Oatmeal Peanut Butter Squares

Summer has always meant road trips for our family.  We have taken a lot of great summer adventures on the road and since being in the car makes me hungry, I pack plenty of snacks before we hit the open road.  Just before heading to the beach this summer,  made a batch of super healthy oatmeal peanut butter squares to satisfy my chocolate cravings while on the road.  They were surprisingly simple to make, they traveled well and they were tasty.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Squares
makes 9 squares
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cups creamy peanut butter, like Skippy Natural
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add peanut butter and sugar and mix on high speed until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.  Add in vanilla extract and mix until combined.

 





3. Add in flour, oats, salt and baking soda, mixing on medium speed. The dough will look crumbly and you want the peanut butter mix to be broken up into clumps.











Add milk with the mixer on low speed, and mix until a dough forms.








Fold in chocolate chips.

 
4. Make sure dough is completely combined, and roll it into a ball with your hands. Place it in the middle of an 8×8 baking dish, pressing it to fit.

 






Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until set and golden on top.






Let cool completely, then cut into 9 squares.

The kids opted for the traditional rice cripsy treats while we took our summer road trip.  As for me, I opted for the healthier oatmeal peanut butter squares.  They were just the little pick me up that I needed after spending 6 hours on the road with 3 teenagers.

Ciao!


Oatmeal Peanut Butter Squares
makes 9 squares
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 cup old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup brown sugar
3/4 cups creamy peanut butter, like Skippy Natural
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup milk (I used vanilla almond milk)
1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer, add peanut butter and sugar and mix on high speed until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add in vanilla extract and mix until combined.
3. Add in flour, oats, salt and baking soda, mixing on medium speed. The dough will look crumbly and you want the peanut butter mix to be broken up into clumps. Add milk with the mixer on low speed, and mix until a dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips.
4. Make sure dough is completely combined, and roll it into a ball with your hands. Place it in the middle of an 8×8 baking dish, pressing it to fit. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until set and golden on top. Let cool completely, then cut into 9 squares.