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Spooky Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

Spooky Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
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Spooky Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are a festive and crowd-pleasing treat blending creamy peanut butter, sugars, and simple ingredients to create chewy, rich, and gooey bars perfect for Halloween parties or any spooky celebration. Easy and quick to prepare, these bars offer a deliciously soft center with crisp edges and customizable flavors that everyone will love.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free option)
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Optional Mix-Ins and Toppings

  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips or Halloween-themed candies
  • Mini candy eyeballs, edible glitter, or orange and black sprinkles for decoration
  • Melted dark or milk chocolate for swirls or drizzling
  • A pinch of cinnamon and cayenne pepper for a spicy twist

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease or line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
  2. Mix the Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar. Beat well until smooth and creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition, then stir in vanilla extract.
  3. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet peanut butter mixture, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing.
  4. Add Optional Mix-ins: Fold in any desired extras like chocolate chips or festive candies to add texture and color to your bars.
  5. Bake Until Golden: Spread the batter evenly into your prepared pan and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the edges are set and the center is slightly soft. A toothpick inserted in the middle should come out with a few moist crumbs.
  6. Cool and Slice: Allow the cookie bars to cool completely in the pan before slicing into squares to keep the bars intact and chewy.

Notes

  • Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and even baking.
  • Don’t overmix the batter; this keeps the bars tender instead of tough.
  • Check baking time closely; bars can go from gooey to dry quickly, so watch the oven after 20 minutes.
  • Line your pan with parchment paper to make lifting bars out easy and prevent sticking.
  • Customize toppings before baking by pressing candies or sprinkles on top to avoid sinking.

Nutrition

Keywords: peanut butter, cookie bars, Halloween dessert, chewy bars, festive treat, easy baking, crowd-pleaser, gluten free option

Find it online: https://marybaking.com/spooky-peanut-butter-cookie-bars/