PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL BARS

Enjoy these soft and chewy peanut butter oatmeal bars made with healthy, wholesome ingredients.  The chocolate is optional, but is it really? 😉  Any mix-ins will work for this recipe, I used chocolate chips and raisins.  Feel free to make any modifications to fit your taste!

Use an electric mixer or stand mixer.  Mix the brown sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy and light in color. (Approx 3 min) Add in the vanilla and scrape down the sides of the bowl.

 On medium speed add in the flour, oats, salt and baking soda.  The dough will be clumpy, but will soon come together.

 Slowly add in the milk, mixing until a dough forms.  Fold in the chocolate chips and raisins until combined.

Press dough lightly into a prepared baking dish.  Bake at 350 for 17-20 minutes until the bars are lightly golden and set.  

Allow to cool completely, drizzle with melted chocolate (if desired) and ENJOY.

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 cup Peanut Butter
2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Low-Fat Milk (I used Almond Milk)
1/2 cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1/2 cup Raisins (or whichever mix-ins you’d like)

DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven for 350 degrees. Use an electric mixer or stand mixer.  Mix the brown sugar and peanut butter on medium speed until fluffy and light in color. (Approx 3 min) Add in the vanilla and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
2.   On medium speed add in the flour, oats, salt and baking soda.  The dough will be clumpy, but will soon come together.
3.   Slowly add in the milk, mixing until a dough forms.  Fold in the chocolate chips and raisins until combined.
4.  Press dough lightly into a prepared baking dish.  Bake for 17-20 minutes until the bars are lightly golden and set.