Description
Get ready for pure comfort in every bite with these incredibly chewy peanut butter chocolate chip bars. This recipe delivers that perfect balance of rich peanut butter cookie goodness swirled with decadent chocolate chips, all baked into a wonderfully soft and chewy bar you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
½ cup unsalted butter, melted
⅓ heaping cup peanut butter*
1 large egg
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips + 2 tablespoons, for sprinkling
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large, microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. This should take about 1 minute on high power.
3. Let the butter cool just a moment before adding the egg to prevent it from scrambling. Then, add the peanut butter, egg, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk everything together until it’s smooth.
4. Add the flour and salt, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
5. Stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.
6. Spread the batter evenly into your prepared baking pan, gently smoothing the top with a spatula.
7. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips over the top of the batter, smoothing them in lightly with your spatula.
8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs (no wet batter).
9. Let the bars cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes before cutting and serving.
10. These bars will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week, or can be frozen for up to 6 months.
Notes
Room Temperature Ingredients are Key: Make sure your butter and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them emulsify properly, creating a smooth batter and ensuring a consistent texture in your bars.
Don’t Overbake: This is probably the most important tip for chewy bars! Overbaking will dry them out and make them cakey instead of chewy. Look for golden brown edges and a center that appears just set. The residual heat will continue to cook them as they cool.
Cool Completely Before Cutting: Patience is a virtue here! Cutting into warm bars can make them fall apart. Allow them to cool completely in the pan to set properly for clean slices.
Accurate Measuring: Especially for flour, over-measuring can lead to dry, crumbly bars. Spoon your flour lightly into the measuring cup and level it off with a straight edge. For the most consistent results, using a kitchen scale is always recommended.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Cuisine: American