocolate chip cookies, I tend to sway from one end of the spectrum all the way to the other without too much time spent in the middle.
I either go all-out and make the FAMOUS Levain Bakery Cookies where I have to drag out my kitchen scale, let the dough rest overnight, make sure the wind is blowing from the northwest and wait for the eve of a waxing moon.
Just kidding about those last two particulars. But you get my drift… these are special cookies that I have to gear up to making because it’s a process. They’re 100% worth it but, it’s a process.
Or I jump to the opposite end of the spectrum and make cookie bars.
I don’t usually have the patience time to portion out and
bake 40+ individual cookies so I lean toward cookie bars. You know, where you
spread all the batter into one pan then cut the finished slab into individual
“cookies”?
My Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars recipe is my go-to for quick homemade chocolate chip “cookies” and I’ve made them so many times I don’t even need to glance at the recipe.
Well, these cookie bars are what I think of as a compromise. They are made with the ease of all cookie bars BUT they are extra special.
These chunky monkeys have a layer of peanut butter fudge in the middle that makes them positively dreamy. Hey, maybe that’s why some folks call these Oatmeal Dream Bars??
Speaking of oatmeal… the rolled oats in this recipe give it the exact perfect texture to stand up to the luxurious, silky peanut butter fudge and rich semi-sweet chocolate chips!
I like to use this recipe when any holiday M&M’s are in the stores so I can sprinkle the colorful candies on top instead or with the chocolate morsels.
Reese’s Pieces are DIVINE on these too! I have a recipe just for them! Forgive the old photos, but just LOOK at this combo on the Reese’s Pieces Peanut Butter Bars!
Another great thing about the Reese’s Pieces version is that they’re perfect for those weirdos that don’t like chocolate. I say that with love – don’t send me hate mail! – one of my best friends is one of those weirdos and I love her anyway!
HOW TO MAKE THESE LAYERED OATMEAL BARS
Ultimately, we’re going to create one giant cookie in a 13x9 pan with three layers but don’t let that scare you – these are easy!
OATMEAL COOKIE CRUMBLE LAYER - The bottom and top layers are made from the same simple batter. The bottom is like an oatmeal cookie then the batter is crumbled on the top and takes on a bit of a streusel vibe. All that's just these ingredients mixed together:
- Butter
- Brown sugar
- Baking soda & salt
- All-purpose flour
- Quick-cooking oats
PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE LAYER - In between the oatmeal cookie/crumble is a peanut butter fudge that’s made by simply mixing together two ingredients:
- Peanut Butter
- Sweetened condensed milk
CHOCOLATE CHIPS - Then you just sprinkle chocolate chips on top and pop the pan into the oven about 25 minutes. Once they cool completely, cut into squares et voila!
A FEW COOKING NOTES
- Use light or brown sugar.
- I prefer the texture of quick-cooking oats in this recipe but regular or old-fashioned will work too.
- Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips are best in this - milk chocolate is too sweet.
- To use self-rising flour, omit all-purpose flour and baking soda (do add the salt).
MORE SWEET TREATS MADE WITH SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
- COCONUT MACAROON KISSES - A tender and light, yet rich and dreamy recipe for chewy coconut cookies topped with Hershey’s Kiss chocolate drops.
- ONE-BOWL BROWNIE COOKIES - A super easy recipe for chewy, fudgy chocolate cookies made with Sweetened Condensed Milk and just a few other ingredients!
- LEMON CRUMB BARS - A crumb bar recipe with tart fresh lemons, a sweet creamy filling and a beautiful crumb topping.
- MAN BARS - Easy and unique cookie bars made with graham cracker crumbs and chocolate chips, cut and rolled in powdered sugar.
Recipe for How to Cook Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dream Bars
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 12-oz package semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Line a 13x9 baking pan with aluminum foil then spray with cooking spray; set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine butter, brown sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl and mix with an electric mixer on low speed until smooth. Add flour and oats then continue mixing until well combined.
- Reserve 1 heaping cup oat mixture then set aside.
- Press the remaining oat mixture into the bottom of the prepared pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.
- Combine peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk then mix until smooth. Pour peanut butter mixture over semi-cooked oat crust then carefully spread evenly over crust.
- Crumble half of reserved oat mixture over peanut butter fudge. Top with chocolate chips then them add remaining oat mixture.
- Continue baking 25 minutes or until oat crumbles just start to brown.
- Cool completely in pan then remove by lifting up on aluminum foil. Cut into bars and store in an air-tight container.
Notes
- Use light or brown sugar.
- I prefer the texture of quick-cooking oats in this recipe but regular or old-fashioned will work too.
- Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips are best in this - milk chocolate is too sweet.
- To use self-rising flour, omit all-purpose flour and baking soda (do add the salt).
Made these tonight with my daughter and....OH....MY....GOODNESS!!!! They are just awesome!! Thank you soo much for sharing this recipe! It's definitely a keeper :)
ReplyDeleteMade these almost exactly as recipe but not a fan of SCM so made my peanut butter layer with corn syrup, sugar and peanut butter heated on the stove - delicious!!
ReplyDelete