Dessert

Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars Recipe

BySophie Carsel December 20, 2025December 20, 2025

Introduction

These Chewy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars are a perfect blend of rich peanut butter, sweet chocolate buttons, and hearty oats. Soft yet chewy, they make a delightful treat for snack time or dessert. Easy to prepare, they’ll quickly become a family favorite.

Two square oat bars with a crumbly, light brown texture are stacked on a white plate. Each bar has a base layer that looks crunchy, followed by a thick middle layer filled with visible oat bits and nuts. The top layer is crumbly and sprinkled with colorful candy-coated chocolate pieces in red, blue, yellow, green, and orange. The plate is placed on a soft gray cloth over a white marbled surface. In the blurred background, a glass container with more colorful candies and a baking tray with more bars can be seen. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

3/4 cup Jif® Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter
Nonstick Cooking Spray (as needed)
1 cup Brown Sugar
3/4 cup Butter
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cups Quick Cooking Oats
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 cup Candy Coated Chocolate Buttons

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly coat a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray, butter, or line it with parchment paper.
Step 2: In a large bowl, beat together the brown sugar, butter, and vanilla extract on medium speed until the mixture becomes fluffy.
Step 3: Stir in the quick cooking oats, baking soda, and salt until a dough forms. Set aside 1 cup of this dough for topping. Press the remaining dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan to form a crust.
Step 4: In a separate medium bowl, mix the sweetened condensed milk and crunchy peanut butter until smooth. Spread this mixture evenly over the oat crust.
Step 5: Crumble the reserved dough evenly over the peanut butter layer, then sprinkle the candy coated chocolate buttons on top.
Step 6: Bake for 34 to 36 minutes, or until the bars turn golden brown. Allow to cool completely in the pan before cutting into bars.

Tips & Variations

For a nut-free version, substitute the peanut butter with sunflower seed butter and omit the chocolate buttons or replace with allergy-safe alternatives.
Use regular rolled oats if you don’t have quick cooking oats, but expect a slightly chewier texture.
Press the dough firmly into the pan to ensure a sturdy crust that holds together well after baking.
Add a pinch of cinnamon or a handful of chopped nuts for extra flavor and texture.

Storage

Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator for up to one week. Reheat briefly in the microwave if you prefer them warm.

How to Serve

Two oatmeal cookie bars stacked on a white plate, each bar showing a crumbly light brown texture with visible oats and nuts throughout. The top bar is decorated with colorful candy-coated chocolates in red, green, blue, yellow, and orange, scattered unevenly across the surface. The plate rests on a gray cloth on a wooden table, with a blurred pan of more bars and a small glass bowl of candies placed behind them. The image is bright and clear, focused on the cookie bars. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use natural peanut butter instead of Jif® Extra Crunchy?

Yes, natural peanut butter can be used, but it may alter the texture slightly, making the bars a bit less firm. Stir well to ensure it blends smoothly with the condensed milk.

Can I freeze these peanut butter oatmeal bars?

Absolutely. Wrap the cooled bars tightly in plastic wrap or foil and place in a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.