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Source: https://ohioeggs.com/recipes/buckeye-oatmeal-bars/

Buckeye Oatmeal Bars

Buckeye Oatmeal Bars

Cheer on the Buckeyes to sweet victory with one-of-a-kind Buckeye Oatmeal Bars by Ohio food blogger Tastes of Lizzy T’s.

grocery Prep: 5min
timer Cook: 25min
restaurant 9 servings

Ingredients

Oatmeal Bars

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup quick cook oats

Topping

3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
9 buckeye candies

Directions

Oatmeal Bars

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • In the bowl for a stand mixer, cream together the butter and sugars.
  • Add the egg, peanut butter, salt and vanilla. Mix well.
  • Stir in the flour, baking soda and oats. Mix just until combined.
  • Spread in an 8x8 pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray.*
  • Bake at 350 degrees for 23-25 minutes.
  • Allow the bars to cool. After the bars have cooled to room temperature, spread ¾ cup creamy peanut butter overtop the oatmeal bars.

Ganache

  • Pour 1 1/2 cups water in the bottom pan of a double boiler and heat over medium-low heat.
  • Place the heavy whipping cream in the top pan of the double boiler.
  • Heat the heavy whipping cream until it is hot and steaming, but not boiling.
  • Remove the top portion of the double boiler from the heat and place it on a hot pad.
  • Add the chocolate chips.
  • Cover the pan with a plate and let it sit for 2 minutes.
  • Remove the plate and stir the chocolate for 1-2 minutes or until it is smooth and shiny.
  • Allow the ganache to sit for 3-5 minutes to cool just a bit.
  • Using a rubber spatula, spread the ganache overtop the peanut butter in a smooth layer.
  • Garnish the top with buckeyes while the chocolate is still wet if you desire the buckeyes to stick on the bars.
  • Cut into 9 bars and store in an airtight container.

Notes

*If you’d like to easily remove the bars from the baking pan to cut clean squares, first line the 8x8 pan with a piece parchment paper large enough to cover the bottom and hang over the sides of the pan about 1 inch. Then press the dough onto the parchment paper and bake as described. I like to remove the bars from the pan before I add the peanut butter and ganache toppings. This allows me to get the toppings all the way to the edges and cut the bars evenly. **You can also make ganache in the microwave. Simply warm the heavy whipping cream in a microwave safe bowl, 20 seconds at a time, stirring between each interval, until the cream is hot but not boiling. Then add the chocolate chips and cover with a plate. Continue as described above. ***This amount of chocolate chips and cream makes a thick layer of ganache for the tops of the bars. If you’d like a thinner layer, simply use 1/4 cup heavy cream and 1 cup of chocolate chips.