If you have a serious sweet tooth and a love for peanut butter and chocolate, you’re going to fall head over heels for this Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe. Imagine soft, buttery cookie bars with pockets of melty peanut butter cups and swirls of rich chocolate, all wrapped up in a gooey, irresistible texture. These bars are the perfect treat to satisfy cravings anytime, and they come together with simple ingredients that create maximum flavor and gooey delight. You’re not just making dessert—you’re creating moments of pure joy in every bite.
Ingredients You’ll Need
These few, essential ingredients combine to give the Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe its signature taste and texture. Each one brings something special—whether it’s the creamy richness of peanut butter, the sweet depth of brown sugar, or the melty heaven of peanut butter cups and chocolate chips.
- Unsalted butter (½ cup, softened): Adds rich, creamy moisture for a tender, buttery base.
- Creamy peanut butter (½ cup): Brings that classic peanut flavor with smooth, luscious texture.
- Brown sugar (1 cup, packed): Adds caramel notes and keeps the bars super moist.
- Granulated sugar (¼ cup): Balances sweetness and helps with browning.
- Large eggs (2): Bind the ingredients and add structure for perfect chewiness.
- Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon): Enhances and rounds out all the flavors beautifully.
- All-purpose flour (1 ½ cups): The sturdy backbone that holds everything together.
- Baking powder (½ teaspoon): Gives a gentle lift to keep the bars from being dense.
- Salt (¼ teaspoon): Elevates the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors.
- Mini peanut butter cups (1 cup, halved): The star ingredient that adds bursts of chocolate-peanut butter magic.
- Semi-sweet chocolate chips (½ cup): Add melty pockets of chocolate perfection.
- Sweetened condensed milk (½ cup): Creates that signature gooey, luscious texture that makes these bars unforgettable.
How to Make Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Pan and Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lining an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper. Leaving a slight overhang on the sides will make it so much easier to lift out your bars once they’re baked and cooled. It’s a small step that saves time and keeps your bars perfectly intact.
Step 2: Cream the Butter, Peanut Butter, and Sugars
In a large bowl, combine the softened butter, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar. Beat these together until the mixture looks light and fluffy. This is a crucial step to ensure your cookie bars have that perfect tenderness and richness. Once creamed, add the eggs and vanilla extract, beating until everything is smooth and fully combined.
Step 3: Mix Dry Ingredients and Combine
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring just until everything is incorporated. Be careful not to overmix here; you want your bars to be tender, not tough.
Step 4: Assemble the Bars
Spread about two-thirds of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared pan, creating a solid base. Then, sprinkle the halved mini peanut butter cups and semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly on top, adding those pockets of irresistible chocolate and peanut butter goodness. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the filling layer to lock in that gooey texture. Finally, drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the top and gently spread it out to partially cover the filling—this layering trick is what makes these bars so spectacular.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Bake your masterpiece for 28 to 32 minutes until the bars turn a gorgeous golden brown and the center is just set. If you love gooey bars as much as I do, keep an eye on them and consider slightly underbaking for an even softer center. Once done, let the bars cool completely right in the pan before slicing—cooling is key to getting those clean, perfect squares.
How to Serve Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe
Garnishes
While these bars absolutely shine on their own, you can take them to the next level by adding a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted chocolate on top. Toasted chopped peanuts sprinkled over the bars bring a delightful crunch and highlight the peanut flavor, making each bite a little celebration.
Side Dishes
These bars pair wonderfully with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to contrast the rich, gooey texture with some light creaminess. A hot cup of coffee or a glass of cold milk are also perfect sidekicks that complement these bars beautifully.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, try serving the bars warm in small ramekins with extra peanut butter cups and chocolate chips on top, almost like a gooey dessert skillet. Alternatively, cut them into bite-sized squares for party platters, or sandwich them with a layer of peanut butter frosting for decadent dessert bars.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
You can keep leftover bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. They will stay moist and gooey, making them perfect for a quick snack or dessert anytime during the week.
Freezing
If you want to keep these bars around longer, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to three months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw them overnight in the fridge so the gooey texture stays just right.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked softness and gooey deliciousness, simply warm individual bars in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds or pop them in a low oven for a few minutes. This little reheating trick makes them taste like they just came out of the oven.
FAQs
Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy?
Yes, you can! Using crunchy peanut butter will add a little extra texture to the cookie bars, making each bite even more interesting with crunchy peanut bits throughout.
What type of peanut butter cups should I use?
Mini peanut butter cups work best because they distribute evenly throughout the bars, but feel free to chop your favorite size. Just be mindful of the thickness to ensure everything bakes evenly.
Can I substitute the sweetened condensed milk?
Sweetened condensed milk is key to the gooey texture, but you could experiment with caramel sauce or homemade dulce de leche for a different twist. Keep in mind this will slightly change the flavor and thickness.
Is it necessary to line the pan with parchment paper?
While not absolutely necessary, lining the pan with parchment makes removing the bars super easy and keeps them from sticking. It also helps in slicing cleaner bars without crumbling.
How do I prevent the bars from overbaking?
Keep a close eye during the last few minutes of baking. The bars should be golden around the edges and just set in the middle. Slightly underbaking and allowing them to cool completely helps maintain that signature gooey texture.
Final Thoughts
There is something truly special about the Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe that makes it a go-to for peanut butter lovers everywhere. From the simple ingredients to the melty, luscious layers, these bars bring joy with every bite. If you’ve been searching for a dessert that’s as satisfying as it is comforting, go ahead and give this recipe a try—you’re going to love sharing it with friends and family (or keeping it all to yourself!).
Print
Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars combine the rich, creamy flavors of peanut butter and chocolate into a decadent, soft-baked dessert. These bars feature a buttery, slightly chewy cookie base layered with mini peanut butter cups, chocolate chips, and a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk for an irresistibly gooey texture. Perfect for parties or an indulgent treat, these bars are easy to make, requiring just one baking pan and simple ingredients.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Filling & Topping
- 1 cup mini peanut butter cups, halved
- ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, ensuring there is a slight overhang on the sides to easily lift out the bars after baking.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for your dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs one at a time along with the vanilla extract until the ingredients are well combined and the mixture is uniform in texture.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt to ensure an even distribution of leavening and seasoning throughout the dough.
- Mix Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry flour mixture to the wet ingredients, mixing just until combined to avoid overworking the dough which can make the bars tough.
- Assemble the Bars: Spread two-thirds of the cookie dough evenly into the prepared baking pan, creating a solid base layer. Then evenly sprinkle the halved mini peanut butter cups and semi-sweet chocolate chips over this dough layer. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the peanut butter cups and chocolate chips for added gooeyness.
- Add Remaining Dough: Drop spoonfuls of the remaining cookie dough over the filling layer. Gently spread this out slightly to partially cover the peanuts, chocolate, and condensed milk without fully sealing the layers.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 28 to 32 minutes or until the bars turn golden brown and the center is just set but still soft for gooey texture.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before using the parchment overhang to lift them out and slice into 16 equal bars for serving.
Notes
- For an ultra-gooey texture, slightly underbake the bars and cool completely before cutting.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
- These bars can be frozen for up to 3 months; thaw at room temperature before serving.
