{Healthy} Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oat Bars- #ChocPBDay

Welcome to the 2nd annual Chocolate Peanut Butter Day!!! 

A group of bloggers (hosted by the amazing and talented Carla of Chocolate Moosey and Miriam of Overtime Cook) have declared March 25th the official day to celebrate the ultimate of flavor pairings: chocolate and peanut butter! We had so much fun last year that of course I was excited to celebrate again this year!

Chocolate and peanut butter are my absolute favorite. My favorite candies growing up all had that beautiful pairing and SO MANY of the desserts I've made are choc/pb-fied (last year I even did a round up of 35 chocolate and peanut butter recipes on the blog...and goodness knows I've made many many more over the course of the year!) I've even been known to melt together some chocolate and peanut butter for a quick and richly delicious treat when I have no other sweets around. That is the depth of my love. (In a perfect world I'd have chocolate cake with peanut butter filling for my wedding cake but...alas...I'm playing it safe in case there are allergies.)

As you can tell if you've visited this little blog-ette of mine in 2015--I'm on a bit of a "healthier" kick. Partly just because I want to get back to a better place physically and partly because my wedding is quickly approaching! So these bars that I decided to make are on the healthier side. But you know what's funny? Almost every healthy dessert I make involves chocolate and peanut butter. Why? Peanut butter is delicious BUT also full of protein and good stuff and oftentimes makes an excellent substitute for butter. And chocolate is an antioxidant and...well...I need it. So I throw it in nearly everything to keep me sane. The point is-it was definitely not difficult to find something to make for Chocolate Peanut Butter Day! 

Here is the beauty of healthy treats: they can be dessert, a snack, or breakfast! So these chewy, hearty, delicious bars (which have just the right amount of sweetness) may be consumed thrice a day. In fact...I think I'd recommend it. Good for the soul and all that.

{Healthy} 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oat Bars

Slightly adapted from How Sweet Eats' "Oatmeal Peanut Butter Squares"

Makes an 8x8" pan of bars.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar (I used dark brown but you can use light brown if you prefer)
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (storebought, natural, and homemade are all fine)
• 1 tbsp. vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour or white whole wheat flour (or 1/2 cup all purpose flour and 1/2 cup whole wheat flour)
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup milk (I used almond milk)
• 1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Coat an 8"x8" baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Using an electric mixer, beat together the sugar and peanut butter for a couple minutes on high speed-until well combined and fluffy.
• Mix in vanilla extract.
• On medium speed, mix in the flour, oats, salt, and baking soda-the dough will be crumbly and you want the peanut butter mix to be broken into clumps.
• On low speed beat in the milk until combined into a dough. 
• Stir in the chocolate chips.
• Use your hands to roll the dough into a large ball (and, if necessary, knead a bit to make sure everything is evenly incorporated)-place the dough ball in the prepared baking pan and press it down to evenly fit.
• Bake 18-20 minutes, until set and slightly golden on top. Cool completely and then cut into squares.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Check out more chocolate peanut butter-y goodness from the other participants of #ChocPBDay:

• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bites by Carla from Chocolate Moosey
• Peanut Butter Cup Cookies by Miriam from Overtime Cook
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Twix Cake by Susan from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
• {Healthy} Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oat Bars by Kayle from The Cooking Actress
• Chocolate Drizzled Peanut Butter Tiger Paws by Renee from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
• Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Dip by Becca from It's Yummi
• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cake by Erin from The Spiffy Cookie
• No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie by Lisa from Snappy Gourmet
• Espresso Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and a Rum Drizzle by Barb from Creative Culinary
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Tandy Cake by Cindy from Cindy's Recipes and Writings
• Chocolate-Glazed Peanut Butter-Stuffed Doughnuts by Coleen from The Redhead Baker
• 4 Ingredient Chocolate & Peanut Butter Candy by Colleen from Souffle Bombay
• Ganache-Stuffed Peanut Butter Bars by Karen from The Food Charlatan
• Microwave Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Pancakes by Taylor from Food Faith Fitness
• Flourless Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Icing by Shashi from Runnin Srilankan
• Chocolate Filled Peanut Butter Cookie Cups by Stacy from Food Lust People Love
• Peanut Butter Filled Chocolate Lava Cakes by Anita from Hungry Couple
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Ice Cream by Renee from Magnolia Days
• Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Bites by Lauren from Healthy Delicious
• Tagalong Dip by Liz from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake Nancy from gotta get baked
• Small Batch Chocolate Peanut Butter Doughnuts by Sarah from What Smells So Good?
• Funky Monkey Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Energy Balls by Brianne from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies by Diane from Created by Diane
• Chocolate, Peanut Butter, & Roasted Banana Shake by Jennie from The Messy Baker
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Magic Bars by Jen from Jen's Favorite Cookies
• Chocolate Doughnuts with Peanut Butter Glaze by Lauren from Lauren Kelly Nutrition