When I was a freshman in college (which was more than a couple of years ago 🙂 ) I had a roommate who would make these peanut butter cookies for us all the time – our apartment was famous for them! – it’s been a family favorite of mine ever since.

What’s not to love – that incredible taste of a peanut butter cup in a cookie – plus; easy to make, makes enough for a crowd, and they are always  always a big hit!

Perfect for all those family reunions or for all the hungry kids who will soon be hanging out at your house all summer . . .

Peanut Butter Bars with Chocolate Frosting

3/4 Cup Butter
3/4 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup Brown Sugar
3/4 Cup Peanut Butter (extra for topping cookies)
1 Egg
3/4 tsp soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 Cup flour
1 1/2 Cup Quick Rolled Oats
Chocolate Frosting (recipe here) – or true confessions, I must admit I generally use a store-bought tub for these to keep it fast and easy!

Directions:

Mix butter and sugar with electric mixer until smooth. Add in egg, peanut butter, and vanilla until mixed well. Stir in flour, oats, soda and salt. Press into a jelly roll baking pan.

Bake at 325 for about 10 minutes – do not overbake.   Cool, but not completely – when still a little warm spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the cookie – then cool completely. Frost with chocolate frosting!

One bite and you’ll be hooked!

Note:  I like to use chunky peanut butter in the cookies (so you get the pieces of peanuts), then creamy on top (so they frosting doesn’t look lumpy) – but either will work in both!