Taya Starling

It has been so damn hot in Bangkok. Like “I don’t wanna put clothes on or go anywhere” hot. But I’ve also really been craving peanut butter chocolate dessert… and I’ve maxed out ordering my favorite peanut butter ice cream through my local food delivery service so I decided to do something about this craving without turning my oven on. 

Then I remembered the no bake cookies I always made as a kid when I wasn’t allowed to turn on the oven. And then I remembered that making individual cookies would take time… time standing in my hot unairconditioned kitchen…. time I didn’t want to spend on cookies but I wanted to eat the yummy chocolate peanut butter treats… then *epiphany* I could make the no bake cookies into a no bake bar. I don’t know why I never thought of this before!

You’ll need:

1 cup butter

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 cups rolled oats

1 cup semisweet or dark chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter 

Here’s what to do:

Pull out your 8×8 or 9×9 pan (the bigger the pan the thinner the bars come out so it’s your call really) and line it with baking paper (or wax paper) so the paper hangs over the edge of the pan- this is just so it’s easier for you to take the masterpiece out after it’s done. Set your pan aside. 

Next grab a saucepan and melt the butter then stir in the sugar and stir until it’s fully dissolved. Then mix in the vanilla extract before adding in the rolled oats. Stir it all together until the oats are covered in the mixture, about 3 minutes or so. 

In a microwaveable bowl, combine the chocolate chips and peanut butter. Stick it in the microwave in 10-15 second intervals, stirring in between until it’s all melted and smooth. 

Now get your pan and scoop half of the oat mixture into it, spreading it out and pressing it down to form the bottom layer of the bars. Once that’s done, grab your bowl of chocolate peanut butter and reserve about 1/4 cup of the mixture before you pour the rest of it on top of your bottom oat layer, using your spatula or a knife to spread it all out. Next, grab your remaining oats and sprinkle it on top of the chocolate peanut butter layer to form the top layer of the yummy bars. No need to press this layer down really, just try to sprinkle it all over. Lastly, drizzle the reserved chocolate peanut butter mixture on top in whatever pattern you like. Now’s your chance to lick the spoon 😉 

Place the pan in your refrigerator about 2-3 hours or overnight until the bars harden. Then, remove from the pan and cut into whatever shapes and sizes you like. Lastly, resist the urge to finish the bars in one day. Seriously. The pan lasted 2 days in my house. TWO. I think that’s a new record for me.