Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
- ½ teaspoon Salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter, softened
- 1 cup Brown Sugar, packed
- ½ cup Granulated Sugar
- 2 large Eggs
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ½ cup Peanut Butter (smooth)
Add-ins
- 1 cup Reese’s Pieces
- 1 cup Chocolate Chips
Instructions
- Prepare Your Baking Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt to build structure and leavening for the bars.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, beat softened butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, adding creaminess and tenderness.
- Add Eggs, Vanilla, and Peanut Butter: Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract and smooth peanut butter, mixing well for even flavor distribution.
- Combine Dry and Wet Ingredients: Slowly add the dry mixture to the wet ingredients and stir until just combined to avoid tough bars.
- Fold in Reese’s Pieces and Chocolate Chips: Gently fold in the Reese’s Pieces candy and chocolate chips, ensuring even distribution throughout the batter.
- Bake Until Golden: Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes until edges are lightly golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Slice: Let the cookie bars cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares to help them firm up and maintain gooeyness.
Notes
- Softened Butter Is Key: Use softened (not melted) butter for the perfect texture.
- Don’t Overmix: Stir batter just until combined to keep bars soft and tender.
- Use Fresh Reese’s Pieces: Fresher candies retain crunch and color better after baking.
- Check Oven Temperature: Use an oven thermometer to ensure even baking and avoid dryness.
- Cool Fully Before Cutting: Prevents crumbling and ensures neat, gooey squares.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 to 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Can be made gluten-free with substitutions
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar (approx. 2x2 inches)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: chocolate chip cookie bars, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter bars, chewy cookie bars, easy dessert, homemade snack