Chocolate Peanut Chewy Bars

Kittencalskitchen's Note:

This makes a ton of "almost" Almond Roca-like bars, and there are no eggs in these. These are SO good, you won't be able to stop just at one bar LOL!

• Total Time: 30 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

Yield: 5 dozen b ...

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup salted peanuts , very coarsely chopped (can leave whole also)
• ½ cup corn syrup
• ½ cup butter , melted
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 (6 ounce) package semi-sweet chocolate chips
• ½ cup peanut butter

Directions:

1. Set oven to 350°F.
2. Grease a 15 x 10-inch baking sheet (can use a 13 x 9-inch pan also).
3. In a large bowl, combine the oats, graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, baking soda and peanuts; mix well until combined.
4. In another bowl, combine corn syrup with melted butter and vanilla; mix well and add to the oat mixture; mix to combine.
5. Press into prepared baking sheet/pan.
6. Bake for 15 minutes (don't over bake!).
7. Melt the chocolate chips with peanut butter in the microwave or double boiler until smooth.
8. Spread on warm bars.
9. Refrigerate to slightly set the chocolate (this makes for easier and more even slicing).
10. Remove from fridge and slice into small bars.

Reviews

[Debbb]

I am so sorry I made these bars!! My hubby & I ate the ENTIRE pan over the course of a weekend - I'm so ashamed - but they tasted so amazing! I only had 1 1/2 cups of oatmeal so I used that and increased the graham crumbs to 1 1/2 cups. I loved the sweet & salty together. I didn't bother chopping the peanuts so this recipe was very easy & quick to prepare. I'm sure these will be on my Christmas trays next year.

[fawn512]

The pan is too big for the mixture. The batter didnt' occupy the whole sheet. IMPT: chill the bars (w/ frosting) or else the choclate/pnut butter top is wet and you'll make a mess slicing. These are Chewy bars, next time, i'll try only using chips for the frost on top instead of adding peanut butter, i think i tastes better with plain choclate frost. Thanks for this great and easy recipe.

[Tornado Ali]

My family says five star all the way!! I used mixed nuts instead of just peanuts, cause that's what I had, otherwise followed the recipe exactly. I would suggest making these on parchment paper if using a non-stick pan, because they get very hard, and plastic cutting utensils won't work, so you'll have to use a real knife!