these peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars combine two of the best flavors together for an easy, one-bowl dessert that everyone is sure to love.

peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars // cait's plate

Peanut butter and chocolate is a pretty hard combo to beat. But combine that with an easy one-bowl cookie bar and it gets even better!

We’ve had nothing but sunshine here in Florida since we got here so I actually feel okay with the fact that it’s a rainy day today because it gave me a chance to stay inside, get cozy and whip up these babies!

Friday baking is becoming a bit of a tradition for me and I have to say I kind of like it! It’s a fun little afternoon project for Owen and I that mixes up the rush of the usual weekday routine.

There’s something so calming and cathartic about baking to me. I can slowly go through the motions, tasting as I go to make sure it’s exactly what I want it to be and then we have a fun dessert to munch on all weekend long (which comes in particularly handy if we happen to have company or friends stop by because we have something to serve them!)

Being on vacation, I had limited ingredients and equipment to work but as soon as I saw we had peanut butter & chocolate chips, I knew these were going to be what I made! Now the house smells wonderful and we have dessert all ready for tonight!

peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars

Author: Cait
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 20 bars 1x
Category: dessert
Method: bake

Description

these peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars combine two of the best flavors together for an easy, one-bowl dessert that everyone is sure to love.

Scale

Ingredients

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature or softened
1 cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3/4 cup unsalted creamy peanut butter (see note)
2 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.
In a large mixing bowl, add room temperature (or softened) butter and sugars. Use an electric hand mixer or a stand mixer and cream together until light and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes).
Add in eggs, one at a time beating each for 30 seconds.
Add in vanilla and peanut butter and beat for another minute or until combined.
Place a wire sifter over the large mixing bowl containing the wet ingredients. Into the sifter add flour, baking soda and salt.
Sift into the wet ingredients then use a rubber spatula and gently fold together until just combined (it’s okay if a few flour chunks remain).
Fold in chocolate chips, stirring until no more flour chunks remain then turn dough out into prepared baking pan and use the spatula to evenly spread throughout the pan.
Bake for 20-22 minutes or until edges are lightly browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Notes

If using natural peanut butter, ensure it has been stirred and refrigerated so that the oil is not separated out from the nuts.
Bars will keep for about 3 days in an airtight container on the counter or 3 months in a freezer safe bag in the freezer.

Keywords: chocolate chip, cookie bars, peanut butter, dessert