Peanut Butter Fingers

There is something about peanut butter fingers/bars that brings me back to my childhood.  You know, the school cafeteria.  I didn't get school lunch often, but if I did, & they had these little bars, I was very excited!  


I don't make these very often at home for just my family because the recipe makes a ton!  They are perfect to bring to a large gathering of sorts: family reunions, get-togethers, church activities, etc.  Everybody loves these & they are so easy to put together.


I even brought the recipe to work & made these, when I was working in a bakery a couple years back, & it became a regular item we sold out of the bakery from then on out.  Everybody loves a good peanut butter bar!  Chewy, nutty, chocolatey goodness!

Peanut Butter Fingers

Recipe by: Amber (Dessert Now, Dinner Later!)

Bars:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 cups flour
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup butter, very soft
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 Tbsp milk
• 4 Tbsp baking cocoa
• 3 cups powdered sugar

1. For the bars: In a stand mixer cream butter with sugars until light & fluffy.  Add vanilla & eggs & blend.  Add peanut butter & mix thoroughly.  Scrape bowl.
2. In a separate bowl combine the flour, oats, baking soda & salt.  Slowly add to moist ingredients in mixer.  Mix until it just comes together.  Make sure to scrape the bottom & mix again.  The mixture should be moist, but crumbly.
3. Spread/press onto a 10x15" jelly-roll pan, can use a rolling pin to even everything out (might need to lightly flour it first.)
4. Bake at 350*F for 12-15 minutes, just long enough to cook it.  Don't over-bake or you will dry it out.  Let rest 3 minutes.  
5. While bars are still warm, spread a layer of peanut butter over the top (about 1 cup).  Let the peanut butter dry on top.
6. Mix frosting: combine butter, vanilla, milk, cocoa, & powdered sugar in a bowl with a hand mixer.  Blend until thick & creamy.  Spread frosting over the top of the peanut butter layer of your bars.  Cut bars the desired size & serve.