Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Bars
User Reviews
4.7
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Bars
Description
The recipe melts butter with brown sugar and peanut butter to create a smooth sugar-fat base that cools before eggs and vanilla are added. These wet ingredients are combined with dry ingredients including flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to form a very thick dough. Semisweet chocolate chunks are folded in and sprinkled on top before baking.
Baked in an 8x8 metal pan at 350°F for about 30 minutes, the bars develop a golden surface with chewy, rich interior. The metal pan helps ensure even baking without drying edges. The peanut butter flavor drives the richness, supported by the brown sugar sweetness and chocolate chunks for variation.
These bars are well suited for dessert, snacks, or packed lunches, offering a portable and satisfying treat with a balanced peanut butter and chocolate profile.
Use well-stirred natural peanut butter for a more intense peanut flavor but ensure smoothness. Avoid glass pans to prevent overbaking edges.
Ingredients
- 1 unsalted butter stick, 113 grams
- 1 3/4 light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup peanut butter smooth
- 2 egg plus one egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 6 ounces semisweet chocolate chunks
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8 by 8-inch metal baking pan** with parchment or foil.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the brown sugar, stirring until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter. Allow to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
- Once the butter mixture is cool, add the eggs and yolk, one at a time, stirring until well combined. Stir in the vanilla extract. Pour the mixture into the prepared dry ingredients, and stir to create a very thick dough-like batter. Fold in 3/4 the chocolate chunks, reserving the rest for sprinkling on top.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading evenly to the edges. Sprinkle with the remaining chocolate chunks, lightly pressing them into the batter.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and the edges are slightly browned. Allow to cool in the pan. Use the parchment to remove the bars before cutting into squares and serving. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Notes
- For bolder peanut flavor, use thoroughly stirred natural peanut butter with no oily or dry spots.
- Prefer light-colored metal pans (8x8 or 9x13) to bake these bars to avoid drying edges; glass pans can cause uneven baking.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.7
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