Confession – I just finished a bowl of vanilla ice cream with a chopped Reese’s cup, chocolate syrup and caramel sauce. I’ve been thinking about blogging these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars all day and my craving for peanut butter and chocolate was out of control. Craving satisfied. I can now blog about these delicious bars without wanting to eat the screen.
Do I even need to state that peanut butter and chocolate is one of my all-time favorite flavor combinations after the above commentary? I’m a bitembarrassed by the number of starred items in my Google Reader involving peanut butter and chocolate. This recipe was one of those items.
We went to a family reunion in the Western North Carolina mountains over the July Fourth weekend (read about it here and here). There were about 60 people in attendance and our family was in charge of dinner one night. I contributed these bars, brownies and oatmeal raisin cookies to the dessert spread.
These bars were incredible and definitely lived up to my high expectations. Of course, the first night I made them Brandon had to sample them warm with ice cream on top (a recurring theme if you read this blog!). I thought they were great plain. Don’t shy away from adding the salt to the recipe even if you’re using salted peanut butter. The salty/sweet flavor is part of what makes these so good. I will actually probably add a little extra salt next time.
I doubled the recipe to accommodate a 13 x 9 pan. They took quite a bit longer to cook than the original recipe stated so I would recommend checking them every five minutes after the suggested baking time until you reach your desired doneness.
This is definitely the best blondie-type recipe I’ve tried for peanut butter chocolate chip bars and I will be making them again in the future and plan on playing around with mix-ins next time (chopped Reese’s anyone!?).
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
(Recipe source Bake at 350)
Ingredients:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup natural chunky peanut butter, salted or unsalted (I used Trader Joe’s chunky salted)
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt (might want to add a bit more if using unsalted peanut butter)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease an 8 x 8 pan. (Note that I doubled the recipe and used a 13 x 9.)
Whisk together flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream butter and peanut butter together on medium speed until smooth. Beat in the sugars until mixture is lightened in color and fluffy.
Add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition and then add vanilla. Reduce mixer to low speed and slowly add in the flour mixture. Add the chocolate chips, stirring until combined.
Spread the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes. Remember, you might need additional baking time so just keep checking. Cool completely before cutting.
Those look really good I will have to try them!
I love peanut butter too! I think it’s because PB can go sweet or savory, and I’m more of a savory person and my husband is more a sweet person (when it comes to food at least)
I LOVE this recipe!
Dang Jen! This looks a heck of a lot better than my overnight oats I am eating at my desk…I will have to make these sooon!
[…] week since my last update!) so I updated my food blog with these amazing (seriously, make them NOW) Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars. I had been going nonstop for days and really wanted to clean, hang out on the couch and catch up […]
I’ve made similar bars and LOVE these—and I’m totally with you on starring every pb/choc recipe that comes my way 🙂
those are such delicious looking bars!! peanut butter and chocolate is such a wonderful combination…..I’m sure everyone loved them….I know I certainly would!!
How can you go wrong with the peanut butter/chocolate combo??!! My all time favorite as well. These look fantastic, I just might have to whip some up for our evening of Jazz in the Park tomorrow. I’m thinking they will be a big hit!
I made these PB bars for a crowd this weekend and they were a huge success. I also made a double batch and had to cook them about 10 minutes longer. I tried not to get the corners to crunchy.
WordPress just recommended this post to me – and, as a pregnant woman, they were right on target!!!
Thank you! If they are as good as they look, would you mind if I re-post the recipe on my blog? (with credit, of course!)
I love that this was recommended to you and totally hit the spot! 🙂 Please feel free to repost the recipe! They are super delicious. Peanut butter and chocolate is pretty much the best combination ever! 🙂
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OMG, Jen! I just made a double batch of these (half for my friend who just had a baby, half for me and John 🙂 and I had to comment right away to tell you how good they are! I’m definitely making these again, now I see why you make them so often!
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Just wanted to pop in and tell you I’m baking these right now 🙂 Love love love this recipe! Hope you’re doing well!
i just recently found your blogs and love them! This is the perfect find – I was just thinking this morning of baking something today…..and it is printing up right now 🙂
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