Description
Rich chocolate chip cookie bars feature a gooey peanut butter cup center that melts into each delectable bite. Chocolate lovers will savor these indulgent bars packed with creamy peanut butter and sweet chocolate chips.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3.25 cups (standard) / 3 ¼ cups (American) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (226 grams) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 can (14 oz/397 grams) fat-free sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 0.75 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 0.25 cup creamy peanut butter
- 0.75 cup chocolate chips
- 30 miniature peanut butter cups
- 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 0.5 tsp salt
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a 9×13″ baking pan with foil, applying nonstick spray for easy removal.
- Cookie Dough Base: Blend melted butter with sugars until smooth, then incorporate eggs, vanilla, salt, and baking soda, mixing thoroughly. Gradually fold in flour to create a dense dough, gently folding chocolate chips throughout.
- Peanut Butter Filling: Whisk sweetened condensed milk with peanut butter until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Layer Construction: Press half the cookie dough evenly across the pan’s bottom, creating a solid foundation. Strategically place miniature peanut butter cups across the surface, gently embedding them.
- Filling Application: Generously drizzle the peanut butter and condensed milk mixture over the cups, ensuring complete coverage.
- Final Layer: Crumble remaining cookie dough across the top, attempting to conceal the milk layer as comprehensively as possible.
- Baking Process: Bake for 30-35 minutes until the surface achieves a golden-brown hue and the center appears set.
- Cooling and Serving: Allow bars to cool completely within the pan to maintain structural integrity. Once cooled, slice into individual squares and serve at room temperature for optimal flavor experience.
Notes
- Precise Ingredient Mixing: Blend wet ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution and prevent clumping, creating a smooth, consistent dough texture.
- Strategic Layering Technique: Press first dough layer firmly and evenly to create a solid foundation that supports subsequent layers and prevents crumbling.
- Proper Baking Time Watch: Monitor golden-brown surface and set center carefully; slight underbaking maintains gooey texture while preventing burnt edges.
- Cooling Critical Step: Allow bars to cool completely in pan to stabilize structure, enhance flavor melding, and ensure clean, precise cutting of squares.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 25
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg