Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Bars

John’s birthday was yesterday. He is funny in that he does not love cake. We actually have a couple of those crazies in our house. Jackson is the same. Both of them would much prefer a really good chocolate chip cookie, cookie cake, or a really good brownie and ice cream sundae. I mean – I can’t say that either of these is a BAD option. I am certainly not complaining to have the excuse to eat either of these amazing desserts. Nonetheless, cake was not on the menu for my husband’s birthday dessert.

Another pantry item that he loves is peanut butter! So for his birthday treat and dessert, I made him Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars. YYYYUUUUMMMM!!!

Of course, I am now completely addicted to American Dream Nut Butters. I can no longer use just plain old peanut butter. However, these bars are so good that using regular old peanut butter (if you must) would be amazing as well. 😉

In this recipe I used my husband’s favorites – Double Stuffed and Fluffed and Butter My Cup. He loves Oreos and Reese’s, so I used about half of each. These were amazing, but regular peanut butter or other flavors of American Dream Nut Butters work amazing as well! Rest assured!

You can see the tiny marshmallows and cookie pieces from the nut butter in the dough here. It all just melts together for a melt-in-your mouth bar.

Trust me when I say, “Be patient with these.” I mean it. The longer you wait the better they get! They set up so well and take on this incredible soft, melt-in-your mouth texture. So bake them ahead of time, if you can. Give them several hours for the ideal consistency and sweetness.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Bars

Servings: 9
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An indulgent, balanced bar recipe for your peanut butter lovers.

Ingredients

1 cup nut butter (I used American Dream Nut Butter)
1/2 cup white wheat flour (can sub oat or all-purpose)
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1.5 tsp baking soda
1 TBS Lily’s dark chocolate chips
2 Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups (can sub whatever)

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Prepare a 9×9 pan with nonstick spray and parchment paper.
Combine all the ingredients in an electric mixer to mix well. Stir in the chips and chopped peanut butter cups at the end.
Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
Bake for 13 minutes (might look underdone but trust me).
Trust me further – let them set for at least 1/2 hour. Ideally they become set perfectly and are perfectly soft as they sit. Make them several hours before serving. They get better and better.