Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars Recipe
These Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars combine rich, creamy peanut butter with sweet chocolate chips for a decadent, chewy treat. Perfectly balanced between salty and sweet, they feature layers of cookie dough and swirls of peanut butter, baked to golden perfection. Easy to prepare and great for sharing or snacking any time of day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 24 bars (approximately 2x2 inch pieces)
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups light brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
Add-ins
- 3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking dish with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easy.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a mixing bowl, beat the softened butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until the mixture is creamy and smooth. This usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs and vanilla extract into the butter and sugar mixture, beating until fully blended and the batter is smooth.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour and baking soda to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Fold in Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Layer Dough and Peanut Butter: Spread half of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish using your fingertips. Dollop spoonfuls (teaspoon or tablespoon size) of creamy peanut butter over this first layer—do not spread it out.
- Add Top Layer of Dough: Carefully cover the peanut butter dollops with the remaining cookie dough. It’s fine if some peanut butter shows through.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 24 to 28 minutes, or until the bars are golden and set around the edges.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan before slicing into bars. This helps the bars set and makes cutting easier.
Notes
- Use traditional creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy for the best texture and flavor; natural peanut butter may not give the same results.
- Do not spread the peanut butter layer; dropping it in dollops creates a creamy swirl throughout the bars.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing to prevent them from falling apart.
- Store bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 7 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- If using unsalted butter instead of salted, add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt to the dry ingredients to enhance flavor.
