This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
A thick peanut butter cookie bar, just like your favorite thick and chewy peanut butter cookie, but only in easy cookie bar form.
This is the ultimate recipe for any peanut butter lover. My kids go crazy over these chewy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars!
We all love a good peanut butter cookie. In fact, this happens to be the best ever peanut butter cookie recipe on the planet. And today, I’m showing you how to make them in bar form.
Because sometimes, there just isn’t enough time in the day to make traditional cookies and the cookie craving still must be satisfied!
Chewy Peanut Butter Bars
There are no dry, crunchy peanut butter cookies allowed on my watch. Baking these Chewy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars in a pan ensures they will be thick and chewy – and slightly doughy if that’s your thing – take care not to over bake them!
I like to under-bake mine just a bit. They turn out nice and chewy every time.
This is one of the easiest recipes you make ever make and it’s sure to become a favorite. These cookie bars don’t require any special ingredients, so you likely always have everything you need on hand to make them.
That makes this recipe perfect for when you need a last minute treat to take somewhere or just have a late night baking craving.
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Cream together the butter, peanut butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla, stir in dry ingredients, bake, and ta-da! Peanut Butter Cookie Bars. They really are that easy.
We like to enjoy our peanut butter cookies around here in many different ways. I don’t think you can ever can have too many peanut butter desserts.
Creamy, fluffy peanut butter mousse (and this chocolate mousse too!) are no-bake summer desserts that get made frequently. This is the perfect after-dinner treat with friends, but it is also a fun dessert for no special occasion at all.
We like these No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies and these Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies too.
For times when you’re feeling like something extra special, these Buckeyes (aka Peanut Butter Balls) are amazing on their own or when paired with these Buckeye Brownie Bites.
Peanut Butter Rice Krispy Treats are another easy peanut butter dessert that won’t even require you to turn on the oven.
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls pack a punch of rich peanut butter with the earthy taste of oats and that hint of sweetness we all crave.
Peanut Butter Cookie Bar Recipe
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking pan and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until well combined.
- Spread the batter in the 9×13 baking pan. Bake for about 28-32 minutes or until just set. But DO NOT overbake. They will firm up as the cool. Let cool before cutting into bars.
- Store tightly covered on the counter for a day or two or freeze for up to a few weeks.
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it. Leave a comment below or give it a rating in the recipe card. Happy Baking!
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup butter, softened
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1¼ cups white sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking pan and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet and stir until well combined.
- Spread the batter in the 9×13 baking pan. Bake for about 28-32 minutes or until just set. But DO NOT overbake. They will firm up as the cool. Let cool before cutting into bars.
- Store tightly covered on the counter for a day or two or freeze for up to a few weeks.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 9/16/19 – recipe notes and photos updated 7/1/21}
Do you think you could use Gluten-free 1-to-1 measure for Measure Flour instead of regular in this recipe?
If it is a GF blend that you’ve successfully used in other recipes, it should work fine, Melissa.
I used crunchy peanut butter and cooked them for 28 minutes. Cooled then cut them. They were still undercooked. I put them back in the oven for 20 more minutes. Perfect! Not sure how anyone is getting baked cookies in the time listed in the recipe. They taste great.
It is important to know your oven that is for sure, Esther.
I added Reeses chips & mini chocolate chips to the top. These are what I’ll make instead of peanut butter cookies, because they’re softer.
Sounds delicious, Jessica.
Awesome. I added peanut butter chips and honey roasted peanuts. Fabulous! Great recipe and super easy and fast to make
I am a pastry chef and owner of two brick and mortar bakeries. This recipe is SO easy and truly delicious. The people who complained must’ve made an error in prep or used a wrong ingredient. Don’t hesitate. Make these bars now! They are perfect as is but can easily be dressed up with chocolate chips, frosting, course sugar, a drizzle, etc. I baked mine at 350 for 26 minutes. Perfection. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Bridget – Thank you for stopping by with your comment. I am happy you enjoy these bars too!
I made these last night. I followed reviewers’ suggestions to bake for 35 minutes, and they turned out perfectly. While making them, I realized I had no baking powder. Argh! Too late to go to the grocery store. I substituted 1/2 tsp of baking soda for the 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder. The cookie bars came out fine.
I just made them and they taste amazing
I left these in for 20 minutes and they were very jiggly so I put them in for 5 more minutes. I think they needed more like 15 more minutes. I tried to trust the instruction not to over bake (!!), but ended up with very underbaked. I do love gooey desserts but even after being cooled they were not appetizing.
While all ovens can differ, that’s a pretty solid time difference. I’ll put this recipe on my list to re-test so that I can confirm that baking time. For what it’s worth, while you never want to overbake, definitely trust your instincts in the future if something doesn’t seem right. Sorry it was underdone for you!
These make the best bars. They are very addictive! I love peanut better cookies, and this is now my go to recipe.
I’m so glad you like them!
I made these and they did turn out wonderfully. Next time I may add some chocolate chips just for a twist but as they are they were amazing ??
I’m thrilled you enjoyed them!