These peanut butter oat blondies with peanut butter drizzle are vegan and gluten-free. Plus, they're nutty, fudgy, dense, gooey, and sweet. A rich peanut butter oat blondie base is topped with a thick, fudge-like peanut butter drizzle. Doesn't get any better than that.
I have a feeling these peanut butter oat blondies are going to give these peanut butter cookies a run for their money oat flour. And if you've made the peanut butter cookies, then you know I'm talking a big game, because they're far and away the most beloved, praised treat on the blog.
But I'm not afraid to talk the talk because these delectable, peanut-buttery bars can walk the walk. Heck, they can strut it.
And at the very least, they can stack the stack. I know that doesn't even really make sense but let's roll with it because...
See? Stacked and working it to their peanut butter edges and beyond.
These bars are mashup of the peanut butter cookies mentioned above and these almond butter oat chocolate chip cookie bars. They're (optionally) topped with a thick, fudge-like peanut butter drizzle. And by "drizzle," I mean "turn your bowl upside down and let that glorious peanut butter mixture rain down."
These blondies come together in a flash and require just 8 ingredients (salt included). And those 8 ingredients are completely nonsense-free -- no refined sugars, processed flours, or other funny business, which means there's more room for the good stuff. Good stuff like a generous sprinkling of fiber-filled oats woven throughout and a rich punch of peanut butter.
I forgot to share a green, St-Patty's-Day inspired recipe with you this year, but these might just be the pot bars of gold at the end of the rainbow.
📖 Recipe
Peanut Butter Oat Blondies with Peanut Butter Drizzle (Vegan and Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Oat Blondies
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened natural peanut butter (stirred well before measuring)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 ¼ cups oat flour
- â…“ cup rolled oats
- 1 ½ teaspoons aluminum-free baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk
Peanut Butter Drizzle (optional)
- ¼ cup (1.2 ounces) chopped cacao butter
- ¼ cup unsweetened natural peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon fine grain sea salt
Instructions
For the Peanut Butter Oat Blondies
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8x8-inch square pan with parchment paper (check your pan size, because 9x9-inch won’t work for this recipe).
- In a large mixing bowl, cream together the coconut sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla on medium-high for 1 minute using a stand mixer with paddle attachment.
- Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the oat flour, rolled oats, baking powder, and sea salt.
- With the mixer off, add the oat flour mixture. Then, pour the almond milk over the oat mixture and begin beating on low. Increase speed to medium and beat for 15 seconds or until just incorporated. The dough should pull together into large, moist mounds as it moves around the mixing bowl. If the dough is dry and broken into small crumbles, add more almond milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, and beat until it pulls together until large moist mounds.
- Transfer the dough to the lined pan and use your fingers to press evenly into the bottom and outwards until it’s nearly touching the sides of the pan.
- Bake for 22 to 26 minutes or until the edges are golden and crackled and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a bit of moist crumb at the tip. Don’t overbake.
- Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and cool completely.
Peanut Butter Drizzle (Optional)
- Prepare the Peanut Butter Drizzle while the cookie bar cools. Add the cacao butter, peanut butter, maple syrup, sea salt, and vanilla to a medium saucepan. Heat over low and whisk constantly until about two-thirds of the cacao butter is melted. Then, remove from heat and continue whisking until the cacao butter melts completely and the mixture is smooth and glossy. Be careful not to overheat or scorch as it will cause the cacao butter to become gritty. Let cool for 10 minutes (at room temperature) to thicken slightly.
To Assemble
- Once the peanut butter blondie is completely cool, use a spoon to splatter the peanut butter drizzle (if using) across the surface. Transfer the pan to the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes or until the peanut butter drizzle is completely set. It will lose its glossy sheen and take on a matte finish when set.
- Grasp the edges of the parchment to gently remove the bar from the pan. Slice into 16 square bars. Store the bars in the refrigerator to maintain a dense, chewy texture and keep the PB drizzle well set.
Tori says
I'm totally drooling over the utter peanut butterness of these beautiful things! YUMMMMMM!
Emily says
These sound delicious! Just FYI you're missing a measurement for the fudge, I'm guessing it's 1/4 cup peanut butter.
Ashley says
Oh whoops! Thanks for catching that -- I'll add it!
Katie @ 24 Carrot Life says
These look so FREAKIN' good! That glaze you have- it looks like donut glaze which makes me want it even more! Definitely pinning these for when my sweet tooth strikes (aka everyday).
Celeste Jackson says
I got taste these bars of gold last Saturday and found them to be as delicious as they look! Definitely filing these in my favorite dessert bar folder!
Liz says
These look amazing. Anything peanut butter, and I am in! I will definitely have to try this recipe soon. Thanks for sharing! x
Bethany @ athletic avocado says
OMG you had me at peanut butter! These blondies look ridiculously amazing! Im drooling!
Karly Campbell says
These are almost too simple and look too delicious to be real. I want all of the peanut buttery goodness. Like, Now!
Deryn @ Running on Real Food says
I shouldn't be browsing your blog in the middle of the day on a Wednesday. You're killin' me here...lol. ;)
Jo Ann klein says
What is cacao butter? I have cacoa nibs and powder but not cacoa butter.
Ashley says
Cacao butter is the cold-pressed oil from the cacao bean (it's a soft off-white or pale yellow color).
Liz says
Can I use regular sugar instead of coconut?
Ashley says
Hi Liz! I'm honestly not sure as I haven't tried it myself, but I would recommend using brown sugar instead of white sugar if you substitute.
Sharbron says
For anyone wondering, these are great with coconut sugar, but I once tried substituting brown sugar directly and it made them unpalatably sweet. SO I think other adjustments are needed if you do that.
Ashley says
Hi, Sharbron! So glad you're enjoying the recipe as written, and thanks for sharing your experience with the brown sugar swap. It's always helpful to know what types of substitutions work as well as those that don't!
Alexia says
Is there nutrition facts for these brownies?
Alexia says
Is there nutrition facts for these blondies?
Ashley says
Hi, Alexia! I'm so sorry, but there isn't.
Silvia says
Awesome recipe!! I do not have cacao butter in hand, do you think I could use coconut oil?
Thanks! :)
Ashley says
Hi, Silvia! Coconut oil doesn't set the same way that cacao butter does, so it won't turn out the same but you can certainly give it a try. Have a feeling the glaze will be softer and will melt faster at room temperature, but it should be similar enough. Enjoy!
Chloe says
Great recipe, so easy and they taste amazing! Do they freeze well do you know?
Ashley says
I haven't frozen/thawed myself, but I'd imagine they freeze just fine. Thanks for taking the time to come back and share your feedback!
Alex Zarak says
Dear Ashley, I made this recipe and it turned out so beautifully. Best part, my Dad was not feeling too well lately, has been suffering from anemia, but he has asked me for these blondies two days in a row. Told me he felt they were giving him his strenght back. So, thanks a million for that!
Ashley says
Alex, what a touching story this is. Seriously warms my heart. Thank you for taking the time to share it with me. I hope your dad is feeling better!
Paul says
These look awesome! 8x8 pan? I need the recipe for a 9x13 pan!
Ashley says
Haha, right?! Think we all do. :)