Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars: A delectable dessert with a buttery oat crust, creamy peanut butter filling, and a layer of chocolate chips. Easy to make and perfect for indulging your sweet cravings!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 3/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into cubes
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 13×9-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, all-purpose flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the cold butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in the chopped peanuts.
3. Set aside 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture for later. To the remaining mixture, add the beaten egg, and mix well. Press this mixture evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking pan.
4. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until it turns lightly golden.
5. While the crust is baking, prepare the peanut butter filling. In a small bowl, stir together the sweetened condensed milk and creamy peanut butter until well combined.
6. When the crust is ready, remove it from the oven, and evenly pour the peanut butter filling over the partially baked crust.
7. Now, take the reserved 1 1/2 cups of crumb mixture and mix it with the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the peanut butter layer.
8. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the top is golden and the chocolate is slightly melted.
9. Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Once cooled, cut into delicious bars.