These peanut butter bars are mushy, chewy cookie bars stuffed with chocolate chips. Baked in a jelly roll pan, they’re a easy, shareable vacation favourite.
Each Christmas my cousin would convey a tray of those peanut putter bars, and so they shortly turned a staple at our vacation gatherings similar to my mother’s finest Christmas cookies and bars. They’re fast and straightforward to make, baked in a sheet pan, and reduce into squares for sharing.
Peanut butter and chocolate chips are a traditional pairing, similar to in my thick peanut butter chocolate chip cookies. In bar kind, although, they’re even simpler to make, and very similar to my chocolate chip cookie bars, they slice up fantastically and at all times disappear quick.
Why You’ll Love this Straightforward Recipe
- Taste and texture: Softened butter and creamy peanut butter create a mushy, chewy cookie bar with simply the proper richness. Gooey chocolate chips soften into each chunk, making them irresistible.
- Easy to make: They arrive collectively in beneath an hour with primary pantry staples. No have to roll out dough, simply press the batter right into a jelly roll pan and bake.
Ingredient Notes
- Flour: All goal flour provides the bars construction and retains them mushy and chewy. I’ve not examined these with gluten free flour.
- Baking powder and salt: A little bit baking powder helps the bars rise barely, whereas the pinch of salt balances the sweetness.
- Butter: Use softened unsalted butter for the perfect texture. It blends easily with the sugar and peanut butter.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar retains the bars gentle in coloration with a crisp edge.
- Peanut butter: Clean and creamy peanut butter works finest for an excellent texture and wealthy taste. Keep on with a no-stir selection since pure peanut butter with oil on prime could make the bars end up greasy.
- Egg: One room temperature egg provides moisture and simply binds the substances collectively.
- Vanilla: Enhances the flavour and pairs completely with peanut butter.
- Chocolate chips: Semi candy chocolate chips or chunks soften into gooey pockets of chocolate in each chunk of the peanut butter bars.
Learn how to Make Peanut Butter Bars
To begin, whisk collectively the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl. This helps take away any lumps and blends all the things evenly.
In a big bowl, beat the softened butter with the sugar till it seems to be gentle and fluffy. Add the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla, and preserve mixing till clean.
Stir the dry substances into the moist combination a bit at a time till simply mixed then fold within the chocolate chips, however don’t overmix.
Press dough evenly right into a jelly roll pan lined with parchment paper. Bake till flippantly golden. Cool within the pan then reduce into squares and serve.
recipe suggestions
- Combine gently: Cease stirring as quickly as you now not see streaks of flour. Overmixing could make the peanut butter chocolate chip bars powerful.
- Don’t overbake: The bars are prepared when the perimeters flip flippantly golden and the middle seems to be simply set. They may proceed to agency up as they cool, and baking them too lengthy will make them dry and crumbly.
- Straightforward peanut butter measuring: Calmly grease your measuring cup so the peanut butter slides proper out. Simply keep away from utilizing an excessive amount of oil or spray.
- Pan alternative: A steel pan bakes a bit sooner than glass, so examine for doneness a minute or two early.
Variations
- Crunchy peanut butter: Swap in crunchy peanut butter for those who like extra texture in every chunk.
- Completely different chocolate: Strive milk chocolate chips and even M&Ms for a enjoyable twist.
- Thicker bars: Bake the dough in a 9×9-inch pan as a substitute of a jelly roll pan. The bars will likely be thicker, so add just a few further minutes to the baking time.
- Brown sugar swap: Change 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar with brown sugar for a chewier bar with a touch of molasses taste.
- Different nut butters: My cousin at all times made these with peanut butter, however you might attempt almond butter or one other no-stir nut butter for a barely totally different taste.
These peanut butter bars are wealthy, satisfying, and extremely simple to make, making them excellent for sharing or retaining available for candy cravings. Take pleasure in them chilled or at room temperature for a easy deal with that’s certain to vanish quick.
- 2 cups all goal flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup peanut butter (clean)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 giant egg
- 12 ounces chocolate chips or chunks (semi candy)
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Pre-heat the oven to 350F/190C. Line an approximate 15×10 inch / 38×25 cm baking sheet or jelly roll pan
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In a medium bowl whisk collectively the flour, salt and baking powder.
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In a big bowl or stand mixer bowl cream the butter and sugar for two minutes, add the peanut butter, vanilla and egg and mix. Add the dry substances ½ cup at a time, mixing on low, with a spatula or your palms, when nearly mixed add the chocolate chips and mix. Do not over combine.
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Unfold the dough on the ready pan, (I discovered it best to position the dough within the pan after which lay a sheet of parchment paper on prime and press down, then take away the paper). Bake for roughly 18-20 minutes or till flippantly browned, do not over bake. Cool within the pan on a wire rack. Lower into bars. Take pleasure in!
Learn how to retailer the peanut butter bars.
Preserve the bars in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 3 days, or refrigerate for a few week or freeze them by wrapping them tightly and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for as much as 2 months and thaw at room temperature earlier than serving.
Energy: 146kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fats: 8g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Trans Fats: 0.1g | Ldl cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 49mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 78IU | Calcium: 16mg | Iron: 0.4mg | Phosphorus: 39mg
recipe FAQs
No, you’ll be able to depart them out for those who choose. The bars will nonetheless have loads of peanut butter taste, or you’ll be able to swap in one other mix-in like nuts or dried fruit.
Most frequently it’s as a result of they have been baked too lengthy. Control the perimeters, as soon as they flip flippantly golden and the middle seems to be set, take them out in order that they keep mushy and chewy.
Preserve the bars in an hermetic container at room temperature for as much as 3 days, or refrigerate for a few week.
Sure, these bars freeze effectively. Wrap them tightly and place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Freeze for as much as 2 months and thaw at room temperature earlier than serving.
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