Perfect Peanut Butter Cookie Bars made with Reese’s and peanut butter fudge on a peanut butter cookie crust! The kids will go nuts for these sweet homemade treats.
If you’re a big fan of peanut butter, readers love our peanut butter cake! Or give our delicious peanut butter brownies a try next.
Why this Recipe Works
Calling all fellow peanut butter lovers! You NEED to make these peanut butter bars. Right now. I made this recipe just for you; well mostly for me. But I can’t keep a dessert this good to myself for long.
So here’s the thing. I know many of you LOVE chocolate and peanut butter together. And while I enjoy it, it’s not my FAVORITE combination. If I’m going to have peanut butter…pile on the peanut flavor!
I want peanuts and peanuts and more peanuts. Nothing else to take away or distract from creamy, nutty, sweet peanut butter goodness.
That’s what I did with this recipe.
- Base made from peanut butter cookie dough
- Topped with a creamy peanut butter ganache (similar to a peanut butter fudge).
- There’s still something here for you chocolate peanut butter fans, though: I covered the peanut butter squares with mini Reese’s cups and Reese’s pieces.
While the candy topping is absolutely optional, the bits of Reese’s add a nice finishing touch to the bars. Love this flavor? Be sure to try our peanut butter balls next!
Ingredients Needed
Make the cookie crust layer.
For the first layer you need:
- Shortening (I used butter flavor Crisco)
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Milk
- Egg
- Brown Sugar
- Flour (plus salt and baking soda)
Make the peanut butter fudge
For the second layer of these bars, you’ll need:
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Butter
- Peanut Butter Chips
Easy Instructions
- Make the peanut butter cookie layer. First you’ll bake the cookie dough in the bottom of the sheet pan. Do NOT over bake.
- Make peanut butter ganache. While the cookie layer is baking, heat condensed milk with butter over low heat until warmed. Remove from heat, whisk in peanut butter morsels and stir until melted.
- Assemble the bars. Pour the hot fudge mixture over the warm cookie layer.
- Garnish. Immediately press the Reese’s pieces and peanut butter cups onto the tops of the bars.
Let the bars set for 1 hour before slicing and serving, storing or freezing.
How to Serve
I cut the bars into about 3 inch squares, like brownies or butterscotch blondies. You could also cut them into mini squares for bite sized treats!
Admittedly, I could happily eat a whole batch of these by myself in just a few days. If there’s one treat I can’t resist (aside from Rice Krispie Treats) it’s a good peanut butter dessert!
Tips and Tricks
- I used plain old shelf stable creamy peanut butter in the cookie crust. While the natural style peanut butter you keep in the fridge would also probably work, I can’t vouch for the results. These varieties can sometimes be too oily and mess with the texture of peanut butter cookies. If you try it, let me know how it works for you!
- You’re not limited to Reese’s candies here. M&Ms, crushed oreos, chocolate chips and mini Hershey’s kisses would also taste great on the peanut butter bars! Get creative and have fun experimenting with different toppings.
- If you’re not freezing the bars, they keep well for about a week sealed in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk in the filling NOT evaporated milk!
More Cookie Recipes
- Banana Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs
- Monster Cookies
- Frosted Sugar Cookie Bars
- Revel Bars
- Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Best Brownies and Bars
See all Brownies and Bars recipes
Pin this now to find it later
Pin It
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Ingredients
For the Cookie Layer:
- ½ cup butter flavored Crisco
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 Tablespoons milk
- 1 ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 ¾ cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
For the Middle Layer:
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk 14 ounce
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 bag peanut butter morsels 10 ounce
For the Topping:
- 1 bag Reese's pieces 14 ounce
- 1 bag Reese's MINI peanut butter cups 8 ounce
Instructions
- For the cookie, beat Crisco with peanut butter, milk and brown sugar until creamy. Beat in egg. Add flour, salt and baking soda, mix until thoroughly combined.
- Press cookie dough into a lightly greased 15×10 baking sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, until browned. Remove.
- While baking, heat condensed milk with butter over low heat until warmed. Remove from heat, whisk in peanut butter morsels and stir until melted. Pour over warm cookie layer.
- Immediately press candies into top layer. Allow to set, about one hour. Slice and serve!!
Notes
- I store cut cookie bars in a ziploc freezer bag on the counter. You can also freeze these for up to 3 months. The color of the candies may change slightly, but they taste delicious!
- I used plain old shelf stable creamy peanut butter in the cookie crust. While the natural style peanut butter you keep in the fridge would also probably work, I can’t vouch for the results. These varieties can sometimes be too oily and mess with the texture of peanut butter cookies. If you try it, let me know how it works for you!
- You’re not limited to Reese’s candies here. M&Ms, crushed oreos, chocolate chips and mini Hershey’s kisses would also taste great on the peanut butter bars! Get creative and have fun experimenting with different toppings.
- Be sure to use sweetened condensed milk in the filling NOT evaporated milk!
Nutrition
Perfect Peanut Butter Bars: Made with Reese’s and peanut butter fudge on a peanut butter cookie crust! The kids will go nuts for these sweet homemade treats.
it’s my favorite combination, too! these look fabulous!
I am swearing to myself that my kidlet has a peanut allergy. I miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiisssssssssssssssss my peanut butter!!!!!!!
Awww, I’m sorry you have pb withdrawal! Wish I could give you just a nibble of these bars!
These look amazing! Thanks for linking to my bark:-)
I’m all about peanut butter! The more the better! 🙂
Oh my goodness!! I didn’t even know there was such thing as peanut butter ganache! Mind = Blown. Thanks for sharing! It looks so yummy!
Yeah I’m not sure if it’s truly a “ganache” but I can’t think of any other term for it! Thanks for stopping by Danielle!
I looooooooove peanut butter bars, peanut butter all the way. And the Reese’s pieces. Sigh. 🙂
three insanely peanut buttery layers to LOVE LOVE LOVE. I’m in h eaven here Aimee. Serious heaven! You know how much I love peanut butter. And baking bars is what I rely on – so much easier than cookies any day. A pb overload and I wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂
Oh em gee. Love these! And so perfect for Halloween!
I’m with you. More peanut butter! 🙂
mmm peanut butter on top of peanut butter..my kinda bar!!
Holy cow, these look amazing! There is no way that I would have any self control over that middle layer. PB chips are a huge weakness for me!
I think I’ll have to make this for Halloween, and then everyday thereafter!
These look incredible to me! Rich and sweet and delicious. 🙂
I do love PB & choc together. One of my fave flavor combos ever! These bars are perfect for me!
Thanks Averie!!
Another winner of a recipe for THIS family!!! We also love that peanut butter-chocolate combination, and these puppies look delish! Thanks for sharing….I just need kids or something to share all this goodness with. (not with my hips! lol)
Blessings,
Leslie
Oh I know the feeling! Fortunately I freeze much of what I bake so that I can put it in kids lunches!
Yes please! Usually, I find the chocolate gets in the way of my peanut butter cravings, so like you, I say more pb!! These bars definitely could squelch any pb craving I have–look at ’em! Delish 🙂
Yeah, you won’t be craving peanut butter after eating one of these! Maybe a cup of milk!
You still showed up in my google friend connect!?! I thought that wasn’t going to work since you’re on WordPress now.
Well that’s just plain old odd…but I’ll take it!
All the Yummy desserts always makes me so amazing … love to share all these desserts with my loving partner .. love him a lot and missing him now 🙁
Another yummy dessert that my kiddies will love, bookmarking to make later! Thanks for sharing!
My drop is dropping right now!!! You just said you don’t really like chocolate and peanut butter?? It’s a good thing we are such good friends, because I will just have to overlook that admission:-) I like peanut butter, but pile on that chocolate goodness! Eeeiiikk Halloween is tomorrow and I have no candy left either! I guess I will just find the kids bag from Sunday and use that. They will never know since they will get more tomorrow night;-)
Woo Hoo! Just thought you would like to know you are back in my bloglovin feed:-)