Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

Our Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are an easy treat! Soft and chewy, they’re loaded with Reese's Pieces and baking chips for the ultimate sweet snack. Plus, they’re simple to make – just mix, spread, and bake! It doesn't get any easier than that.

Jump to:

• What Make Peanut Butter Bars
• Key Ingredients
• How to Make Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
• Storage Recommendations
• Tips and Tricks
• FAQs
• More Peanut Butter Desserts
• Recipe

What Make Peanut Butter Bars

We make these peanut butter cookies all the time. The sweet and salty flavor makes them a fan favorite. But some days I don't want to spend time scooping and baking multiple batches of cookies.

That's when I make a pan of peanut butter cookie bars instead. You are going to love how easy it is to mix the dough and bake it one pan. They are ready from start to finish in around 30 minutes.

These cookie bars have the best peanut butter flavor and are loaded with the Reese's Pieces and baking chips. The satisfying crunch and texture will have you coming back for more.

• No chill time needed. You can bake the bars as soon as you make the dough.
• Soft and crunchy. The crunchiness of the candy shell and the softness of the cookie is so irresistible.
• Loaded with flavor. Plenty of peanut butter, candies, and baking chips means each square has lots of goodness.
• Great last minute treat. The dough comes together in minutes, so you can have a pan ready in under 30 minutes.

If you love peanut butter and Reese's candies, you need to make a pan of these peanut butter bars right away!

Key Ingredients

To make peanut butter bars with Reese's Pieces, you'll need a few simple ingredients and some basic kitchen tools.

• Unsalted Butter - Set it out ahead of time, so it mixes in better. If using salted butter, reduce the amount of salt by ¼ teaspoon.
• Peanut Butter - Our favorite peanut butter to use in recipes is creamy JIF. Feel free to use your favorite brand, but I do not recommend a natural or oily brand. If you like nuts, use crunchy instead.
• Sugar - A mixture of granulated sugar and brown sugar sweetens the dough and keeps them soft.
• Cornstarch - Adding just a little to cookie dough helps them to bake soft and chewy and to stay soft longer. 
• Baking Soda - Helps the cookie dough spread in the pan and brown as it bakes
• Mix-Ins - A mixture of Reese's Pieces, white chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips gives the bars a blast of peanut butter flavor.

How to Make Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

This peanut butter cookie bars recipe comes together in minutes. The best part is there is no chilling, so you can bake the dough right away.

1. Make the wet ingredients. Beat the room temperature butter, peanut butter, and sugars in a large bowl until light and creamy. Add the vanilla extract and eggs and mix again.
2. Add the dry ingredients. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
3. Stir in your mix-ins. Gently stir in the Reese's Pieces, white chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips.
4. Bake and cool. Press the batter into a greased or lined baking sheet, smoothing it out into an even layer. Bake until the edges are lightly golden brown and the center is set. Let cool completely before cutting into squares and serving.

Storage Recommendations

On the Counter - Keep these bars in an air tight container at room temperature for 3-4 days.

In the Freezer - Wrap the cooled cookies in plastic wrap and place in a freezer safe bag or container. Freeze for 1-2 months. Thaw on the counter for 15 minutes before serving.

Tips and Tricks

By following these easy tips, you'll be able to create the best peanut butter bars with Reese's Pieces possible.

• Do not over mix the dough. Over mixing can cause your bars to come out tough and dry. Mix just until the ingredients are combined and then stop.
• Use a lined baking dish. Lining your dish with parchment paper or aluminum foil makes it easier to remove the bars from the baking pan and helps to prevent sticking.
• Experiment with mix ins. Don't be afraid to switch up the candies and add your own twist to the recipe. Try using M&M's, chopped nuts, or toffee bits for a unique flavor profile.
• Let them cool completely. It's important to let the bars cool completely before cutting them. If you try to cut them while they're still warm, they will fall apart.
• Add frosting. Frost the cookie bars with dark chocolate frosting or peanut butter frosting.

FAQs

More Peanut Butter Desserts

• Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats
• Peanut Butter Ice Cream
• Reese's Peanut Butter Cookies
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie
• Peanut Butter Balls
• Peanut Butter Truffle Brownies

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*This post was first published March 2014. It was update and republished June 2023.