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Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

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Pinterest image for peanut butter cookie bars

Thick, chewy, and so easy to make, these peanut butter cookie bars should be on every peanut butter lover’s baking list!

stack of peanut butter cookie bars in front of a bottle of milk

 

Ugh. You guys, I’m getting over a cold and I just don’t feel like doing anything right now. Including trying to write something eloquent about my love for peanut butter. And my love for cookies. And my love for easy desserts.

So please excuse today’s post. I don’t love it.

But I do love these peanut butter cookie bars! They’re so EASY to make—even when you’re hacking up a lung and OD-ing on Cepacol—and they’re chock full of peanut butter (and peanut butter cups!).

Why you’ll love these peanut butter cookie bars

  • Like I said above, they’re super easy to make
  • They use pantry staples so you probably won’t need to make a special grocery trip
  • They’re customizable!  Use roasted salted peanuts, chocolate chips, banana chips—whatever you want in place of the peanut butter cups

How to Make Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

photo collage for how to make peanut butter cookie bars part 1
Combine peanut butter, room temperature unsalted butter, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl.

Baker’s tip: if your butter is cold (like, if it’s right out of the fridge), cut it into small chunks and it will come up to room temperature much faster. You’ll know the butter is ready to use when you can press it with your fingertip and it gives a bit but still holds its shape.

The butter needs to be at room temperature both so the ingredients mix properly and so the cookie bars bake evenly.

Cream the pb, butter, and sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, as shown in the first pic above. Beat in an egg, some whole milk, vanilla, baking soda, and salt until it’s well combined (like in the second pic above). Stop every now and then to scrape the bowl with a rubber spatula.

Beat in flour on low speed until it’s just combined—you don’t want to see large streaks of flour in the dough.

photo collage for how to make peanut butter cookie bars part 2

Use a rubber spatula to fold in chopped peanut butter cups (or another mix-in of your choosing). Press the dough into a foil-lined baking pan and bake about 20 minutes, until the edges of the bars are puffed and golden.

Cool the peanut butter cookie bars completely before slicing and serving.

And dessert is ready! I’d tell you these peanut butter cookie bars beg to be served alongside a glass of milk but that’s frowned upon when one has a cold right? So we’ll just say coffee. (That’s really my preferred beverage anyway.)

Make yourself a batch of cookie bars and a big ol’ cup of coffee today. You won’t be sorry!

More easy desserts (in case you’re hungry)
Chocolate Coconut Bars
Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Bars
Chocolate Caramel Bars

stack of peanut butter cookie bars with one bar in front of the stack

Did you make these peanut butter cookie bars?  Let me know what you think with a comment and a rating below! And post a pic over on Instagram too.  Tag @theitsybitsykitchen so I can see (and share!) your creations!

5 from 1 vote
stack of peanut butter cookie bars with one bar in front of the stack
Print
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
35 mins
 

Thick, chewy, and peanut buttery, these peanut butter cookie bars are pb-lover's dream!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Author: Kelsie
Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter don’t use natural
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature*
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tablespoons whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chopped peanut butter cups** optional
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Line with foil, allowing several inches of excess to hang over the sides. Spray the foil with cooking spray and set pan aside.
  2. Cream the peanut butter, butter, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, milk, vanilla, baking soda, and salt.
  3. Turn mixer to low and beat into the flour until just combined. Fold in the peanut butter cups with a rubber spatula
  4. Press into an even layer in the prepared pan and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until puffed and golden around the edges.
  5. Remove from the oven set pan on a wire rack to cool room temperature. Once the bars have cooled, use the foil to remove the bars from the pan, then slice and serve.
  6. Uneaten cookie bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temp for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Recipe Notes
  • *If your butter is cold, cut it into small chunks and it will come up to room temperature much faster. You’ll know the butter is ready to use when you can press it with your fingertip and it gives a bit but still holds its shape.
  • **If you don’t want to use peanut butter cups you can substitute chocolate chips, roasted salted peanuts, coarsely chopped banana chips, or whatever mix-ins you like.

Related

Comments

  1. Miranda Hicks says

    March 26, 2019 at 1:51 am

    Perfect Recipe. I would try this for sure in my kitchen. And the images you have uploaded looks so mouthwatering.

    Many Thanks!!

    Reply
  2. 2pots2cook says

    March 23, 2019 at 10:06 am

    5 stars
    Thank you for the creation ! Also, I truly hope you get better soon !

    Reply
  3. Marie says

    March 22, 2019 at 9:21 pm

    5 stars
    These cookie bars look delicious. Surely they’ll have you feeling better soon, at least I hope so. Lots of great tips as always. Thanks for a great recipe 🙂

    Reply
  4. John / Kitchen Riffs says

    March 20, 2019 at 8:39 am

    Cold season really stinks, doesn’t it? Hope you’re feeling better soon. I prescribe two of these wonderful looking goodies. Two batches, I mean. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Mary says

    March 19, 2019 at 6:11 pm

    5 stars
    Kelsie Kelsie Kelsie! These peanut butter cookie bars would probably get my boyfriend to propose to me haha. Seriously he just complained that I don’t keep peanut butter in the house. This would be the perfect recipe to SHUT HIM UP! hahaha I love the honesty in todays post, sometimes I just like to get to the point here’s the recipe ( or the craft tutorial) enjoy it 🙂

    Reply
  6. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking says

    March 19, 2019 at 5:35 am

    5 stars
    I have a serious love for all things peanut butter, so these bars are a must make. Love how chewy they look! And I’m all about easy desserts. Hope you’re feeling better soon Kelsie!

    Reply
  7. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

    March 18, 2019 at 5:54 pm

    5 stars
    I’ll be adding these to my weekend baking list for sure Kelsie! I’ve got guests coming, and I bet they’d love these!

    Reply
  8. Cheyanne @No Spoon Necessary says

    March 18, 2019 at 3:53 pm

    5 stars
    Oh no!! I certainly hope you feel better soon! I’ve been nursing the flu for a few weeks now so I completely understand what you mean about not wanting to do anything, especially writing!! Hard to say anything when all you are thinking is “I feel so miserable right now”. Sending all the feel better vibes your way! Now these bars – YUM!!!! I am definitely a peanut butter lover and I mean gimme all the cookies!! So these bars are right up my alley! Delicious! Feel better, doll!

    Reply
  9. Katherine | Love In My Oven says

    March 18, 2019 at 2:01 pm

    Ah, those pesky colds. All you want to do is curl up on the couch, amiright!? I hope you’re having a few of these treats while you’re at it though! You know I’m a HUGE peanut butter fan too! They look amazing! Feel better my lovely friend! XO

    Reply
  10. Marissa says

    March 18, 2019 at 1:55 pm

    5 stars
    I’m so sorry that you’re fighting a cold, Kelsie! No fun…

    But I do see why you love these cookies! I love anything peanut butter, so these are making me want to reach through my screen and swipe one!

    Hope you feel better soon…xo

    Reply
  11. Ben|Havocinthekitchen says

    March 18, 2019 at 11:41 am

    5 stars
    These peanut butter bars look and sound fantastic; love the smooth yet flaky texture. I think I’ve mentioned the Swedish book character named
    Karlsson-on-the-Roof. That guy, every time he was catching a cold (Or just was feeling under the weather. Or just any other time), would say that the best remedy for a cold (AKA the best treatment for any situation) was a cake…or chocolate candy…or cookies…or at least a jar of jam if anything else wasn’t available. I mean you know what you should do to quickly recover, don’t you? Feel better!

    Reply
  12. Carlee says

    March 18, 2019 at 10:48 am

    I feel you on the head cold and the love of all things peanut butter and cookies! Hopefully you feel better soon, in the meantime… have another cookie!

    Reply
  13. annie@ciaochowbambina says

    March 18, 2019 at 10:15 am

    5 stars
    This post ticks all the boxes for me, my friend! Hope you’re feeling better!

    Reply
  14. Laura says

    March 18, 2019 at 10:09 am

    5 stars
    Kelsie – hope you’re feeling better soon! What a drag to have a cold (or worse!) this time of year! But, I’m positively drooling over these bars! On my list! Can’t wait to make them! Feel better, though!

    Reply
  15. Kim Lange says

    March 18, 2019 at 9:39 am

    5 stars
    I’d eat the whole pan of these dreamy treats! These should make you feel better no? 🙂 Hoping you feel better soon Kelsie! Pinning!

    Reply
  16. Milena says

    March 18, 2019 at 7:01 am

    5 stars
    These look great, Kelsie! So sorry to hear you’ve been fighting a cold – hope the cold finally realized it’s time to leave because you have better things to do. Peanut butter cookie bars for example:) I hope to make it to the step where you add flour and continue because that creamy mixture of the butters and sugar looks like the perfect dip for apple slices…Get better my friend, it will be spring in two days:)

    Reply
  17. Kelly @ Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats says

    March 18, 2019 at 5:36 am

    Easy desserts are the BEST! I hope you are feeling better! These PB bars are sure to help 🙂 I love anything with peanut butter and just made some PB bars for Spring Sweets Week that I can’t wait to share! Xoxo

    Reply
  18. David @ Spiced says

    March 18, 2019 at 5:07 am

    5 stars
    Oh no! I hope you feel better ASAP, Kelsie. There’s nothing worse than being sick. We’ve actually got a sick Robbie at home today, and I feel for the little guy. Clearly you’re just sick to show solidarity with Robbie, right? 🙂 These cookie bars look delicious! Chocolate + peanut butter is always a win in my book!

    Reply
  19. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

    March 18, 2019 at 4:23 am

    5 stars
    This time of year sucks because it’s cold season. I hope you get back to yourself soon! Spring is this week, so that’s a plus! These pb cookie bars will surely help! I think they look delicious and there’s definitely no going wrong with pb anything, if you ask me. Pinned. Feel better soon, Kelsie! XO

    Reply
  20. Kelly | Foodtasia says

    March 18, 2019 at 4:16 am

    5 stars
    Kelsie, anything with a Reese’s cup in it and I’m on it! These look so chewy and delicious! Hope you’re feeling better soon!

    Reply
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About

photo of Kelsie Roehl     Hey there! I’m Kelsie and this is where I share my buttery, sugary, and all-around delicious recipes. I LOVE to bake and I want you to love baking too, so all of my recipes are totally do-able for the home baker.  If you need a little dessert in your life, consider this your one-stop shop for anything sweet! Need a little more info? Here you go!

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