Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars โ ๐ค๐ซThese soft and chewy peanut butter chocolate bars are loaded with chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter which is always a winning combination! This is a QUICK and EASY one-bowl dessert that everyone just loves!
Table of Contents
Soft and Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
I have so many peanut butter dessert recipes on my blog, but you can never have too many. Thatโs what I tell myself anyway.
When I want an easy, fuss-free recipe that I know everyone will love, I call upon my trusty blondie base. With 35+ versions and counting, it never lets me down.
Itโs an easy recipe to memorize because everything is โoneโ. In the 1 bowl used, melt 1 stick of butter, stir in 1 egg, 1 cup of brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla, and 1 cup flour.
For these peanut butter chocolate chip bars, I added 1 cup chocolate chips and peanut butter. The only thing thatโs not โoneโ is the amount peanut butter (1/3 cup).
I made these peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars in a hot, un-airconditioned kitchen which contributed to the melty look!
These peanut butter chocolate chip bars are super soft, slightly chewy, buttery, and peanut buttery. Between the butter and the peanut butter, theyโre super moist and just melt in your mouth.
Thereโs an abundance of chocolate in every bite. Thereโs no other way to do chocolate other than in abundance. These peanut butter bars were definitely worth heating my house up for.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Ingredients
For this chocolate peanut butter dessert recipe, youโll need:
- Unsalted butter
- Peanut butter
- Egg
- Brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Chocolate chips
Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
I love how quick and easy these chocolate chip peanut butter bars are to whip up! Hereโs an overview of how the bars come together:
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, vanilla, brown sugar, and peanut butter.
- Stir in the flour and chocolate chips and mix until just combined.
- Turn the batter into a greased 8ร8-inch pan and sprinkle a few more chocolate chips on top for good measure.
- Bake the peanut butter chocolate chip bars until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Youโll need to let them cool in the pan for 30 minutes before slicing and serving (I took these photos in Aruba on a very hot day, so my bars were pretty melty).
Recipe Tips
Glass vs. metal pans: For this recipe, I used a metal 8ร8-inch pan. If you bake with a glass pan, it may alter your bake time since metal conducts heat better than glass.
Flour: Iโve never made these peanut butter chocolate chip bars with anything other than all-purpose flour, so I canโt speak to whether gluten-free flour or whole wheat flour would work for this recipe. Same thing goes for egg replacers.
Vanilla: If desired, you can scale back on the amount of vanilla you add to these bars. I always add at least 2 teaspoons of vanilla to my baked goods because I love the flavor it lends to any bar or brownie I make, but feel free to adjust the amount to suit your personal tastes.
Recipe FAQs
Can I Double This Recipe?
Yes, you can easily double the ingredients in this recipe and bake these peanut butter chocolate bars in a 9ร13-inch pan. Just note that the bake time will differ, so keep an eye on your bars near the end of their bake time.
Can I Bake the Bars in a 9ร9-Inch Pan?
This recipe calls for an 8ร8-inch metal baking dish. If you only have a 9ร9-inch pan on hand, thatโs fine. Just note that the bars will be thinner and that youโll need to reduce the bake time.
Can I Use Oil Instead of Melted Butter?
No, oil canโt be substituted for the melted butter in this recipe. Your bars wonโt have the correct texture if you use oil!
Can I Use Another Kind of Chocolate Chips?
Of course! You can use peanut butter chips as well in these peanut butter bars, or you can chop up a chocolate bar if you donโt have chips on hand. White chocolate chips are also tasty with peanut butter.
Can I Use Another Nut Butter?
Iโve only made the peanut butter bars recipe as written. You might be able to use another nut butter if itโs a no-stir variety, but I canโt say for sure. Cookie butter and almond butter would by my two suggestions. Leave me a comment below if you try it out and the recipe works for you!
Can I Use a Natural Peanut Butter?
No, you donโt want to use natural peanut butter for these peanut butter chocolate chip cookie bars as it has a tendency to be too oily or to separate. You want to use a peanut butter brand like Jif, Skippy, or Peter Pan.
What Readers Are Saying
This recipe was originally published in August of 2014 and I am sharing it again for newer readers. At that time I had a small child and now I have a high schooler. Time truly does fly!
Readers love these peanut butter chocolate chip bars! Here are just a few of the 5-star reviews that have been left on this recipe.
โIโve made these twice in the last 2 weeks and they are easy, absolute yumminess! I used 2 tsp. vanilla extract, and definitely be sure to cool (though it was hard for my sweetie to resis!) at least 30 minutes before serving to give the bottoms time to cool and set up a bit. Great recipe I will make and share again and again!โ โ Amy Miller
โ10/10 recommend!!! Came together super fast and was delicious! Thank you!โ โ Jerica Debruzzi
โThese are amazing! Rich and delicious. I doubled the recipe for a 9ร13 pan. Based on a previous suggestion in the comments, I used a full cup of Jif vs 2/3 cup (for the doubled recipe). The edges baked up perfectly crispy and the middle was rich and kind of fudgy. Make it and enjoy!โ โ Jen
โAmazing!!! Iโve already made this 3 times and they are just so delicious. Thank you for the recipe.โ โ Eva
โI made this recipe for the first time today. I love it! I did use natural PB but it was a no stir version. I had to bake them for closer to 30 mins where I live. Definitely going to use this one again! Thanks for the recipe.โ โ Alicia
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Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
- ยฝ cup unsalted butter, melted
- โ heaping cup peanut butter*
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ยฝ teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips + 2 tablespoons, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you donโt scramble it. Add the peanut butter, egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, salt, and stir until just combined, donโt overmix.
- Stir in 1 cup chocolate chips.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula.
- Sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, smoothly the top lightly with a spatula.
- Bake for about 20 to 25 minutes, or until done. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean, or with a few moist crumbs, but no batter. Allow bars to cool in pan for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
- Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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More Chocolate Peanut Butter Desserts:
ALL OF MY PEANUT BUTTER RECIPES!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Bars โ Canโt decide if you want PB or chocolate? Make these easy no-bake fudge bars! Chocolate + PB is sooo irresistible!!
Peanut Butter Cup Bars โ The bars are super soft, slightly chewy, buttery, and have plenty of peanut butter flavor with enough chocolate to balance it.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars โ he bars are soft, chewy, and filling. Theyโre definitely on the denser side and if youโre looking for a hearty, comfort food breakfast, youโve found it.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars โ Nutter Butter crust, chocolate pudding, and peanut butter cream cheese filling! Easy, almost no-bake, and beyond AMAZING! Lives up to their dreamy name!
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Toffee Bars โ Thick, rich, decadent cookie bars made with chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, creamy sweetened condensed milk, and crunchy toffee bits!
Peanut Butter Blossom Bars โ Just like the classic cookies except made as cookie bars rather than individual cookies. Bars are faster, easier, thereโs no dough to chill, theyโre made in one bowl, and you donโt need a mixer.
Salted Caramel Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars โ The bars are made with salted caramel peanut butter and theyโre super soft, slightly chewy, easy, and you donโt need a mixer.
Originally posted August 29, 2014 and reposted June 17, 2022 with updated text.
Thank you for saving me again! I had a baking โsituationโ. Your recipe bailed me out! Averie to the rescue.
If I wanted to use this recipe to make cookies instead of bars, would I modify any ingredients?
Iโm glad that I helped save you from your baking โsituationโ with this recipe! You would not want to make cookies with this recipe though โ the batter is too loose and they would not turn out.
For great peanut butter cookies, https://www.averiecooks.com/tag/peanut-butter-cookies/ I have a couple dozen options you can see what looks best to you.
Everybody really loved it!
Next time, if I want to substitute white sugar for brown, how do I do it?
Thanks for the 5 star review and I am glad they were loved by all! Which begs the question, why would you want to change anything about the recipe? I personally would just keep making them the way the recipe was tested and written. Iโve never made this recipe with white sugar because it wonโt have the same texture or flavor. Perhaps 1/2 cup each brown and white โcouldโ work, but I have not tried it to see.
Thank you for your response!
I asked because I was out of brown sugar and needed to make it urgently for guests coming home.
Does it make a difference if the PB is smooth or chunky?
I prefer smooth for this but you could perhaps use chunky if thatโs all you have.