Description

Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars are a delightful treat combining creamy peanut butter, rich chocolate chips, and chopped peanut butter cups in a soft, chewy bar. Perfect for peanut butter and chocolate lovers, these bars offer a gooey texture and intense flavor that will wow your taste buds.

Ingredients

Scale

Wet Ingredients

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt

Add-ins

1 cup chocolate peanut butter cups, chopped (such as Reese’s)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to prevent sticking.
Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and peanut butter until the mixture is smooth and fluffy, ensuring a well-mixed base.
Add Eggs and Vanilla: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract to enhance flavor.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until just combined to avoid overmixing which can toughen the bars.
Fold in Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cups: Gently fold in the chopped peanut butter cups and semi-sweet chocolate chips, ensuring even distribution throughout the dough.
Spread Dough in Pan: Spread the cookie dough evenly in the prepared baking pan for uniform baking.
Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs, indicating perfect gooey texture.
Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 15 minutes before slicing into squares to set the texture and make slicing easier.

Notes

Ensure butter is softened for easier mixing and better texture.
Do not overmix the dough after adding dry ingredients to keep the bars tender.
Let the bars cool sufficiently to aid in clean slicing and maintain gooeyness.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for longer shelf life.
For extra gooeyness, slightly underbake by a couple of minutes.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
Category: Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Peanut Butter Cookie Bars, Gooey Cookie Bars, Peanut Butter Cup Bars, Chocolate Chip Bars, Dessert Bars, Easy Cookie Bars