Ooey gooey chocolate chip peanut butter bars…
The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
These chocolate chip peanut butter bars are one of the top most popular recipes on my blog – and for very good reason!
When you need a recipe that both meat eaters and vegans love, these bars are an absolute must-try, because they will never let you down.
Of every dessert I’ve ever made, these peanut butter bars are still one of my go-to recipes for parties, because they’re easy to transport, get rave reviews even from guests who aren’t into healthy eating, and you’re pretty much guaranteed no leftovers by the end of the night.
People go crazy for the soft, gooey, peanut buttery texture and melty chocolate in each delicious bite, and they taste like the lovechild of a chocolate chip cookie and a Reeses peanut butter cup!
*There’s now also a chocolate brownie version, so be sure to try the Brownie Batter Bars!
Above – watch the video of making the peanut butter bars!
The peanut butter bars can be:
Vegan
Keto
Gluten Free
Dairy Free
Sugar Free
Egg Free
Grain Free
Soy Free
Paleo
And Oil Free
(For high-protein peanut butter bars, make these Protein Bars.)
Homemade Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
With chocolate and peanut butter, is it any surprise how good these are?
If Nestlé and Hersheys were to collaborate on a dessert, I’m pretty sure they’d come up with something along the lines of these gooeylicious chocolate chip peanut butter bars.
The recipe was originally adapted from my Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies, and I’ve changed it over the years to make it even better (which I didn’t think was possible, because the original was so good!).
Below is the newest version, which now includes a keto friendly option for those who need it. Everyone should be able to enjoy these crazy delicious peanut butter bars!
(Above, bringing the bars to a party earlier this year. They did not last long!)
If you want a bigger batch, try the popular Ryan Reynolds Blondie Bars.
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup applesauce, or yogurt such as coconutmilk yogurt
- 1 cup peanut butter OR allergy-friendly alternative – nut-free recipe here
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp flour – you can use spelt, white, sorghum, oat, almond, even or buckwheat (50g)
- 2/3 cup granulated sugar of choice or xylitol
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips, optional
- up to 2 tbsp milk of choice, only if needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease an 8-inch pan, or line with parchment. Gently heat nut butter if not already stir-able, then stir in the applesauce and vanilla extract. In a separate bowl, stir baking soda, salt, flour, sugar, and chocolate chips. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet and keep stirring—it will seem very dry at first, so you’ll need to break up the nut butter and stop occasionally to scrape it off your spoon. If needed, slowly add up to 2 tbsp milk of choice as you stir. Don’t add more milk; it will eventually get gooey like cookie dough. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Smooth down evenly. (I press a second sheet of parchment on top to smooth, then remove this sheet.) Press some chocolate chips into the top if desired. Bake 10 minutes. When you take the peanut butter bars out, the top will look set but they will still be very undercooked underneath. This is okay! Leave them to cool for at least 20 minutes, during which time they will firm up. (They also firm up even more overnight.)View Nutrition Facts
Video
Notes
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These are UNBELIEVABLE!!! Every time I make them they get lots of complements. Delicious, moist, and melt-in-your mouth!
Can this be made as a round cookie cake instead of bars? Would the cooking times be different if you made it as a round cookie cake?
Katie, I don’t know what the problem is, but your website is so slow on my computer. I can’t get the recipes to print either. I’m frustrated because everything just looks so good, and I want a copy of it! Any suggestions?
Hi! That is terrible to hear… It runs very fast on all of the computers I’ve tried it on, so I’m not sure what could be the issue but definitely would like to help. Are you having trouble with any other websites or just mine? Are you using a mac, and what browser? Thanks!
What is nut butter?
It means you can use peanut butter, almond butter, cashew butter, hazelnut butter, etc. 🙂
Hi, it’s sooooo good really but I feel guilty the eat so much sugar, can I do it sugar free? What can I put instated of the sugar?
Thanks
Made them with a lot less sugar than in recipe, were still a bit too sweet. really delicious though!
I was shocked at how much sugar the recipe called for. 2/3 cup for an 8×8 pan? I used 1/4 cup and that was plenty. I also added an additional tablespoon of flour since so many people commented that they were extra gooey. This is definitely a softer bar, but still excellent! I couldn’t wait until they cooled to eat so I just spooned it into a bowl. This morning I had one as a snack and it was definitely firmer. I plan to double the recipe and make them for a gathering.
You’d be amazed, but most recipes call for even more than that. I have an older recipe that is for an 8×8 pan and calls for 2 cups!!!
Thanks for that recipe! I was skeptical at first, but I have to say, they are absolutely delicious. My whole family loved them.
Hi, I am trying top print your Chocolate Chip peanut butter bar recipe but for some reason it is not set up like the others and does not give me the option to print this. Can you please send me a printable version of it?
Thanks,
Adam
One word- AMAZING!!!