Buttery oat-peanut butter bars crowned with a glossy chocolate-peanut butter swirl—Goody Goody Bars are the bake-sale legends you remember (and the weeknight treat you’ll make on repeat). They mix up fast, slice cleanly, and stay chewy for days. Think oatmeal cookie meets peanut butter blondie, finished with a shiny chocolate top.
Why You’ll Love These Bars
- Chewy + fudgy: Oatmeal cookie base with soft centers and crisp edges.
- Big flavor, easy method: Pantry ingredients; one bowl for base, one pot for glaze.
- Travel-friendly: Slice neatly and hold well at room temp—perfect for gifting.
- Make-ahead magic: Even better the next day as the flavors set.
Ingredients
Bar Base
- 1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup (130 g) creamy peanut butter
- 1½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp fine sea salt
- 2 cups (200 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
Chocolate–PB Glaze
- 1½ cups (255 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup (60 g) creamy peanut butter
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup or honey (sheen + soft set)
- Pinch of salt
Optional add-ins: ½ cup chopped roasted peanuts or mini chocolate chips folded into the base.
Time & Yield
- Prep: 15 minutes
- Bake: 18–22 minutes
- Set/Cool: 45–60 minutes
- Total: ~1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 20–24 bars
Instructions
1) Mix the Base
- Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment, overhang on two sides.
- In a large bowl, whisk melted butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until glossy. Whisk in eggs and vanilla, then peanut butter until smooth.
- Sprinkle flour, baking soda, and salt over the bowl; fold just to combine. Fold in oats (and optional peanuts/chips).
2) Bake
- Spread batter evenly in pan (it’s thick). Bake 18–22 minutes until the top is set and lightly golden; the center should still feel soft—don’t overbake for chewy bars. Place pan on a rack.
3) Make the Glaze
- In a small saucepan on low, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter, butter, corn syrup, and a pinch of salt, stirring until smooth and shiny (1–2 minutes). Remove from heat.
4) Top & Set
- Pour glaze over the warm bars; tilt the pan to cover. For a signature swirl, streak a spoon through the top.
- Cool at room temperature until the glaze sets (or chill 20–30 minutes for quicker slicing). Lift with parchment and cut into bars.
Nutrition (Per bar, 1 of 24)
Approx. 230–260 kcal, 13 g fat, 28 g carbs, 4 g protein, 140 mg sodium (varies with brands and portion size).
Pro Tips for Bakery-Style Bars
- Chewy > dry: Pull from the oven when edges are golden and center is just set.
- Clean slices: Wipe the knife between cuts; a warm knife glides through the glaze.
- Shiny topping: The tiny bit of corn syrup/honey keeps the chocolate glossy and soft-set.
- Oats matter: Use old-fashioned rolled oats for chew; quick oats make denser bars.
Variations & Twists
- Salted Crunch: Finish with flaky sea salt right after glazing.
- Nut-Free: Swap peanut butter for sunflower seed butter; omit peanuts.
- Mocha Top: Add 1 tsp instant espresso to the glaze for a coffee kick.
- Butterscotch Swirl: Replace ½ cup chips with butterscotch chips in the glaze.
- Double Chocolate: Stir 2 tbsp cocoa into the base and add ¼ cup milk to loosen if needed.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing
- Room temp: Airtight up to 4–5 days (layers of parchment between stacks).
- Fridge: Up to 1 week; bring to room temp for best texture.
- Freeze: Wrap slab or individual bars tightly; freeze up to 2 months. Thaw wrapped at room temp.
Serving Ideas
- Warm a square 10–12 seconds and top with vanilla ice cream.
- Crumble over Greek yogurt with banana slices for a dessert-ish snack.
- Cut into mini bites for party platters.
Why They’re Crowd Favorites
Classic, nostalgic flavor—oats, peanut butter, and chocolate—wrapped in a soft chew and glossy finish. They’re unfussy, slice beautifully, and disappear fast. Bake a pan today, and watch the “goody” in Goody Goody Bars make instant sense.