O’Henry Bars

Are you craving something sweet and salty for dessert? These O’Henry Bars will satisfy that craving! Their chewy oatmeal base is covered with a smooth peanut butter chocolate topping, combining your favorite flavors in one tasty dessert!

The nostalgia is real with this family favorite dessert. Reminiscent of the discontinued Oh Henry Candy Bars, this vintage recipe is popular for a reason! These dessert bars make a great after-school snack, potluck dessert, or make a delicious addition to your holiday cookie trays!

The Inspiration: Oh Henry Candy Bars

The original chocolate bar was created by the Williamson Company and has a colorful history, with many theories about the origin of its fun name and no definite answers! No matter where the name came from, it’s a delicious treat! The Oh Henry Bar was made with crunchy peanuts, chewy fudge, and creamy caramel, all covered in a milk chocolate coating. Sadly, these bars are no longer available in the US.

That’s where this homemade recipe comes in! This is one of my favorite recipes because it reminds me of my grandma. She made these all the time when I was young, and my mom made them on holidays, too!

I chose to create a sweet oatmeal base like a granola bar and use peanut butter instead of whole peanuts in my bars. That way, you get all the satisfaction of the original candy bars in a smooth, chewy homemade treat!

Ingredients for Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

You need a handful of simple ingredients to make this sweet treat:

1/3 cup butter, room temperature

½ cup brown sugar

¼ cup light corn syrup

1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

2 cups uncooked oats- rolled or quick oats

½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

How to Make O’Henry Bars

These homemade bars come together in just a few easy steps:

Oatmeal Base

First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch baking pan with cooking spray or use a piece of parchment paper to line the bottom of the pan.

Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl. Add corn syrup and vanilla, then mix to combine thoroughly. Add oats and stir to coat.

Press the oatmeal mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer on the bottom. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.

Remove the bars from the oven and place them in the refrigerator to cool for about 10 minutes.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer

While the oatmeal bars are baking, use the double boiler method to melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in a small bowl over a small saucepan containing an inch of simmering water. Stir over low heat to combine.

Pour the melted chocolate and peanut butter mixture over the cooled oatmeal bars and spread to the edges of the pan.

Place back into the refrigerator to solidify. Cut into squares and serve!

Be sure to read the recipe card down below for complete list of ingredients and instructions!

Can I use milk chocolate chips instead?

If you like sweeter chocolate, you can absolutely use milk chocolate chips instead of semi-sweet chips.

Can I use crunchy peanut butter?

I recommend creamy peanut butter as it combines smoothly with the chocolate. You can use crunchy instead, but you will have texture in your chocolate topping.

Are O’Henry Bars the same as Scotcharoos?

While you might see similar recipes called by that name on other blogs, O’Henry Bars are NOT Scotcharoos. Scotcharoos have a cereal base (usually Rice Krispies or Cornflakes) and the topping is a combination of chocolate and butterscotch chips (hence the “scotch” in Scotcharoos!)

Can I make these ahead of time?

Oh Henry Bars can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Just make sure to keep them in an airtight container.

Can you freeze O’Henry Bars?

You can freeze O Henry Bars for up to a month. Make sure to thaw them completely before serving.

How do I store O’Henry Bars?

Store these dessert bars in an airtight container at room temperature. If I’m going to stack them, I always put a layer of wax paper or parchment paper in between so they don’t stick together. These should be good for 3-4 days, IF they last that long!

More Delicious Bar Recipes

I love making bar desserts, as they are so quick and easy to make! Here are some of my favorite dessert bar recipes:

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are perfect for fall and so delicious!

Funfetti Oreo Cheesecake Bars are a great treat for a birthday or other fun party!

Toffee Coconut Oatmeal Bars are another sweet and salty treat that also makes a great snack!

Funfetti Ooey Gooey Bars are like a cake batter blondie- just full of sweet goodness!

Snickerdoodle Bars take the classic cookie and simplify it by making one big slab of snickerdoodles at once!

Happy Baking!

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This post was originally published as Day 204 on September 8, 2011, when I was doing my original 365. It has been updated in format and with picture on April 5, 2024.

The post O’Henry Bars appeared first on 365 Days of Baking.