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Peanut Butter Polka Dot Bars

Erin Sellin

Apr 26, 2012, Updated Jun 10, 2024

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Thanks for all the birthday wishes to my 7 year old yesterday!  I let him read my post from yesterday, and he got a huge smile on his face.  He is shy, but loved being the center of attention for a day.

As promised today I bring you what he chose for his birthday treat.  He isn’t much of a cake kid, so I knew that wouldn’t be his choice.  I showed him probably 100 desserts from my Pinterest boards, and let him pick.  He knew he wanted peanut butter and chocolate (takes after his mom), so at least we narrowed the choices a little.  In the end, I think it was the Reese’s Pieces that won him over.

Unfortunately I waited until the last minute to make these, and the store I went to did not have mini Reese’s Pieces candies.  So I had to go with the full sized version.  I am sure they taste the same, you just don’t get the full “polka dot” effect.  He had a tiny one after dinner last night, and said he made a good choice.  Really, how can you go wrong with peanut butter, oats and chocolate?  He picked his birthday dinner to be at Red Robin, and wanted them to sing to him this year, so he filled up on ice cream before we got home.  Looks like the teachers or my husbands co-workers are going to benefit tomorrow 🙂

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Peanut Butter Polka Dot Bars

By Erin Sellin

Rich peanut butter bars with a layer of chocolate filling and Reese's Pieces candy.

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

Servings: 24

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Ingredients 

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Bars

• ▢ 3/4 cup butter, softened
• ▢ 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• ▢ 2 cups light brown sugar
• ▢ 2 large eggs
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ▢ 2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
• ▢ 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ Chocolate Filling, (recipe below)
• ▢ 1 package Reese's Pieces Minis, (regular size works too, about 1 1/2 cups)

Chocolate Filling

• ▢ 1/2 cup butter
• ▢ 2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
• ▢ 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions 

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil, and spray with non stick spray.
• In an electric mixer combine butter, peanut butter and brown sugar together. Mix until well combined. Add eggs, and vanilla. Mix until fully incorporated. In a separate bowl whisk together oats, flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. The dough will be very thick, and you may have to use your hands to fully incorporate the flour. Set aside 2 cups of dough. Press remaining dough into the prepared baking dish.
• Prepare the chocolate filling. In a small sauce pan melt the butter. Over low heat stir in sugar and cocoa powder. Pour in sweetened condensed milk. Stir constantly until smooth and it begins to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over dough, and spread evenly. Sprinkle the Reese's Pieces over the chocolate layer. Using the remaining 2 cups of dough, drop teaspoonfuls over the candy layer. Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack completely before serving (trust me!)

Notes

Adapted from Aunt Nubby's Kitchen

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 232mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 22g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Author: Erin Sellin

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Course: Dessert Recipes

Cuisine: American

Servings: 24

Calories: 318

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Peanut Butter Polka Dot Bars
Slightly adapted from Aunt Nubby’s Kitchen

3/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups quick cooking oats
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Chocolate Filling (recipe below)
1 package Reese’s Pieces Minis (regular size works too, about 1 1/2 cups)

Chocolate Filling
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup cocoa Powder
1/2 cup sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a 13×9 baking pan with foil, and spray with non stick spray.

In an electric mixer combine butter, peanut butter and brown sugar together.  Mix until well combined.  Add eggs, and vanilla.  Mix until fully incorporated.  In a separate bowl whisk together oats, flour, baking soda and salt.  Gradually add flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture.  The dough will be very thick, and you may have to use your hands to fully incorporate the flour.  Set aside 2 cups of dough.  Press remaining dough into the prepared baking dish.

Prepare the chocolate filling.  In a small sauce pan melt the butter.  Over low heat stir in sugar and cocoa powder.  Pour in sweetened condensed milk.  Stir constantly until smooth and it begins to thicken.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour over dough, and spread evenly.  Sprinkle the Reese’s Pieces over the chocolate layer.  Using the remaining 2 cups of dough, drop teaspoonfuls over the candy layer.  Bake for 25 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cool on a wire rack completely before serving (trust me!)

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