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Home » Bar Cookies

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Bars

Last updated on August 24, 2021 By Anna 23 Comments This post may contain affiliate links.

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Bars, originally discovered on a site called All Things Frugal, have a crust of oatmeal, graham crackers and peanuts and a topping of melted chocolate. The first time I made them I over-baked them and they were a bit crispy. However, I took another shot at it and the second time the bars were delicious. They are bar cookies, but similar to candy.

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Bars
These are peanut bars made with graham cracker and topped with chocolate.

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Bars Pan Size

The original recipe calls for a 15x10 inch pan, but since I have never made a full batch and have always halved it, I'm sharing my version of the recipe as made in an 8 or 9 inch square pan.  Another alternation I've made is to use Ritz crackers.  This was out of necessity one time when I was out of graham crackers, and the family liked the change.

Recipe

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Bars

Chewy Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bars

Anna
Very chewy bars topped with melted chocolate chips and peanut butter.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 13 minutes mins
Total Time 23 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Amercian
Servings 32 people

Ingredients
 

  • 1 cups oats quick oats work well
  • ½ cup graham cracker crumbs or Ritz crumbs
  • ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
  • ⅛ tsp baking soda
  • ¼  cup salted peanuts finely chopped
  • ¼ cup light corn syrup
  • ¼ cup melted salted butter or use unsalted and add a pinch of salt
  • ½ tsp vanilla
  • ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup peanut butter

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 375 F.
  • Line an 8 inch pan with foil and spray foil with cooking spray. For thinner bars use a 9 inch square pan.
  • Combine oats, crumbs, sugar, baking soda and peanuts in a large mixing bowl.
  • Combine corn syrup, melted butter and vanilla in a second bowl or large measuring cup. Pour corn syrup mixture over oat mixture and mix well. Press into pan and bake for 12-14 minutes.
  • Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together in a bowl set over barely simmering water or using high setting of microwave (I always use the microwave) stirring every 30 seconds. Spread chocolate over warm baked crust. Let cool for about 20 minutes at room temperature, then transfer to refrigerator for about 20 minutes to partially set. Lift from pan by grasping foil, then cut into squares.
  • Return to refrigerator to fully set the chocolate.
Keyword Candy, Chewy, Peanut Butter
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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Reader Interactions

Comments

    I love hearing from other bakers and appreciate helpful comments. Rude ones will be deleted immediately.

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  1. sweetie

    November 25, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    krispies or granola in the base layer would also be yummy!

  2. CakeSpy

    November 18, 2009 at 3:02 pm

    These look amazing. I am curious to try it out with different nuts too (in addition to the peanuts!). I love the oats too, they're so good in bars!

  3. anth

    November 17, 2009 at 10:05 pm

    I am making these right now... They are currently cooling. Smell AMAZING.

  4. Mimi

    November 17, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    I'm all for anything chocolate and peanut butter.
    Mimi

  5. katherine

    November 17, 2009 at 1:00 pm

    Do you think you could omit the peanuts or use almonds or pecans instead? I don't have any peanuts and don't want to make a special trip to the store.... actually pretzels would probably be good in this...

  6. Sue

    November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am

    Thinking about your lighting and camera. I struggle with this in a HUGE way and have considered getting or making a light box. So far I haven't found the time to do either. I take almost all of my photos by daylight, but once in awhile I give in and use artificial lighting, or gasp, even the flash on my camera!! The days are so much shorter now, and this time of year it tends to be cloudy a lot so I really need to come up with a better solution. BTW, my camera is Nikon D40X. I love it. It's an entry level DSLR, but it works for me.

  7. Dolce

    November 17, 2009 at 8:47 am

    Before you get a new camera, it's indeed all about the lights... But then, who can resist a nice DSLR?? Though, again, the best pictures I take (with, ahem, a point & shoot camera) are by daylight. Anything else needs to be edited, and that's never as good as sunlight.

    I am sure this chocolate & peanut butter bars would make a great hostess gift for Thanksgiving 🙂

  8. Anna

    November 17, 2009 at 7:43 am

    About the oats, I used old fashioned. If a recipe says quick, I try to use quick because it affects the texture. In this case I don't think it mattered too much,

    Soshana, my light box is the portable type. Look up on portable light box on Amazon. It's the one that's about $40.

    Susan, the chocolate topping gets soft at room temperature, but not too melty. I think it would work for you.

    Thanks all for all the picture remarks and tips. Nikon is a great camera, but I've become a little brand loyal to Canon and will probably go that direction. A friend of mine had a Nikon and her pictures were great.

  9. Louise

    November 17, 2009 at 7:38 am

    These look similar to a David Lebovitz treat I've had on my list to try. Matzoh is the base of his.

  10. Susan

    November 17, 2009 at 7:07 am

    These look so perfect for a holiday show I'm doing soon. Do you think the chocolate on top will stay set and not melt? I always wonder about drizzled and covered chocolate on goodies once packaged.

  11. Shoshana

    November 16, 2009 at 10:32 pm

    These look great! What kind of light box do you use? I have been only taking daytime pictures, but it would be much more convenient to have more flexibility.

  12. tanya

    November 16, 2009 at 7:17 pm

    They look perfect to me - yumm!

    Tanya

  13. Therese B.

    November 16, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    Maybe it's me...but, I don't see a problem at all with the pics. Your pictures and
    explanations of the recipe always tempt me to make them. These look so good
    I just want to make them!!!

    p.s. I made the butternut squash lasagna...it's cooking in the oven right now!

  14. Chris Mower

    November 16, 2009 at 5:09 pm

    These are looking like the perfect treat for my family get-together tonight. The temptation to buy a super-deluxe DSLR is always there... so hard to resist.

  15. justJENN

    November 16, 2009 at 5:02 pm

    MAN that looks good, with or without light bulbs!

  16. Amanda

    November 16, 2009 at 3:34 pm

    Sorry about your bulbs :-/ but your cookies look fantastic!

  17. Diane

    November 16, 2009 at 3:20 pm

    Whoops, I see Dee beat me to the punch!

  18. Diane

    November 16, 2009 at 3:19 pm

    These are my kind of treat. Quick question: what kind of oatmeal is best to use, old-fashioned or quick?

    Thanks,
    Diane

  19. Dee

    November 16, 2009 at 3:18 pm

    When a recipe like this calls for "oatmeal," does it matter if you use the quick cooking kind or regular oatmeal? Thanks.

  20. Sally

    November 16, 2009 at 2:38 pm

    If you are looking at new cameras check out http://www.bakeorbreak.com. Her photos are just amazing. I can taste what she bakes while I'm drooling over the photos. Somewhere in her website I think she mentions the camera she uses. If I remember correctly hers is a Nikon.

  21. clumbsycookie

    November 16, 2009 at 2:34 pm

    Those look delicious Anna, even with the light issue 😉 And they do look very crunchy and not chewy at all...

  22. Jessica @ How Sweet It Is

    November 16, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    These cookies look phenomenal. What a great addition to my Christmas baking list!

  23. Sue

    November 16, 2009 at 1:50 pm

    These look so good! And funny you should mention chocolate chip cookies because I've been craving them lately.

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