Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars are soft and chewy peanut butter cookie bars swirled with melted chocolate chips. The perfect easy dessert!

I sure love a good bar recipe. They are so much easier than making cookies but just as delicious. No need to chill the dough or portion each one out or even worry about if they spread too much or hold their shape. They are just perfect each and every time.

With these, we were all craving peanut butter and chocolate. Fortunately, my friend shared with me this recipe that she had been making for years it was just perfect.

I love this recipe because it was one I had enjoyed for a good long time each time my friend would bring a treat over for potlucks. It is an old Amish recipe she had clipped from a newspaper decades ago.

I had been begging her to share the recipe with me so I could share it here. Fortunately she finally did. I was so thrilled to not only be able to make them myself whenever we wanted them- but to also be able to pass it along to you all here.

peanut butter chocolate chip bars

Here are some commonly asked questions

Do I need to chill the dough?

For this bar recipe, it isn’t necessary- that is what is so great about bar recipes. No chilling required! However, you can make this dough ahead of time and refrigerate it until you are ready to bake.

Then just add a couple more minutes to the baking time to account for the cold dough.

Can I use another nut butter?

While I have only made this using peanut butter – I would imagine that if you wanted to use a cashew or almond butter it could work.

The issue would be if the consistency, fat content and oil amounts are similar so everything blends and bakes well. If you do give this a try – please let me know how they turn out.

peanut butter cookie bars

How to soften the butter to room temperature?

First

There are a couple of ways to do this. The first being that you can take the butter (& any other ingredients that need to be at room temperature) out, leave it on the counter for about 30 minutes while you prep for baking.

I usually start with all my chilled ingredients and pull everything I need out onto the counter before getting started – so I know for sure I have everything before I’m mid-way through I realize I’m out of something.

But sometimes it’s winter and that isn’t enough time to get the ingredients warmed up – OR – I’m just not that organized to plan ahead. It happens. So I have another couple of tricks.

Second

I place the butter in the microwave – wrapped in the paper. (don’t do this if it is wrapped in foil) Then I microwave for 2 seconds – flip – go another 2 seconds – flip again – and continue for 2 seconds on each side.

This is usually enough to get it perfect – sometimes stopping before if it feels soft enough. Take care when doing this method – overly softened butter from the microwave WILL ALTER the end result of the recipe. Don’t over-do it.

Third

My third method is to place the wrapped butter sticks in a zip-top bag and place it in a bowl of warm water. I do this with the eggs too. If the water isn’t too hot it can be THE PERFECT way to get “room-temperature” ingredients.

Can I use natural peanut butter?

Unfortunately, natural peanut butter has too much oil for these bars to hold together. Also, keep in mind that you want to use peanut butter that is nice and thick.

If the brand you are using tends to be really soft and sort of runs off the knife when you are using if for things like sandwiches – then the bars will have a harder time holding together. You want the peanut butter to be on the firmer side.

peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars

How to make Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2. Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and sugar until fluffy.
4. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix well.
5. In a small bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt.
6. Gradually add the flour mixture to wet ingredients and mix well.
7. Spread the batter into the prepared baking dish in an even layer.
8. Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the batter.
9. Bake for 5 minutes, remove and run a knife through the chocolate chips several times in any desired pattern.
10. Return to the oven and continue baking for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Under bake slightly for softer cookies, a little longer for crispy.
11. Remove to a wire rack to cool.
12. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Why do the ingredients need to be at room temperature?

Room temperature ingredients help to ensure that everything blends together perfectly. You don’t want any pockets of unblended butter. You want everything evenly disbursed for the perfect texture.

When your dairy products are at room temperature, they can create an emulsion. It’s essential to have an emulsion because air gets trapped, so the baked goods expand and get fluffy as it bakes.

chocolate chip peanut butter

Ingredients for Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

• peanut butter creamy
• unsalted butter – softened
• brown sugar – packed
• granulated sugar
• eggs – room temperature
• vanilla extract
• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• salt
• chocolate chips – semi-sweet or milk

Should I use light or dark brown sugar?

Since I make my own brown sugar, I use light brown sugar for almost all of my recipes. But light or dark brown sugar will work in this recipe.

Want to know how to make your own brown sugar – visit my Homemade Brown Sugar post here.

Don’t miss these other great peanut butter recipes…

• peanut butter blossom cookies
• no-bake peanut butter pie
• 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies
• peanut butter cookie cups
• no-bake peanut butter balls
• peanut butter whip brownies
• peanut butter chocolate brownie cookies
• no-bake peanut butter and jelly bars

chocolate chip cookie peanut butter bars

• peanut butter – creamy
• unsalted butter – softened
• brown sugar – packed
• granulated sugar
• eggs – room temperature
• vanilla extract
• all-purpose flour
• baking powder
• salt
• chocolate chips – semi-sweet or milk
• baking pan
• mixer
• spatula
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons

peanut butter cookie bar recipe

If you love this Easy bar recipe, you’re going to love these other treats too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

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