People, listen to me. These chocolate peanut butter bars are amazing. My son, a connoisseur of such things, says these are the best!
I was in the mood to bake, and these chocolate peanut butter bars didn’t disappoint!
It’s been awhile since I’ve creamed together butter and sugar, measured out flour, and lined baking pans with parchment. Too long, in fact.
I’ve been cooking up a storm, but haven’t had a lot of time for baking. So sad, right?
Not too worry, though. My mixing bowls are currently soaking away in the sink, measuring cups stacked here and there, and the flour is everywhere. I don’t care, though. Baking makes me happy and these peanut butter bars don’t hurt either.
Imagine peanut butter cookie dough smeared in a baking dish and then baked to perfection. Delicious, I’m sure, but why stop there? Pour on the gooey, fudgy chocolate frosting and all your dreams will come true.
Peanut Butter Bars with Chocolate Frosting
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Bars:
- 6 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 largee eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
For the chocolate frosting:
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips milk chocolate or semi-sweet
Instructions
For the Peanut Butter Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x9 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Cream the butter and peanut butter together. Add in the sugar and beat until well combined. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Mix in to the peanut butter mixture until well combined.
- Spread into the prepared baking dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
For the chocolate frosting:
- Add sugar, butter, and milk to a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Boil for exactly 60 seconds and remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips and continue stirring until the chocolate has melted.
- Immediately pour over the peanut butter bars. Allow to cool for 30 minutes before cutting.
Nutrition Information:
adapted from Bake at 350
shelly (cookies and cups) says
these look like breakfast, lunch and dinner at my house this week…god bless butter, sugar and peanut butter 🙂
Dishes of Mrs. Fish says
I love peanut butter and chocolate together, so I’m certain these would be devoured in seconds at my house. The gooey chocolate looks so good!
Blog is the New Black says
Yes please! I am sold!
Barbara says
Well Karly, you may not be baking as much, but you sure came back with a winner! Fabulous bars and all that lovely shiny chocolate!
Alli says
Glad you are back to creaming butter and sugar. Looks like the perfect treat to get you back in action. Can’t go wrong with PB & chocolate.
Amy @ A Little Nosh says
Everything is better with chocolate.
Joanne says
Yeah a life without baking is a sad sad life. Mixing butter, sugar, and flour makes me feel alive. These look so good! The PB/chocolate combo is just so heavenly.
grace says
not too many things make me sigh with contentment as much as the vision of cascading chocolate. lovely. 🙂
Lisa says
These. Look. Amazing. Just found your blog and I’m pretty sure I’m going to end up reading the whole thing and trying out most of the recipes! These are officially at the top of my ‘to make’ list!
Swistle says
All day I’ve been squirrelling around for some sort of recipe that seems like exactly what I want to make. I think this is it. I wish I had the good peanut butter in the house instead of the marginal one that was on sale.
Bugaboo says
My boyfriend comes home from vacation tomorrow & I’m going to make him these. He will love me and THEM. Thanks!!
Cookbook Queen says
I want that frosting. It’s what’s been missing my whole life, I’m sure of it.
Danielle says
So I’m pretty sure you’re trying to make me fat. I’m making these for a cookout at my parent’s today and I’m also making your blooming onion bread (I made bread JUST for that you know). But the bread I’m not sharing they can get their own. 🙂
Margaret says
Every time I open your blog I find something I want to eat IMMEDIATELY!! Stop, stop, stop tempting me!! No, wait, tempt me!!!
Anna says
I love this recipe so much that I just popped a double batch into the oven for a BBQ tomorrow, where I’m sure they will be an absolute hit with everyone! Delicious!
Laura says
Anna made this for my BBQ last weekend…I have renamed them Peanutbutter Crack Bars…they are that good!
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker says
mmm you know the way to my heart 🙂 these look scrumptious! this kind of recipe is a great one to have on hand – a please all smile inducer 🙂
Kammie @ Sensual Appeal says
Gonna make these with almond butter, I like it more. Do you think I could add 1/2 less cup sugar or would that change anything (except taste of course)?
Karly says
@Kammie @ Sensual Appeal,
I think you’d be fine cutting back the sugar, but no guarantees. I do think it’ll work fine, though. 🙂
Chris K.K.W. says
Do you constantly stir the frosting while it’s heating and boiling?
Karly says
Nope. I stir here and there, but not often.