Irresistible Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe

Peanut butter cup gooey cookie bars combine decadent ingredients that promise an irresistible dessert experience.

Sweet and salty flavors dance together in this indulgent treat that redefines classic ingredients into something extraordinary.

Chocolate and peanut butter create a harmonious blend that melts perfectly within a soft, chewy base.

Each bite delivers a rich, creamy texture that satisfies deep cravings for comfort food.

Dense and luxurious, these bars elevate the traditional cookie into a more complex and exciting dessert.

Layers of contrasting textures make this recipe a standout among typical sweet treats.

You’ll love how simple ingredients redefine into something truly spectacular when combined with creativity and care.

Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars That Are Soft and Sticky

• Indulge in Decadent Layers: These bars offer a mouthwatering combination of soft cookie dough, creamy peanut butter filling, and rich chocolate peanut butter cups that create an irresistible multi-textured dessert experience.
• Quick and Easy Homemade Treat: With simple ingredients and straightforward mixing steps, home bakers can effortlessly prepare these gooey bars in under an hour, making them perfect for spontaneous sweet cravings or last-minute dessert needs.
• Crowd-Pleasing Comfort Dessert: The familiar flavors of chocolate and peanut butter appeal to both kids and adults, making these bars an excellent choice for family gatherings, potlucks, bake sales, or casual weekend treats that everyone will love.
• Customizable Crowd-Pleaser: Bakers can easily modify the recipe by swapping peanut butter cups with different candy varieties or adjusting the sweetness level, offering flexibility for personal taste preferences and dietary adaptations.

Must-Have Ingredients for Cookie Bars with PB Cups

• Unsalted Butter: Provides rich flavor and helps create a soft, tender texture in the cookie bars.
• Granulated Sugar, Light Brown Sugar: Sweet components that add depth of flavor and help with caramelization and moisture.
• Eggs: Binding agent that adds structure and richness to the cookie base.
• Pure Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor with its warm, sweet aromatics.

• All-Purpose Flour: Primary structure and body for the cookie bars, creating a sturdy yet soft base.
• Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and provides a light, tender texture.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances the overall flavor profile.

• Chocolate Chips: Adds extra chocolate bursts throughout the cookie bars.
• Miniature Peanut Butter Cups: Provides rich peanut butter chocolate pieces for intense flavor.
• Sweetened Condensed Milk: Creates a gooey, creamy layer that adds moisture and sweetness.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: Introduces classic peanut butter flavor and contributes to the rich, decadent texture.

How to Make Gooey Bars with Peanut Butter Cups

Step 1: Prepare Baking Station

• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Line 9×13 inch baking pan with aluminum foil
• Spray foil thoroughly with nonstick cooking spray

Step 2: Create Cookie Dough Base

• Melted butter
• White sugar
• Brown sugar
• Eggs
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Baking soda
• All-purpose flour
• Chocolate chips

Mix melted butter with sugars until smooth. Add eggs one at a time, blending completely. Stir in vanilla, salt, and baking soda. Gradually incorporate flour until thick dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips evenly.

Step 3: Develop Creamy Peanut Butter Filling

Combine sweetened condensed milk with peanut butter, whisking until silky and uniform.

Step 4: Assemble Initial Layer

Press half of cookie dough into prepared pan, creating an even bottom layer.

Step 5: Add Peanut Butter Cup Surprise

Arrange miniature peanut butter cups across dough layer, gently pressing them down.

Step 6: Spread Peanut Butter Mixture

Pour condensed milk and peanut butter mixture over cups, ensuring complete coverage.

Step 7: Top with Remaining Dough

Crumble remaining cookie dough across the top, spreading to cover filling layer.

Step 8: Bake to Perfection

Bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown and center looks set.

Step 9: Cool and Set

Allow bars to cool completely in pan for clean cutting and stable texture.

Step 10: Slice and Serve

Cut into squares and enjoy at room temperature for maximum flavor enjoyment.

Tips for Perfect Gooey Layers and Edges

• Chill Dough Smartly: Refrigerate cookie dough for 15-20 minutes before pressing into the pan to prevent sticking and make spreading easier.
• Layer with Precision: Press peanut butter cups gently into the first dough layer to ensure they're evenly distributed and partially embedded.
• Control Condensed Milk Drizzle: Pour sweetened condensed milk mixture slowly and carefully to prevent overflow and create a clean, even layer.
• Prevent Overbaking: Check bars at 25 minutes and look for golden edges with a slightly soft center to maintain that gooey, decadent texture.
• Cutting Technique: Use a sharp, clean knife and wipe the blade between cuts for neat, precise bar squares that showcase the beautiful layers.

Save and Reheat Cookie Bars with Soft Centers

Refrigerate: Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, keeping them fresh and maintaining their delicious texture.

Freeze: Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months, perfect for a make-ahead treat.

Reheat: Thaw frozen bars in the refrigerator overnight, then let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to restore their gooey, soft consistency.

Pairing Treats for Gooey Peanut Butter Bars

• Elevate with Milk Pairing: Cold, creamy whole milk perfectly balances the rich, sweet chocolate and peanut butter flavors, cutting through the dense, gooey texture of the cookie bars.
• Complement with Coffee: A smooth, medium-roast coffee with subtle caramel notes provides a warm contrast to the sweet dessert, enhancing the chocolate and peanut butter complexity.
• Match with Dessert Wine: A sweet port or moscato wine offers a luxurious accompaniment, its fruity undertones harmonizing with the decadent chocolate and nutty peanut butter layers.
• Refresh with Herbal Tea: Chamomile or mint tea can cleanse the palate, offering a light, soothing counterpoint to the intense, indulgent cookie bar flavors.

Fun Variations of Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

• Chocolate Almond Fusion: Swap peanut butter cups with chopped almonds and dark chocolate chunks, creating a rich, nutty variation that offers a sophisticated flavor profile.
• Caramel Coconut Dream: Replace peanut butter filling with caramel sauce and sprinkle toasted coconut flakes on top, delivering a tropical-inspired dessert with sweet, complex layers.
• Berry Cheesecake Remix: Substitute peanut butter cups with fresh raspberries and swirl cream cheese mixture between cookie dough layers, introducing a tangy and fruity dimension to the classic recipe.
• Salted Pretzel Crunch: Crush pretzels and mix into cookie dough, then top with salted caramel drizzle, transforming the bars into a sweet and salty sensational treat that provides delightful texture contrast.

Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars Recipe

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4.8 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Indulgent peanut butter cup gooey cookie bars blend rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter in a heavenly dessert. Layers of sweet, melty goodness promise to satisfy chocolate and peanut butter cravings with each irresistible bite.

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Ingredients

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Dry Ingredients:

• 3 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup light brown sugar, packed

Wet Ingredients:

• 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 (14 ounces/397 grams) can fat-free sweetened condensed milk

Mix-ins:

• ¾ cup chocolate chips
• 30 miniature peanut butter cups

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Instructions

1. Warm the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13″ baking pan by lining it with foil and coating with nonstick spray.
2. Combine melted butter with both sugars in a large mixing bowl, stirring until thoroughly blended.
3. Incorporate eggs individually, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Blend in vanilla, salt, and baking soda until fully integrated.
4. Fold in flour gradually to create a thick cookie dough, then gently mix chocolate chips throughout the mixture.
5. Create a silky peanut butter filling by whisking sweetened condensed milk with peanut butter until smooth and consistent.
6. Evenly distribute and firmly press half of the cookie dough across the bottom of the prepared pan, creating a solid base layer.
7. Delicately position miniature peanut butter cups across the dough layer, lightly pressing them into the surface.
8. Drizzle the peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk mixture over the peanut butter cups, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
9. Crumble the remaining cookie dough across the top, attempting to cover the milk layer as comprehensively as possible.
10. Bake for 30-35 minutes until the surface turns golden brown and the center appears set.
11. Allow the bars to cool completely within the pan, which helps them solidify and maintain structural integrity.
12. Once fully cooled, slice into individual squares and serve at room temperature for maximum flavor enjoyment.

Notes

• Crumbled cookie dough creates a delectable top and bottom crust that cradles sweet, creamy peanut butter filling.
• Miniature peanut butter cups nestled between layers provide surprise bursts of chocolate and peanut butter in every decadent bite.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 299
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 140 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 31 mg