Peanut-butter Finger Bars

As a child, whenever I wanted to get on my dad's "good" side, I made him these. I found that sweetening my father's mood with his favorite dessert always increased my persuasive powers. Granted, it may have contributed to those extra pounds he found himself needing to work off 10 years later, but I had a grand time whipping up a batch just in time for his arrival home from work. My family grew up calling these Peanut-butter Finger bars, but my brother-in-law dubbed then"PBFBs" (pronounced "peebeefeebees"). My husband calls them peanut-butter oatie deliciousness.

These bar cookies have an oat-peanut-butter cookie crust with a chocolate-peanut butter frosting. I prefer them fresh out of the oven, just after the frosting has started to melt. They're super easy and tasty; I often make them when I need to bring a treat to an event, but am short on time or creative ideas. If you like peanut butter, and you like chocolate, (and really, how can you not, after the Milk Chocolate Chunk and Peanut Butter Brownies) these are sure to hit the spot.

Peanut-Butter Finger Bars (aka "PBFBs")
by the Hill Family

Cookie:
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
1 cup quick oats

1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
   
2. In a large bowl, Cream together butter, sugars, egg, peanut butter and vanilla.
   
3. In a separate bowl, mix dry ingredients. Add to the wet ingredients and mix until blended.
4. Pat dough into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Bake 22 minutes, or until golden brown.
   

Topping:
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup peanut butter
3-4 teaspoons milk

1. Sprinkle chocolate chips over HOT crust (it's very important for the crust to be hot!) Let chips melt slightly.
2. Meanwhile, mix powdered sugar, peanut butter and milk. Add more milk for a thinner frosting or less for a thicker frosting.
   
3. Pour the frosting over the melting chocolate chips (you may want to spread the chocolate chips out before adding the frosting; it will make it more even). With a spatula, spread frosting over entire pan, mixing the chocolate and frosting together.
   
4. Let cool slightly and serve.