Peanut Butter Chocolate Snack Bars

I was sick last week - woke up with fever and chills and spent they day (mostly) in bed. By the time afternoon came I'd had enough of being in bed and was feeling rather sorry for myself. I decided a bout of baking would lift my spirits, and if nothing else, give me something to nibble with a book in bed.

I'd had these in my "to bake" file, and had bought all the ingredients, but had never actually managed to put everything together. So, sick me, chopped up some chocolate, stirred in some oats and peanut butter...and ok, a few other things...and felt better for the rest of the afternoon. The combination of sweet, salty, crunchy and chewy was just what the doctor ordered. So to speak.

I'd recommend making these even if you aren't feeling sick and a little sorry for yourself - they'd be a great lunch-box filler (and you can persuade yourself that they are on the healthy side) or emergency cupboard snack - they keep very well in a Ziploc bag or airtight container.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Snack Bars

Adapted from here

Makes 12 bars

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons softened butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup flour

1 cup oats
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugars on medium speed until creamy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg, vanilla and peanut butter and beat until combined. Add the cocoa powder and beat gently, to prevent cocoa powder flying everywhere!

Add the flour, oats and baking soda to the bowl and mix with a wooden spoon until mostly incorporated. Add chocolate chips and mix until thoroughly combined  - you might need to use your hands, as it's quite a dry mix. Press mixture into a greased 20cm square baking dish and bake for 18-20 minutes or until gooey and delicious. Serve immediately, or cut into bars and store in the cupboard.