Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Bars are about to rock your dessert world. I mean, we’ve got layers of buttery brown sugar dough, creamy peanut butter, and melty peanut butter cups. Oh, and don’t even get me started on that luscious condensed milk filling. These bars are basically what peanut butter dreams are made of. Trust me, one bite and you’ll be hooked.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First of all, peanut butter. Need I say more? These bars are the perfect blend of soft, gooey, and chewy, with chunks of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups adding little pockets of chocolatey-peanut butter bliss. Plus, they’re super easy to throw together—no fancy equipment, no tricky techniques, just deliciousness in every bite.
Expert Tips and Tricks
Chopping the Reese’s : Keep those peanut butter cups in the fridge for a bit before chopping. They’ll be less melty and easier to slice.
Spreading the dough : This dough is sticky, and it will test your patience. To make it easier, try lightly greasing your spatula (or your hands) with some cooking spray.
Gooey is good : Don’t overbake these! The bars should look a little underdone in the center when you pull them out of the oven. They’ll firm up as they cool, but you want that gooeyness in the middle to stay.
Recipe Variations and Possible Substitutions
Switch up the chips : Not into peanut butter chips? Try chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, or even white chocolate chips for a different flavor twist.
Nutty options : If you want to go extra nutty, you can use crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy. It’ll add some texture to that gooey layer.
Gluten-free: Swap the all-purpose flour with your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking flour. Make sure to check those Reese’s cups for gluten too!
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
Okay, these bars are obviously great on their own, but if you really want to level up, serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Trust me, the cold ice cream melting over the warm gooey bars is a game-changer. For a drink, a cold glass of milk or even a coffee would be a perfect pairing. Peanut butter and coffee are a surprisingly good match!
Storage and Reheating Tips
Storage : Keep these bars in an airtight container at room temp for up to 3 days, but honestly, good luck making them last that long. They also freeze beautifully—just wrap them individually in plastic wrap and toss them in a freezer-safe bag.
Reheating : If you want to relive that fresh-out-of-the-oven gooeyness, pop a bar in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds.
FAQs
Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Bars
Ingredients
For the Bars
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup peanut butter chips
- 1 cup mini or regular Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups chopped
For the Gooey Layer:
- 1 can 14 oz sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with foil or parchment paper, leaving a bit of overhang for easy removal. Give it a light spritz of non-stick spray.
Prepare the Dough:
- In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract. Add flour, baking powder, and salt, mixing until just combined. Fold in peanut butter chips and chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
Layer the Bars:
- Spread about two-thirds of the dough evenly into the prepared pan. It’ll be sticky, so don’t hesitate to use your hands or a spatula to press it down.
Make the Gooey Layer:
- In a separate bowl, mix the sweetened condensed milk and creamy peanut butter until smooth. Pour this over the dough layer in the pan, spreading it evenly.
Add the Remaining Dough:
- Drop spoonfuls of the remaining dough on top of the peanut butter mixture. It won’t cover everything, but don’t stress—it’ll spread as it bakes.
Bake the Bars:
- Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is still slightly gooey. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Cut and Serve:
- Once cool, lift the bars out of the pan using the overhanging foil or parchment. Slice into squares and enjoy!
