Chewy Brown Butter Oatmeal Creme Pie Bars
I wrote this post as part of the Plugrá Butter Brigade. Thanks, Plugrá, for sponsoring this post and for making my favorite butter!
My visit to Chicago last year didn’t convince me that I’d ever love winter, but it did awaken some tiny sliver of me that could bear it. The icy river and cozy coffee shops in Geneva made me realize that the cold could be part of a packaged season instead of just a temperature.
Let’s help each other get ready for winter. What are your favorite things about this time of year? What makes you feel cheery even in the dark and cold? What makes it festive or fun or cozy or special for you? I’ll start us off, and you can add to the list in the comments below!
Things that make me love winter:
- Getting hot coffee drinks in the morning. I love holding the warm cup and seeing my breath on the air, taking warming sips.
- Wearing giant cozy sweaters and snuggling into them all day.
- Not dying after hot yoga like I do in the summer.
- Eating pumpkin and gingerbread and spice cakes and other holiday treats.
- Hearing Christmas music and seeing Christmas decorations around town.
- Snow days off from school where I can sit and watch a silent snowfall out of my apartment window.
Add your favorite parts of winter below! And if spice cakes and holiday treats make your list, these bars are a perfect pick-me-up. I browned my favorite Plugrá butter (which has less moisture content, so there’s less to evaporate as it browns) and bloomed my favorite winter spices in it before continuing with the recipe. The resulting chewy oatmeal bars are topped with cloudlike marshmallow buttercream that trounces the crusty stuff you find in the boxed cookies. Enjoy!
One year ago: Maple Cream Snickerdoodle Bars
Two years ago: Chocolate Poke Cake with Whipped Coconut Icing
Three years ago: Broiled Southern Pimiento Cheese
Four years ago: One-Skillet Gooey Pumpkin Cookie Cake
Five years ago: How to Make 27+ Cheesecakes and Look Awesome While Doing It
Six years ago: Gâteau aux Noix
- 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 cup unsalted Plugrá butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsulphered molasses
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup quick-cooking oats
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted Plugrá butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- one 7-ounce jar marshmallow creme
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Brown the butter and bloom the spices: Measure the cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves into one small prep bowl so they’re ready. Melt the butter over medium heat in a small, heavy saucepan. Turn the heat up to medium-high, swirling the butter and scraping the bottom of the saucepan with a wooden spoon as it browns. When it’s brown (but before it burns — don’t take your eyes off of it!), remove it from the heat and add in the spices, swirling to mix. Pour the spiced butter out into a large mixing bowl and set it aside to cool to room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare an 8-inch square baking pan with a parchment paper sling and spray it lightly with cooking spray. Whisk the egg, brown sugar, molasses, vanilla, and salt into the brown butter. Stir in the oats and then stir in the flour until just combined. Pour the mixture into your prepared baking pan and smooth out the top. Bake it for 24-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bars comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Let the bars cool completely.
- To make the cream, whip the butter until fluffy. Cream in the powdered sugar for 2-3 minutes. Add the jar of marshmallow creme, vanilla extract, and salt and beat until combined and fluffy. Frost the bars with about half of the frosting using the back of a spoon and cut into squares to serve with extra frosting alongside to add if desired. Store in an airtight container.
Anton
November 8, 2015 at 9:25 pm (9 years ago)I’m that weird person who enjoys the early dark, and the cold. It makes me feel good somehow. I love being able to wear long sleeves, and the cold cold days with bright sunlight and wind. Also, everyone spiced with cinnamon and cloves.
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables
November 9, 2015 at 7:54 am (9 years ago)My favorite part of winter is getting to see so many friends and family members from out of town!! 🙂 These oatmeal creme pie bars definitely remind me of spending time at my grandparents house 🙂
Marietta
November 9, 2015 at 8:25 am (9 years ago)I love to ride around after a winter storm and look at the “winter wonderland”. Sometimes I get out my camera and take some pictures for my southern friends. And, of course, hot coffee and good movies!
Gunn Iren Müller
November 9, 2015 at 8:53 am (9 years ago)Looks great! Is there a say to make marshmallow cream from scratch? I can’t but IT here.
Julie Ruble
November 9, 2015 at 9:27 am (9 years ago)Hi Gunn! I found this and it looks perfect! http://www.browneyedbaker.com/homemade-marshmallow-creme-recipe/
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
November 9, 2015 at 9:51 am (9 years ago)I haven’t eaten breakfast yet…and now I know why. I was subconsciously hoping to have these! They look amazing. I just tried Plugra over the weekend and now I am obsessed! Pinned!
Deborah
November 9, 2015 at 12:52 pm (9 years ago)Well, I’m not a winter fan at all – which is a shame because I live in Utah! But I could definitely use a batch of these to get me through the winter!
Peabody (Culinary Concoctions by Peabody)
November 9, 2015 at 2:51 pm (9 years ago)Oh, these sound wonderful! And of course, Plugra is the best. 🙂
Jane S
November 9, 2015 at 6:10 pm (9 years ago)Well, I hate cold weather… but I do love soup! And I make a lot of it in the winter! These bars love wonderful, Julie. Can’t wait to try them!
Juli
November 10, 2015 at 6:33 am (9 years ago)I love going to bed early in a bed made up with flannel sheets and a big, fluffy comforter.
Amanda
November 10, 2015 at 10:11 am (9 years ago)I love the food that comes along with winter, but I also love to be curled up in a chair with coffee and a good book, while it snows outside. Perfect! These bars look so amazing! That frosting looks hard to resist!
Lori @ RecipeGirl
November 10, 2015 at 7:28 pm (9 years ago)These amazing dessert bars are going on my fall baking list! So delicious!
Joanna
November 10, 2015 at 8:53 pm (9 years ago)Since we live in the South Pacific most of the time, coming back to cooler weather is delightful! Drinking hot chocolate, being able to warm my cold toes on my husband, snuggling under blankets while reading books with my kids, lighting candles when the dusk steals in each afternoon, all of these things make me smile. And now these oatmeal bars are another reason to smile 🙂
Amy | Club Narwhal
November 11, 2015 at 11:48 am (9 years ago)Oh man, I live in Michigan and still don’t think I’ll ever be a winter person (growing up in CA will do that to a girl ;). However, the first snow fall is kind of divine, as are cozy winter foods!
Jenni
November 13, 2015 at 7:55 am (9 years ago)YUM! These bars look so amazing – that marshmallow cream just seals the deal!
I love big chunky warm sweaters, snuggling up in blankets to read a book, and drinking hot drinks all day long!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
November 14, 2015 at 8:54 am (9 years ago)Too much frosting? No such thing! I love that cold weather means I can feel totally justified staying in my pajamas inside my house all day!
Julie m.
November 17, 2015 at 7:03 pm (9 years ago)I love the winter holidays! Yummy food, family gatherings and fun tours of Christmas lights. This time of year is my favorite for sure. ???? These bars look incredible. Beautiful recipe Julie.