Classic Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars! These are delicious and decadent bars with loads of peanut butter and chocolate in every bite. They are SO easy it's dangerous! If you love chocolate and peanut butter, you will love these cookie bars.
Okay, this recipe is almost to good to be true! Not only are they delicious and simple to bake, but instead of rolling each cookie out, you get to put them all in a pan and bake them into cookie bars.
The combo of peanut butter and chocolate is a classic that is always a great idea. Whether it's for an after school treat, or a weekend dinner party, these cookie bars are IT!
Let's get to baking!
For more peanut butter recipes, try Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies, Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Bars, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Stuffed Cookie Bars.
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Why this recipe works
- Chewy peanut butter bars- Sometimes peanut butter bars can be dry. Not these ones! They are super chewy and delicious!
- Chocolate chips- They are filled with chocolate chips!
- Easy to make- This recipe is very very to put together. No electric mixer is required!
Ingredients Notes
- Butter - Unsalted works best for baking. Remove from fridge 2 hours before baking.
- Brown sugar - I used light brown sugar and dark brown sugar. You can use either or.
- Chocolate chips - I used semi-sweet, but dark or mini works as well. I think milk chocolate will be to sweet.
- Peanut butter - Use creamy peanut butter. Crunchy peanut butter will make it too dry and natural will be to runny.
- Eggs - Pull these out 2 hours before baking.
Step by step instructions
Here is how to make and bake this Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars. You will need an 8×8 square pan lined with parchment paper, a large mixing bowl, a spatula, and a whisk.
Step 1 - Prep the pan. Grease an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Line two of the sides with parchment paper. Spray again and set aside.
Step 2 - Mix together dry ingredients. In a medium-sized bowl, add in flour, baking soda, and cornstarch. Mix together and set aside.
Step 3 - Mix wet ingredients. In a large bowl, add the melted and slightly cooled butter, light brown sugar, and dark brown sugar. Whisk together until smooth.
Step 4 - Add in more wet ingredients. Add in the eggs and vanilla. Whisk until smooth and air bubbles form, about 1-2 minutes. Then mix in the peanut butter.
Step 5 - Add in dry ingredients. Mix the dry with the wet using a spatula, just until a soft dough forms. Don't over-mix!
Step 6 - Add in chocolate chips. Mix in the semi-sweet chocolate chips until just combined.
Step 7 - Transfer and bake. Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top (optional, but recommended).
Step 8 - Bake. Bake the bars for 28-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs and not batter.
Allow to cool, slice, and enjoy! These peanut butter chocolate chip bars are so scrumptious! They stay good on the counter for a day in an airtight container, and in the refrigerator for 5 days!
Expert Baking Tips
Here are a few expert baking tips from my kitchen to yours
- Use a gram scale. I cannot emphasize this enough! It is the most accurate way of measuring your ingredients in the kitchen. This is one of my favourites.
- Do not over-mix! A big reason bars don’t rise or turn out tough is because the batter is over-mixed. Once you see no flour streaks, stop mixing.
- To make ahead of time: Bake, cool, slice, and store in an airtight container or wrap in foil/saran wrap.
- Use creamy or crunchy peanut butter. Do not use natural peanut butter as it's a lot more runny and will affect the bake!
FAQ
Can I bake these in a 9x9 pan?
Yes, but the bars will be thinner and bake for less time.
Can I use any nut butter?
Yes, as long as it is creamy or crunchy and not natural.
Do I have to add chocolate chips?
No. This is optional.
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1/2 cups light brown sugar*
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cups creamy peanut butter or crunchy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips plus more for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉/176℃. Grease an 8-by-8-inch baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add in flour, baking soda, and cornstarch. Mix together and set aside.1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cornstarch
- In a large bowl, add the melted and slightly cooled butter, light brown sugar, and dark brown sugar. Whisk together until smooth.1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cups light brown sugar*, 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- Add in the eggs and vanilla. Whisk until smooth and air bubbles form, about 1-2 minutes. Then mix in the peanut butter.2 eggs, 1 tsp vanilla, 3/4 cups creamy peanut butter
- Mix the dry with the wet using a spatula, just until a soft dough forms. Don't over-mix!
- Mix in the semi-sweet chocolate chips until just combined.3/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Spread the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle extra chocolate chips on top (optional, but recommended).
- Bake the bars for 28-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out with a few crumbs and not batter.
- Allow to cool, slice, and enjoy! These peanut butter chocolate chip bars are so scrumptious! They stay good on the counter for a day in an airtight container, and in the refrigerator for 5 days!
Adam says
Classic combination and so delicious
Ania says
Hard to beat a classic! Thank you 🔥