Classic Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Soft and chewy peanut butter cookie bars studded with semi-sweet chocolate chips, perfect for sharing or as a quick treat. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, layers unsalted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 180 calories and feeds 16, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 25 min Serves 16 American cuisine 180 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
  2. Step 2: In a large bowl, cream together 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, and 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter using an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Beat in 1 large egg and 1 tsp vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
  4. Step 4: In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/4 tsp salt.
  5. Step 5: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed until just combined.
  6. Step 6: Fold in 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips evenly throughout the batter.
  7. Step 7: Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan, smoothing the top with a spatula.
  8. Step 8: Bake for 22-25 minutes until the edges are set and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs.
  9. Step 9: Allow to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before lifting out using the parchment paper and cutting into bars.

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