It’s getting cold outside. I come home at night from the dog park and need a steaming cup of something in order to defrost. I seem to have become a major weather wimp over the summer. Today I was bundled up in four layers, including a down coat, and I was still cold even though the temperature was in the thirties. I need to tap into my Siberian ancestry. With my evening coffee or tea, I usually like a crunchy biscotti, but lately I have been craving something soft and chewy. That craving led to the baking of these Peanut Buttery Bars and Cookies.
That same craving drove me to bake these Peanut Buttery Bars 4 times, as I fiddled with the texture. Just like with brownies, small ingredient and timing tweaks result in bars that are “fudgy” (in a non-chocolate sort of way), cakey, or chewy. Eventually, I achieved the chewy texture I was going for. While I was dabbling in this particular batter chemistry, I made a couple of unexpected discoveries.
Peanut Buttery Bars are wonderfully chewy when baked for a full twenty minutes. Bake these bars a few minutes less, until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs, and the Peanut Buttery Bars are dense and fudgy in texture. Both kinds of bars, chewy and fudgy, are in the photos for comparison.
This recipe makes a thick, slightly sticky dough that has to be spread into the pan. It is so thick that I wondered if the exact same dough could be used for cookies. The answer is, this dough makes fantastic chewy peanut butter cookies too! I may like the cookies even better than the bars!
As a slightly obsessed collector of every flavor of baking chip sold, I have been waiting for the right recipe to try out the new Toll House DelightFulls. (Unfortunately, this is not a sponsored post.) I found them first at Target and now my grocery store carries them in the baking aisle. DelightFulls are large semi-sweet chocolate chips with flavored centers. There are three flavors of Delightfulls that I am aware of; peanut butter, caramel, and cherry. I used the peanut butter filled chocolate chips for this recipe. They taste just like a tiny Reese’s cup in a chip shape. If DelightFulls aren’t available, or if you would rather use what you already have, chopped mini Reese’s or half chocolate chips and half peanut butter chips would provide the same flavor.
Whichever form you choose, Peanut Buttery Bars and Cookies are an easy, quick recipe for satisfying a chewy peanut butter craving. When stored at room temperature in an airtight container, these treats will stay fresh for up to 1 week. That makes them great for filling a cookie jar or care package. With a few extra chips decoratively placed on top after baking, Peanut Buttery Cookies would also be a winner for holiday cookie platters.
MORE BAR COOKIES
Black Bottom White Chocolate Bars
Peanut Buttery Bars and Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 ½ cups dark brown sugar packed
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups chocolate-peanut butter Toll House DelightFulls chips or a combination of chocolate chips and peanut butter chips Optional: extra chips for decorating cookies
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For bars: Using butter or non-stick spray, lightly grease a 9” x 13” baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper with a 2” overhang on the long sides of the pan. Lightly grease the parchment inside the pan. For Cookies: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
- • In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together peanut butter, butter, and brown sugar until combined. Add the eggs and vanilla. Beat until color lightens (about 3 minutes).
- • Gradually stir in the flour mixture just until a smooth batter forms.
- • Fold the chocolate-peanut butter chips into the batter.
- FOR BARS: Use a spatula to evenly spread the batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 18-23 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out with a few crumbs. Minimal cooking time produces a more dense bar.
- Cool completely in the pan.
- Run a knife along the edges touching the pan and use the parchment overhangs to lift the bars out of the pan onto a cutting board.Cut into bars.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
- FOR COOKIES: Using a large 2 tablespoon scoop, place balls of dough 3” apart on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes. Tops will still look light, but don’t overcook or the cookies will dry out.
- If desired, immediately after removing the cookies from the oven, chocolate chips can be pressed gently into the tops of the cookies for decoration.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
Packing Tips
Use wax paper squares between bars in small stacks of 2-4 bars each. Wrap the stacks in plastic wrap then place in an air tight container or zip lock bag for mailing. Double wrap pairs of cookies (with bottoms together) in plastic wrap, then place in an airtight container or zip lock bag for mailing.
Paula K. says
These sound so good I plan on sending some in a soldier’s care package! I will have to look out for those chips too!
themondaybox says
Thanks! I am sure your soldier will love them, Paula! For longer shipping, I always suggest sending bars/brownies uncut, if possible. They retain their chewiness longer that way. 🙂 I just tape a couple of sturdy plastic knives to the wrapped up disposable pan of treats.
Paula K. says
checked out those chips at Target and even on sale they weren’t cheap, about $3.49 for nine ounces ouch! May just buy some Reese’s peanut butter cups and chop them up.
themondaybox says
I agree, Paula! I had a coupon and they were on sale when I bought them. Reeses chopped or a combination of chocolate chips and peanut butter chips would provide the same flavor. I think the best part of these is the chewy peanut butter bars themselves. The chips are just “icing on the cake” ! 🙂
Jennifer @ Organized Home Organized School says
Mmmm, my facorite combination, peanut butter and chocolate 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
themondaybox says
Thanks, Jennifer! I was really craving peanut butter and the chocolate was an afterthought….but a good afterthought!
sassysouthernyankee says
Two of my favorite things in one cookie SOLD! I can’t wait to give these a try! Thanks for Sharing!
themondaybox says
Thanks, Jessica! Peanut butter and chocolate is always a winner! 🙂
dishofdailylife says
Peanut butter and chocolate…two of my favorites! These look delicious! Thanks for sharing these yummy treats with us at Foodie Fridays! Pinning! Hope to see you again this Thursday night!
themondaybox says
Thanks, Michelle! I am glad you found The Monday Box through Foodie Fridays! So many delicious looking links, it is hard to know what to pin first! I will happily link up again. 🙂
cakespy says
These sound AMAZING. They are being added to my “to bake” list immediately.
themondaybox says
Thanks! WARNING: These bars are highly addicting (I thought so, anyway) and should be approached with abandon! 🙂 I hope you enjoy them!