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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I have made these atleast 4 times for my husband, he loves them. I have used bananas instead of the apple sauce, raisins and coconut instead of the chocolate chips. I also used half protein powder and half flour for the dry. They are yummy!
How could you adjust for using peanut butter powder rather than peanut butter? Add more liquid?
I made these with peanut butter powder and it turned out great! I just mixed 1 cup of powder with 1/2 cup of water, then added the rest of the ingredients.
I don’t normally Comment on these but I had to this time because it was absolutely delicious! & i changed a few things and thought it could be helpful for anyone. I used whole wheat pastry flour, and 1/4 cup of coconut sugar plus 2 packets of truvia, also omitted baking soda. And also used a 9 by 9 inch pan and still baked it for 10 mins and they came out perfect. I only waited 10 mins before I could resist digging in and they were perfectly firm! Thanks so much for the recipe Katie! 🙂
I made these tonight and they’re delicious! My daughter is allergic to wheat and peanut butter (top 8 allergens) so I used sunbutter and oat flour instead. Absolutely love them!… But I wouldn’t expect anything less from Katie. You’re recipes are awesomely delicious
Thank you so much for this recipe, it’s fabulous! These are so yummy – and easy and quick – I make them constantly.
Hi Katie! Long time can of your blog but never posted how much Iove it! First, I have made this recipe four times now (three for myself one for my parents) and it is perfect no matter now I make it. I have slowly made changes, first time I used half white all purpose flour half oat flour, second time I used all oat flour, and third time I used all oat flour and halfed the sugar; all variations were amazing and addictive. My family says they can’t stop eating them, which makes me feel better because neither can I! Second, your blog and food ideas are revolutionary. I started eating very healthy (all natural foods, little sugar) a couple years ago, but I found I still had my sweet tooth. I looked for recipes for healthier desserts online and stumbled across your blog. Since then I have completely changed my way of thinking about “desserts”, as they can be healthy! Your blog is my go-to for recipes, and has influenced my own baking a lot! I recommend your recipes and blog to all my friends and family. I hope you keep coming up with deliciously creative recipes forever, and that they can reach even more people to show them the possibility of healthier baking!
How can I make this sugar free? (or sugar substitute) Would love to see it adjusted like you did with your sugar free chocolate chip cookie dough that I love so much…
Ohhhhh myyyy gosh…just made these and they are wonderful! I followed the recipe exactly but made cookies out of them instead of bars. Awesome.
I think this will make a fabulous crust for my cheesecake!!
Hopefully it will win our family bake off!!!!
i am going to try this for my cheese cake crust!!!
Hopefully I will win our family bake off!!