Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars

We can't quite call these sinfully rich bars "health food," but with whole-wheat flour, wheat germ, and rolled oats mixed in, they're much more respectable. Prep and Cook Time: 40 minutes.

Yield: Makes 12 bars

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  butter, softened
• 1/3  cup  sugar
• 1/2  cup  light brown sugar
• 1  egg
• 1/3  cup  smooth peanut butter
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla
• 1/4  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1/2  cup  whole-wheat flour
• 1/4  cup  wheat germ
• 1  cup  rolled oats
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1  package (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter with sugars until smooth. Beat in egg, peanut butter, and vanilla until well blended.

2. In another bowl, whisk together flours, wheat germ, oats, baking soda, and salt; stir or beat into butter mixture until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Spread dough evenly in a buttered 8-inch square baking pan. Bake until pale golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool on a rack about 10 minutes, then cut into 12 pieces. Let cool completely.

Note: Nutritional analysis is per serving.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

304 (50% from fat)

Protein:

5.7g

Fat:

17g (sat 8.4)

Carbohydrate:

36g

Fiber:

2.9g

Sodium:

226mg

Cholesterol:

39mg