Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Just ignore the brownies for now, K?

These yummy bars were one of the many treats for the dessert table at Cindy's shower and they are fantastic.  Cindy's sister-in-law Sharon couldn't stop talking about them and said twice that she needed to have the recipe.  And I totally understood. I actually had to make these bars twice in a week.  I made them the week before the shower, intending to freeze them so I'd have extra time before the shower. Unfortunately when I tried to flip the bars out of the pan to cut them I made a spectacular mess.  They completely shattered and there was no saving them.  Frustrated, I put the pieces in a container for Dave and I to enjoy and moved on with my baking plans.  But then I went and tasted the broken bars.  And they were delicious.  Peanut butter cookie flavor with chocolate chips sprinkled through and the texture of a perfect chocolate chip cookie.  It was both an awesome and disappointing taste: awesome because the "bars" tasted so good, but disappointing because I would have to make them again to make proper bars for the party and I didn't have any more peanut butter or chocolate chips on hand so I would have to wait until I could make a grocery run.

Another recipe from Michelle at Brown Eyed Baker, she really hit the nail on the head with these bars. The texture is a perfect cookie and there is a excellent balance between the peanut butter and the chocolate.  I didn't change anything in the recipe or the process, but having learned from my first mistake I did line my pan with foil the second time around.  This made for very easy removal so I could cut squares to make a pretty display on the dessert table.  Paired with a glass of milk or topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, you've got a wonderful treat to share with friends (or eat all for yourself!).

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.

In the bowl of a stand mixer (or in a large bowl using a hand-held mixer), cream sugars, peanut butter and butter until light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl as necessary.

Add the egg and vanilla and mix until incorporated.

On low speed, gradually add flour mixture and mix until flour is just incorporated. (Note: If using a stand mixer, swap from a whisk attachment to a paddle attachment.)

Fold in peanut butter chips and chocolate chips by hand.

Transfer mixture to a greased or foil-lined 9 x 13 inch pan and press to an even layer.

Bake at 350 degrees F for 16-20 minutes or until center is set.

Allow bars to cool completely with pan on a wire rack before cutting into bars.

Makes 24 bars.

Happy Baking,
The Cookie Princess

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