Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

Packed with lots of chocolatey, peanut buttery flavor, these chocolate peanut butter bars are delectably soft, thick and utterly decadent. Prepared with a sprinkle of good cocoa, lots of chocolate chunks, plus a hefty scoop of peanut butter in the batter, this recipe for chocolate peanut butter bars is a favorite to bake up when a craving for that irresistible combination of chocolate and peanut butter hits!

Peanut Butter Bars Loaded with Chocolate

No joke, I love a good cookie.

Thick, soft, and loaded with comforting sweetness (and perhaps even still a bit warm, fresh out of the oven!), a cookie can be the perfect grab-n-go dessert to nibble on with a cold glass of cold milk or a strong, hot coffee.

But when a good cookie can be turned into a thick, decadent bar, then things get seriously (and deliciously) taken to another mouthwatering level.

I guess you could call it “raising the bar” on cookies!

And so, a while back I had a severe hankering for homemade, freshly baked, soft peanut butter cookies, utterly stuffed with milk chocolate chunks, so I set out to make some...

And when all was said and done, I found myself unable to eat just one (or even two, in full disclosure) because of the unique texture and super-duper peanut buttery flavor.

So after a little thought, I figured these cookies would be perfect candidates to be turned into nice, thick bars, making them a bit more substantial to sink one's teeth into, not to mention a little more fancy and extra decadent with the addition of extra chocolate drizzled over top.

How could extra chocolate ever be a bad thing, right...?

So if you're a lover of that perfect combination of peanut butter and chocolate like I am, these simple and scrumptious chocolate peanut butter bars are pure bliss.

They're a sweet little treat to share with your loved ones, or to keep tucked away in a little secret stash in your kitchen or office, perfect for when the craving comes around for that chocolate and peanut butter match made in heaven!

My Recipe for Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

What makes these bars so extra tempting and pleasurable to eat is their texture…

Loaded with extra amounts of peanut butter, there's a unique, almost sand-like quality to the softness of the bar, which gives them that irresistibly decadent quality—you can't have just one bite...I've tried!

And to bring in that deep, rich chocolate flavor, I add in a touch of cocoa powder into the dry ingredients, then fold in milk chocolate chunks to melt throughout the batter while baking.

Adding even more melted chocolate over top of the finished bars doesn't hurt either!

Then there's the addition of warm vanilla and brown sugar, which give these chocolate peanut butter bars that little extra depth and darker sweetness—perfect with a cup of coffee or cold glass of milk!

Here's a sneak peek at my chocolate peanut butter bars recipe: (or just jump to the full recipe...)

1. To get started, I mix together my dry ingredients, and set those aside.
2. Then, I add my room temp butter and peanut butter to the bowl of a standing mixer, and cream or beat those two together until fluffy.
3. Next, I add in the sugar, followed by the eggs, and continue to mix.
4. Then, the dry ingredients are added, followed by the chocolate chunks, and mixed until combined.
5. I bake the bars for roughly 35 minutes.
6. When done, let them completely cool before cutting into bars and drizzling over the melted chocolate.

Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

Soft and thick, these chocolate peanut butter bars loaded with chocolate chunks are the ultimate chocolate and peanut butter lover's treat!

Category: Dessert
Cuisine: American

Yield: 12 cookie bars

Nutrition Info: 425 calories per bar

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 35 minutes
Total time: 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temp
• ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• 8 ½ to 9 ounces (about 1 ½ cups) milk chocolate chunks
• ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, melted for drizzling (optional topping)

Preparation:

1. Begin by gathering and prepping all of your ingredients according to the ingredient list to have ready and organized for use.
2. Preheat oven to 350°, and line a 11 by 9 by 1 ½ inch baking dish or pan with enough parchment paper or foil for there be to a bit of an overhang on the sides, and lightly mist with cooking spray. (You can use a 9 by 13 pan, but the bars will be thinner.)
3. Prepare your dry ingredients by whisking together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt, and set aside for a moment.
4. To prepare the dough, add the room temp butter and the peanut butter to the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, and cream or beat together until fluffy and well blended, about 1 to 2 on medium-low.
5. Next, add in the brown sugar, and cream for a few moments more until fluffy and well combined.
6. Add in the egg, and once incorporated, add in the vanilla extract, and mix to combine.
7. Reduce speed to low, and add the dry ingredients, and mix just until combined (take care not to over mix).
8. Add in the milk chocolate chunks, and mix once more to combine.
9. Spoon the dough into the prepared pan, and smooth it out to make it even. Then, place into freezer to chill for 15 minutes.
10. Bake for about 35 minutes, or until soft but baked through.
11. Allow things to cool in the pan for about 20 minutes, then lift out with the parchment paper or foil, and allow to completely cool before cutting into bars.
12. To decorate, drizzle the melted semi-sweet chocolate chips over the cooled and cut bars for a little added flair and deeper chocolate flavor, if desired.

Tips & Tidbits for my Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars recipe:

• Good quality milk chocolate chunks, or chips: For these decadent bars, I'm opting for chocolate chunks here, for a more textured bar. I like milk chocolate for these, but you can use semi-sweet or dark chocolate, if preferred. You can even chop up several chocolate bars of your choice into chunks, if you'd like.
• Rich, creamy peanut butter: I like to use organic, natural, creamy peanut butter here, but feel free to use your own favorite brand or variety. If using natural, be sure to mix the peanut butter very well to incorporate the oil in the jar very well with the peanut butter, so you get a smooth, blended consistency.
• Light brown sugar for depth: That little bit of molasses in the brown sugar adds a nice depth to these bars, so I'm opting for that in the recipe. You can also use dark brown sugar, or even a combination of brown and granulated (white) sugar, if desired.
• How to store chocolate peanut butter bars: These stay nice and soft for a few days, especially if you keep them on a covered plate or in a covered container. Room temp for these bars is best, though we sometimes like to freeze them and eat them that way for a decadent cold peanut butter bar. You can also freeze any leftovers for another time by adding to a large ziplock bag. Simply defrost the bars at room temp when ready to enjoy again.

Craving more sweet, cozy treats? Check out my recipe for Trail Mix Cookie Bars, Brownie Cake, Mexican Hot Chocolate Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies with Roasted Hazelnuts, or my recipe for Double Chocolate Chip Muffins!

Cook's Note: This recipe was originally published in 2014, and has been updated with even more love!