Description
These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars combine rich, creamy peanut butter with sweet chocolate chips for a chewy, decadent dessert that’s easy to make and perfect for any occasion. With a soft center and golden edges, these bars deliver classic cookie flavor in a convenient bar form.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Add-ins
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removing the bars easier.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter and creamy peanut butter until smooth and fully combined. This creates the base for your cookie bars.
- Add Sugar and Flavorings: Stir in the brown sugar, mixing well to incorporate it evenly. Then add the egg and vanilla extract, continuing to mix until the batter is smooth and homogenous.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to the wet mixture. Mix gently just until the dough comes together; be careful not to overmix to keep the bars tender.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Add the semi-sweet chocolate chips and fold them into the dough evenly to distribute the chocolate throughout the bars.
- Spread Dough and Bake: Transfer the dough into your prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly to ensure uniform baking. Bake in the preheated oven for 22–25 minutes, or until the edges turn golden and the center is set but retains some softness.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan, which will help them set properly. Once cooled, cut into 12 bars and serve.
Notes
- For a gooier texture, slightly underbake the bars and chill before slicing.
- Add chopped peanuts if you want extra crunch in the bars.
- Swap semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate chips for a richer flavor.
- Store bars in an airtight container for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
