The Flaming Pot Holder

This is a quick bar cookie, great for potlucks, bake sales, etc.  Usually, I have most of the ingredients in the pantry.  It is a good recipe for using bulk ingredients that you might buy at Costco (with just two of us, getting through huge bags of brown sugar, chocolate chips, and oatmeal can prove challenging).

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Bars 

1 cup salted butter (2 sticks), softened  (or unsalted butter)

2 cups light brown sugar, packed

½ cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky, natural is ok, but it works better if it isn’t separated)

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

3 cups oats (I prefer old-fashioned for the texture, but quick oats will also work)

½ cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups chocolate chips*

Preheat oven to 350º F. Use an electric mixture to cream the butter and brown sugar (if the butter is soft enough, hand mixing is fine).  Add the peanut butter and vanilla and beat well.  Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

Add the oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.  Stir well.  I do this step by hand so the oats don’t get broken up as much.  Stir in the chocolate chips. Spread in an even layer in a 12″x18″x2″ sheet cake pan lined with parchment paper (I use the butter wrappers to grease the parchment paper and then I use the wrappers to press the mixture into the pan).  You can also bake them in muffin tins to make little individual bars. Bake for about 20-30 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean (it depends on your oven, the pan, etc.).

*Variations:
Decrease the chocolate chips and add some shredded coconut or chopped peanuts.  Or you can substitute other ingredients for the chocolate chips:   mini or regular M&Ms, mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chocolate covered raisins, Reese’s Pieces, toffee bits, butterscotch chips, or peanut butter chips.