Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
These Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are perfectly thick, soft, and chewy! You better make plenty - they disappear fast!
Servings: 24 bars
Equipment
Ingredients
For the cookie bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 ¼ cups light brown sugar packed
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ cup peanut butter
For the chocolate frosting
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup butter softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons water
Instructions
For the cookie bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cream butter, brown sugar, and peanut butter together until creamy. Add in eggs, vanilla, and salt. Combine flour and baking powder with dough and continue mixing for another 30 seconds, dry ingredients are mixed in with the dough. Using a rubber spatula, spread the dough mixture into a lightly sprayed 13x9-inch baking pan.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the dough sets. (It will begin to turn golden brown).
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool before frosting.
For the frosting and topping
- In a medium bowl, cream powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and butter. Add in vanilla and water. Mix until all ingredients are well combined and frosting will be smooth and creamy. If the frosting is too thick, add a teaspoon of water to thin. Use a rubber spatula to frost bars.
- Cut bars into squares. Serve.
Notes
- If desired, top with Reese’s pieces, chopped peanut butter cups, M&M’s candies, or chocolate chips.
- Frosting and toppings are not needed. These bars are delicious by themselves.
- If using salted butter, you could omit the salt from the recipe, or lower it to just a pinch.
- I have never made this recipe with crunchy peanut butter because my family likes smooth cookies, but I would imagine it would also work.
Nutrition
Serving: 1bar | Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 31mg | Sodium: 115mg | Potassium: 79mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg
