Chunky Oatmeal Cookie Bars with a Chocolate Peanut Butter Center

By srumbel

A large oatmeal bar with a thick layer of peanut butter and chocolate. These bars come together very quickly and bake in about 20 minutes. The base and top are a sugary oatmeal mixture and the center is a sugared peanut butter + melty chocolate layer.
from chelseasmessyapron.com

Ingredients

• Bottom and top layers
• 1 cup brown sugar, lightly packed
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• scant 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 bag milk chocolate chips, separated
• Peanut butter filling
• 1 and 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 and 1/2 cup butter
• 1 and 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• Optional: strawberries for garnish

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl, mix together the brown sugar, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, flour, and salt. Add in the butter and stir until everything is moistened.
Press just over half of the mixture into a 9 x 13 pan. (If you want these bars to be less thick, press into a 15.5 x 10.5 pan, but adjust for baking times.)
Add the oats to the remaining mixture. Stir and set aside.
Bake the bottom later for 10 minutes. Remove and sprinkle 1 and 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips over the bottom layer.
In a large microwave safe bowl, combine the peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and return to the microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove and stir until thick and the butter is completely melted. (Return to microwave if needed).
Pour the peanut butter layer over the chocolate chips.
Take the remaining oat mixture and sprinkle evenly over the peanut butter layer.
Return to the oven and bake for 10-13 minutes or until the edges are lightly browned.
Remove and let cool completely. Cut into bars.
If desired, combine 1/2 cup chocolate chips with 2 teaspoons vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 seconds bursts until melted. Fill a small plastic bag with melted chocolate and cut off the very tip. Pipe the melted chocolate over the cut bars.
Allow to dry and optionally garnish with a strawberry.