Monster Bars
My husband and I recently returned from our annual canoe trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness on the border of Minnesota and Canada (learn more about our BWCA experiences here). The first time we visited the Boundary Waters, the outfitter sent us out on our journey with a couple of hefty bars loaded with peanut butter and oatmeal. The outfitter called them “monster bars.” Ever since, monster bars have become a staple for our canoe adventures. After a long day of paddling and portaging, nothing tops off the evening like a Monster Bar for dessert. You’ve gotta eat calories in order to burn calories, right? Below is my version of the peanut-buttery-goodness that is a monster bar.
Ingredients
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1-1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
2 tsp baking soda
4-1/2 cups oats
1 cup peanut butter M&M’s
1 cup regular M&M’s
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F
Line a 9” x 13” pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray
In the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl with an electric hand-held mixer, cream together the butter, peanut butter, and sugars until combined and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time. Mix until combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the oats and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until thoroughly combined.
Stir in the M&M’s
Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. If desired, press an additional handful or so of M&M’s into the top of the poured batter.
Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove and let cool completely before cutting into squares.
Monster Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 cups oats
- 1 cup peanut butter M&M’s
- 1 cup regular M&M’s
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- Line a 9” x 13” pan with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, or a large bowl with an electric hand-held mixer, cream together the butter, peanut butter, and sugars until combined and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and eggs, one at a time. Mix until combined.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the oats and baking soda. Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until thoroughly combined.
- Stir in the M&M’s
- Pour batter into the prepared pan and spread into an even layer. If desired, press an additional handful or so of M&M’s into the top of the poured batter.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove and let cool completely before cutting into squares.
