Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and generously spray an 8×8 inch pan with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, microwave peanut butter and honey until smooth and fluid, about 1 minute. Sprinkle coconut sugar on top and let stand for 5 minutes. Do not mix the coconut sugar in (see note below).
3. While sugar stands, combine oatmeal, oat flour, powdered peanut butter, protein powder, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and roasted peanuts in a large bowl until well combined. Set aside.
4. Once peanut butter/sugar mixture has been standing for 5 minutes, beat with an electric mixer until well combined.
5. Add vanilla extract and egg yolk and beat again until well combined. The egg yolk will thicken the peanut butter mixture up quite a bit.
6. Pour peanut butter mixture, along with almond milk and mini chocolate chips, into oatmeal mixture. Mix until well combined. Dough will be very thick.
7. Press into prepared pan and bake until it appears just set and edges begin to turn golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely before slicing and serving.
8. For the optional topping, once bars have cooled, melt chocolate in the microwave in 20-second intervals on 50% power, stirring between each interval until chocolate is smooth and melted. Stir in protein powder and drizzle on the bars.
9. Devour.

Note: Coconut sugar is a little bit coarse, and letting it sit for 5 minutes helps it slightly dissolve. If you use brown sugar, skip this step and go right into beating the sugar and peanut butter.