Ingredients and Weight:
- 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup milk chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preparation Time:
30 minutes
Cooking Time:
35-40 minutes
Difficulty Level:
1 (Simple)
Preparation Method Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, cream together butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
- Gradually add sugar, beating until well combined.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
- Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients alternately with milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.
- Fold in peanut butter.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow to cool completely.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt chocolate chips with 1 tablespoon of milk.
- Spread melted chocolate evenly over cooled bars.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before slicing and serving.
Nutritional Information:
Per bar (1/8 of recipe):
- Calories: 350
- Fat: 18g (27%)
- Saturated Fat: 11g (55%)
- Cholesterol: 60mg (20%)
- Sodium: 120mg (5%)
- Carbohydrates: 36g (12%)
- Fiber: 2g (8%)
- Sugar: 28g (31%)
- Protein: 5g (10%)
Dish Characteristics:
- Chewy and fudgy bars
- Rich peanut butter filling
- Chocolatey topping
- Perfect for American cookie lovers
User Comments:
- "These bars are absolutely delicious! The peanut butter and chocolate combination is perfect."
- "I made these for a potluck and they were a huge hit. Everyone raved about how good they were."
- "I'm not a huge fan of peanut butter but I still really enjoyed these bars. The chocolate topping is the perfect balance."
- "These bars are so easy to make and they taste like they came from a bakery."
- "I love that they're not too sweet, they're the perfect dessert."
Special Precautions and Tips:
- Use high-quality chocolate chips for the best flavor.
- If you don't have a 9x13 inch pan, you can use a 8x8 inch pan. The bars will be thicker but still delicious.
- Allow the bars to cool completely before slicing them. This will help prevent them from crumbling.
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
