Description
These Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars are a decadent and irresistible dessert combining creamy peanut butter, melted sweetened condensed milk, and chunks of chocolate peanut butter cups. Baked until golden and gooey in the center, they offer a perfect balance of chewy cookie texture and rich chocolatey flavor ideal for any peanut butter lover.
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup mini chocolate chips
- 1 cup chopped peanut butter cups (plus more for topping)
Additional
- 1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and light brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, ensuring proper aeration.
- Add Peanut Butter, Egg, and Vanilla: Beat in the creamy peanut butter, followed by the large egg and vanilla extract, mixing thoroughly until fully combined and smooth.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and seasoning.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring until a soft dough forms without overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Fold in Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cups: Gently fold in the mini chocolate chips and chopped peanut butter cups, incorporating the chunks evenly throughout the dough.
- Layer Dough and Sweetened Condensed Milk: Press two-thirds of the dough evenly into the prepared pan. Pour the sweetened condensed milk over this dough layer evenly, then crumble the remaining dough on top.
- Top and Press: Gently press the crumbled dough down and sprinkle extra chopped peanut butter cups over the top to add texture and flavor bursts.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the bars are golden brown around the edges and the center is just set to maintain gooeyness.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before slicing into 12 bars. For cleaner slices, chill for 30 minutes in the refrigerator before cutting.
Notes
- For cleaner, neater slices, chill the bars in the refrigerator for 30 minutes before cutting.
- You can use either mini or regular-sized peanut butter cups based on your preference or what you have available.
