Looking to make chewy peanut butter bars with a decadent chocolate frosting? Look no further – this is the recipe you are looking for!
This peanut butter bar recipe is very easy to make and fills a 13 x 18 inch pan, making it a great treat for gatherings. These bars can be eaten with your hands (no silverware required). A great recipe for parties and potlucks (just be sure to disclose that it contains peanut butter!)
why you’ll love these peanut butter bars:
- It uses ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
- The chocolate frosting pairs well with the chewy peanut butter bar (kind of like a Reese’s peanut butter cup!)
- You can eat it without silverware!
- No refrigeration required.
Ingredient Notes:
- Peanut Butter: I use smooth peanut butter for this recipe, but you could use crunchy if that’s what you prefer. (If you love peanut butter, you should check out these chocolate covered energy balls!)
- Butter: I suggest using unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, you can omit (or reduce) the added salt.
recipe Tips:
- The peanut butter bar batter is thick, similar to playdough consistency. It will require a little effort to flatten it in the greased pan. I used my hands and a spatula to smooth it out.
- Be sure you wait until the peanut butter bars have completely cooled before making the frosting, as the frosting sets up quickly.
- After you finish mixing in the powdered sugar into the frosting, be sure you quickly pour it over the brownies. The frosting isn’t a firm frosting, but it does set up.
- Store the peanut butter bars by covering them with aluminum foil. You can insert toothpicks into the top of the brownies to prevent the foil from getting stuck to the frosting. These bars should be good for up to 5 days at room temperature (although they never last that long at my house.)
Peanut Butter Bar with Chocolate Frosting
These chewy peanut butter bars with chocolate frosting are a classic dessert that will quickly disappear at potlucks, BBQs or parties.
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Bars
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 3 cups flour
Chocolate Frosting
- 1/3 cup cocoa
- 1/3 cup butter
- 1/3 cup water
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp. vanilla
- Dash of salt
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Using a mixer, cream together peanut butter, melted butter, white sugar, and brown sugar.
3. Add eggs, vanilla, salt, and baking soda to the peanut butter mixture. Mix well.
4. Add flour slowly, 1/2 cup at a time. Mix well.
5. To a greased 13 x 18-inch pan, add peanut butter bar batter. Batter is thick (like playdough), so use your hands or a spatula to spread it uniformly throughout the pan.
6. Bake for 20 minutes.
7. Allow blondies to cool to room temperature. Be sure they are completely cooled before you prepare the frosting (the frosting sets up quickly).
8. To make chocolate frosting, add cocoa, butter, water, and brown sugar to a microwave-safe bowl. Heat ingredients in the microwave for 1 and a half minutes. Stir. Continue heating in 30 second increments until the brown sugar is dissolved.
9. Using a handheld mixer, mix in powdered sugar, vanilla and salt until the frosting is smooth.
10. Poor frosting over peanut butter blondies, using a spatula to spread it. Allow frosting to sit for roughly 30 minutes (or as long as you can possible. They are delicious even if you can't wait!)
Wish your day-to-day was less chaotic?
The journey to a less stressful household starts with a single step. Getting all your login information organized is a GREAT first step. (Seriously – don’t underestimate the power of this small task!)
Sign up for this FREE challenge to get an eBook to guide you through this process and the worksheet that will whip your login information into shape!
