Caramel Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars
User Reviews
5.0
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
10 mins
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Total Time
41 mins
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Servings
1 8x8-inch pan, 9 generous pieces
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Calories
612 kcal
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Course
Baked Goods
Caramel Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Gooey Bars
The bars are a hybrid of so many favorites. They’re fast and easy to make, use only one bowl, no mixer, and are drippy, gooey, soft and slightly chewy, and loaded with chocolate chips. A cake-like base layer is topped with graham cracker pieces, chocolate chips, and flooded with a sweetened condensed milk and peanut butter mixture. While baking, the top layer caramelizes and turns slightly golden. If you’re an oven door-watcher, big air bubbles form while baking, and some pop, some don’t. After baking, you must let the bars cool for at least 3 hours, overnight is better. Slicing sooner will result in a huge mess because they need time to set up. They’re dense, filling, very rich, and so good.
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick, melted
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- pinch salt optional and to taste
- 4 Graham crackers standard graham crackers, about 3-inches by 5-inches, chopped into 1/2-inch square pieces (about 1 heaping cup loosely piled pieces)
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- one 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray; set aside. I strongly urge lining the pan with foil for easier cleanup.
- In a large, microwave-safe bowl melt the butter, about 1 minute on high power.
- Wait momentarily before adding the egg so you don’t scramble it. Add the egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and whisk until smooth.
- Add the flour, optional salt, and stir until just combined; don’t overmix. Batter will be thick.
- Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula and pushing it into the corners.
- Evenly sprinkle the graham cracker pieces over the top.
- Evenly sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top; set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl (same one you already used is fine), add the sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter, and whisk until smooth and combined (same whisk is fine).
- Slowly and evenly pour this liquid mixture over the bars, smoothing the top lightly with a spatula to disperse mixture into corners if necessary. If any graham cracker pieces have floated up or are jetting out, push them down so they don’t burn.
- Bake for about 28 to 31 minutes, or until top is set, slightly golden, and not jiggly. Be careful because bars will be prone to burning in the final moments of baking. A toothpick test won’t work because the interior stays gooey and moist, and the toothpick comes out looking wet, even when bars are done. Allow bars to cool in pan for at least 3 hours, but overnight is better (cover with a piece of foil and/or put pan in large Ziplock) before slicing and serving. Bars will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 18x8-inch pan, 9 generous pieces
Amount Per Serving
Calories 612 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 | |
| Calories | 612kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 79g | 26% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 30g | 46% |
| Saturated Fat | 15g | 75% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 13g | 76% |
| Cholesterol | 68mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 204mg | 9% |
| Fiber | 3g | 12% |
| Sugar | 56g | 112% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
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