One of my husband’s favorite treats is peanut butter bars. They are frequently requested in place of cake for his birthday. Since receiving his celiac diagnosis over a year ago, they are one of the things that he hasn’t been able to eat. I made a goal to dive into gluten-free baking this year. One of the first things I decided to master was gluten-free peanut butter bars.
Related: Gluten-Free Snack and Meal Ideas for Celiac Disease
I tried a few different recipes, replacing regular flour with gluten-free flour. The first few pans I made were good but seemed a little dry. I added extra fat, in the form of peanut butter, to my most recent batch. That little bit of extra peanut butter fixed the texture issues. It also added more flavor to the entire pan of peanut butter bars.
The other challenge with gluten-free peanut butter bars is the oats. Oatmeal has the risk of cross-contamination, from flour flying around the factory where it is produced. Luckily, gluten-free oats are available for those with a severe gluten allergy. Even though my husband doesn’t regularly eat oatmeal, we make sure to have gluten-free oats on hand. We use gluten-free oats for baking things like No Bake Cookies and these Peanut Butter Bars. You can find good gluten-free oats for baking, here.
1/4 cup + 2 tsp. unsalted butter softened
1/2 cup + 2 tsp. brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (plus more for frosting)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour (I suggest using this one for the best texture and results)
2 cups oatmeal (be sure they’re gluten-free, like these ones)
Cream together butter, sugars, and eggs. Add in peanut butter and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Sift together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add dry ingredients, including oatmeal, to the peanut butter mixture and blend well.
Spread the peanut butter dough/batter into a jelly roll pan (approximately 10×15″). Bake at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes.
While still warm, spread a thin layer of peanut butter over the top. After the bars have cooled and the top peanut butter has hardened, spread chocolate frosting on top.
Related: Tips to Keep Gluten from Ruining Date Night
My only challenge since mastering this gluten-free recipe is getting my husband to share. Other members of my husband’s family are gluten-free. I decided to share these yummy gluten-free treats with them. They loved them, but I had a grumpy husband because I gave away some of his treats. When the kids ask to share his treat, he’ll hesitantly share, but I can tell he doesn’t really want to.
Related: How to Support a Spouse with Dietary Restrictions
I’d suggest making one pan, just for your gluten-free loved one. And make a second pan to share with others around you. Delicious gluten-free goodies can be hard to come by. When you find a gluten-free treat that you enjoy, it’s next to impossible to share. Especially when it’s one of your favorite foods, to begin with.
