Peanut Butter-Oatmeal Brownies With Peanut Butter Frosting

• cup butter or 1 cup margarine, softened↗1 cup
• cups white sugar↗1 1⁄4 cups
• cup brown sugar, packed↗1 cup
• large eggs↗2
• teaspoons maple extract (or use 2-3 teaspoons vanilla)↗2 teaspoons
• cups peanut butter↗1 1⁄4 cups
• cups large-flake oats↗2 cups
• cups flour↗2 cups
• teaspoon cinnamon↗1⁄2 teaspoon
• teaspoon baking soda↗1 teaspoon
• cup chopped peanuts (optional)1⁄2 cup

  optional

• PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING
• cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened↗1⁄2 cup
• cup creamy peanut butter↗1 cup
• tablespoons milk (more as needed, or use whipping cream)3 tablespoons
• cups confectioners' sugar↗2

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Set oven to 350 degrees.

2. 2

   Set oven rack to second-lowest position.

3. 3

   Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking pan.

4. 4

   In a large bowl using an electric mixer cream the butter or margarine with white and brown sugar until well creamed.

5. 5

   Mix in the peanut butter.

6. 6

   Add in eggs and maple or vanilla extract; mix until well blended (about 3 minutes).

7. 7

   In a bowl combine the flour with oats, baking soda and cinnamon; add to the creamed mixture and mix until well combined.

8. 8

   Mix in chopped peanuts.

9. 9

   Transfer to baking dish, then spread out evenly (the mixture will be quite thick so use you hands to spread in the dish).

10. 10

    Bake for about 20-22 minutes.

11. 11

    Cool completely before frosting.

12. 12

    For the frosting; in a bowl beat butter or margarine and peanut butter until fluffy using an electric mixer.

13. 13

    Gradually mix in confectioners sugar, when the mixture stars to get thick add in the milk or cream a tablespoon at a time until a desired spreadable consistency is achieved.

14. 14

    Spread over the cooled brownies.

15. 15

    Cut into bars.