These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are a real treat. They're super easy to make and taste amazing. You just mix peanut butter, butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, then add flour, baking powder, and salt. Throw in some peanut butter and chocolate chips, and you're good to go. Pop it in the oven, and soon you'll have a warm, gooey dessert that's hard to resist. It's perfect for when you want something sweet but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen.
Get ready to enjoy a really good treat with these hard-to-resist Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. These tasty goodies mix the classic flavors of peanut butter and chocolate in a soft, chewy bar that's just right for satisfying your sweet tooth. Whether you're looking for a quick dessert to whip up for a family get-together or just want to treat yourself to something special, these bars are sure to hit the spot.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
There are so many reasons to fall in love with these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. First off, they're super easy to make. Unlike regular cookies that need scooping and lots of batches, these bars are just pressed into a pan and baked all at once. This means less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your yummy creation!
Another great thing about this recipe is how you can use it for different things. These Peanut Butter Dessert Bars are perfect for any occasion. They're casual enough for an after-school snack but can also be dressed up for a potluck or bake sale. Plus, they're a crowd-pleaser that both kids and grown-ups will love.
The combo of peanut butter and chocolate is a classic for a reason, and these bars show it off perfectly. The peanut butter gives a rich, creamy base, while the chocolate chips add bursts of sweetness throughout. It's a match made in dessert heaven!
Ingredients You'll Need
Before we jump into the baking process, let's take a closer look at the ingredients that make these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars so special:
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter: This is the main ingredient, giving that iconic peanut butter flavor we all love. Make sure to use creamy peanut butter for the best texture.
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened: Butter adds richness and helps create that just the right texture. Make sure it's softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
- ¾ cup granulated sugar: This sweetens the bars and helps create a crisp outside.
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed: Brown sugar adds moisture and a deeper flavor to the bars.
- 2 large eggs: Eggs hold the ingredients together and help with the structure of the bars.
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract: A touch of vanilla makes all the other flavors taste better.
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour: This forms the base of our Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
- 1 teaspoon baking powder: This helps the bars rise a bit and stay soft.
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt: Salt balances the sweetness and makes the overall flavor better.
- 1 ½ cups peanut butter chips: These add extra peanut butter flavor and a fun texture to the bars.
- 1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips: The perfect partner to the peanut butter, these chips melt a little during baking for pockets of soft and melted chocolate goodness.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Now that we've got our ingredients ready, let's walk through the process of making these tasty Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Treats:
- Preheat and Prepare: Start by heating your oven to 375°F (190°C). While it's warming up, line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper. This will make it easy to lift the bars out once they're cooled.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a big bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and sea salt. This makes sure that the baking powder is spread out evenly in the flour. Set this mixture aside for now.
- Cream Butter and Peanut Butter: In another big bowl (or the bowl of a stand mixer if you have one), mix together the softened unsalted butter and creamy peanut butter. Beat them until they're well combined and smooth. This step is important for creating a creamy base for your bars.
- Add Sugars: Slowly add both the granulated sugar and brown sugar to the butter-peanut butter mixture. Mix until everything is well blended and the mixture looks light and fluffy. This process adds air into the batter, which helps create a lighter texture in the finished bars.
- Incorporate Eggs and Vanilla: Add the eggs to the mixture one at a time, making sure each is fully mixed in before adding the next. This helps make sure you get a smooth batter without mixing too much. After the eggs, mix in the vanilla extract. The vanilla will make all the other flavors taste even better.
- Combine Wet and Dry Ingredients: Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined. Be careful not to mix too much at this stage, as that can lead to tough bars.
- Add the Chips: Gently fold in the peanut butter chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips. You want them to be spread out evenly in the dough, but be careful not to mix too much.
- Prepare for Baking: Press the dough evenly into your prepared baking pan. Use a spatula or your hands to make sure it's spread to all corners and has a pretty smooth top.
- Bake: Put the pan in your preheated oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes. You'll know they're done when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick stuck into the center comes out clean (or with just a few moist crumbs).
- Cool and Cut: Once baked, take the pan out of the oven and let the bars cool completely in the pan. This is important as it lets the bars set properly. Once cooled, use the parchment paper to lift the entire sheet of bars out of the pan. Place on a cutting board and cut into squares of whatever size you like.
Tips for Great Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
To make sure your Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars turn out great every time, here are some helpful tips:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your butter, eggs, and peanut butter are at room temperature before you start. This helps them mix together more easily and creates a smoother batter.
- Don't Mix Too Much: When adding the dry ingredients to the wet, mix until just combined. Mixing too much can lead to tough, dense bars.
- Spread It Out Evenly: When pressing the dough into the pan, try to make it as even as possible. This makes sure that all parts of your bars bake at the same rate.
- Check Early: Every oven is different, so start checking your bars a few minutes before the recipe suggests. They're done when the edges are golden brown and a toothpick stuck in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs.
- Cool All the Way: Try not to cut into your bars right away! Letting them cool completely helps them set up properly and makes them easier to cut.
Different Ways to Make It
While these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are tasty as is, don't be afraid to try new things! Here are some different versions you might want to try:
- Nutty Version: Add a cup of chopped peanuts or other nuts for extra crunch.
- Triple Chocolate: Replace the peanut butter chips with white chocolate chips for a triple chocolate treat.
- Peanut Butter Cup Bars: Chop up some peanut butter cups and add them to the batter for an extra yummy twist.
- Salted Caramel: Drizzle some salted caramel sauce over the cooled bars for a sweet and salty flavor burst.
- Banana Boost: Mash a ripe banana and add it to the batter for a fruity twist on these peanut butter treats.
Storing Your Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
These bars are so good, they might not last long! But if you do have leftovers, here's how to store them:
- Room Temperature: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-4 days.
- Refrigerator: For longer storage, keep them in the fridge for up to a week. Just be sure to bring them to room temperature before eating for the best texture.
- Freezer: These bars freeze well! Wrap them individually in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature when ready to enjoy.
The Perfect Treat for Any Time
Whether you're looking for an easy dessert to bring to a potluck, a special after-school treat for the kids, or just want to satisfy your own sweet tooth, these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars are the perfect choice. They're easy to make, really tasty, and sure to be a hit with everyone who tries them.
So why wait? Grab your ingredients and get baking! Your kitchen will soon smell amazing with peanut butter and chocolate, and you'll have a batch of yummy bars ready to enjoy. Happy baking!