Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bar Cookies
Chocolate chip peanut butter bar cookies are a fun easy treat for kids to help with baking. All you need is a box of cake mix, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. They are soft and chewy on the inside and delicious on the outside. Cooking with kids is so important because it can be a great way to connect with your children as well as teach them practical life skills.
These easy bar cookies are perfect for baking with kids! If you’re short on time, try this recipe with a box of cake mix. These peanut butter cookie bars are soft, gooey, and bursting with peanut butter flavor!
I love cookie bars and these cookies are so easy when you make them with a cake mix. The cookies have that homemade taste with half the prep time. They are irresistible treats and easy enough for children to help make
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How To Make the Bar Cookies Low Fat & Less White Sugar
- Instead of regular brand peanut butter, I used Naked Peanuts Butter Powder and Water
- Instead of white sugar, I used Organic Light Agava
- Instead of full-fat cream cheese, I used light cream cheese
- Instead of regular cows milk, I used oat milk
As indicated in the notes of the recipe you can use brand creamy peanut butter, full-fat cream cheese, regular cows milk, and white sugar but this increases the fat and glycemic index of the bar cookies.
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bar Cookies Ingredients
Before we get to the full recipe below, here are the ingredients you will need to make these chocolate chip peanut butter bar cookies…
- Yellow Cake mix
- Creamy Peanut Butter Powder or your favorite creamy peanut butter
- Water
- Cream Cheese (regular or low fat)
- Oat Milk (or regular milk)
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
- White Chocolate Chips
- Agave
What is Agave
Agave is a sweetener produced from the agave plant, and it is often considered a healthy alternative to sugar. Agave has a lower glycemic index than sugar, so it will not lead to spikes in your blood sugar when consumed. Agave is also sweeter than sugar, so you can use less of it.
How To Make Thick and Chew Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bar Cookies
- Preheat the oven to 350°, and spray oil or butter on a 13×9 baking pan.
- If using powdered peanut butter to reduce the fat, mix together 1 cup of peanut butter powder and 3/4 cup of water. Adjust the water to make a creamy peanut butter
- In a stand mixer or a hand mixer in a large bowl mix together the peanut butter mixture, the cake mix, and 1 egg. Mix until fully mixed that you can spread in a 13×9 pan.
- Using a spatula press this first layer into the 13×9 baking pan.
Second Layer:
- In your stand mixer or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream the cream cheese, and add the remaining 1/3 cup of peanut butter. Mix well.
- Next, add the agave and milk slowly, if using agave add an additional 1/2 cup of peanut butter powder to the mix. (If using white sugar you don’t need the extra peanut butter powder) mix until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the second layer over the cake mix layer and spread evenly
- Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chip and the white chip evenly over the top.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes. Use a toothpick in the center to see if cooked through. If still not cooked add another 5 minutes.
Potential Recipe Variations
These are a fun variation of the typical chocolate chip bar cookie that you can bake. They’re very easy to make, a time-saver, and taste great!
- Make with all regular chocolate Chip or all white chocolate chips
- Use all dark chocolate chips
- Make with peanut butter chips
- Make with butterscotch chips
- Use a white cake mix
- Use a chocolate cake mix
More Amazing Cookies
Looking for some easy cookie recipes? Here are a few of my faves…
- Red Velvet Heart Cake Mix Cut Out Cookies
- Ginger Molasses Christmas Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies Hand Mixer Pantry Ingredients
Thick and Chew Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bar Cookies
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
Description
Chocolate chip peanut butter bar cookies are a fun easy treat for kids to help with baking. All you need is a box of cake mix, peanut butter, and chocolate chips. They are soft and chewy on the inside and delicious on the outside. Cooking with kids is so important because it can be a great way to connect with your children as well as teach them practical life skills.
Ingredients
To Make 1 cup of Peanut Butter from Powder:
- 1 cup of Naked Peanut Powder
- 3/4 of water
To Make the Bar Cookies 1st Layer:
- yellow cake mix (I always use Duncan Hines Cake mixes)
- 1 egg
- 2/3 cup of creamy peanut butter (see above)
To Make the Bar Cookies 2nd Layer:
- 1 package (8 oz) of cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 1/4 cup of oat milk
- 1/4 cup of light agave (or 1/2 cup of white sugar)
- 1/2 cup of Naked Peanut Powder
To Layer on Top:
- 1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup of white chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°, and spray oil or butter on a 13×9 baking pan.
- If using powdered peanut butter to reduce the fat, mix together 1 cup of peanut butter powder and 3/4 cup of water. Adjust the water to make a creamy peanut butter
- In a stand mixer or a hand mixer in a large bowl mix together the peanut butter mixture, the cake mix, and 1 egg. Mix until fully mixed that you can spread in a 13×9 pan.
- Using a spatula press this first layer into the 13×9 baking pan.
Second Layer:
- In your stand mixer or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, cream the cream cheese, and add the remaining 1/3 cup of peanut butter. Mix well.
- Next, add the agave and milk slowly, if using agave add an additional 1/2 cup of peanut butter powder to the mix. (If using white sugar you don’t need the extra peanut butter powder) mix until smooth and creamy.
- Spread the second layer over the cake mix layer and spread evenly
- Sprinkle the semi-sweet chocolate chip and the white chip evenly over the top.
- Bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes. Use a toothpick in the center to see if cooked through. If still not cooked add another 5 minutes.
Notes
I made this recipe to be low fat, light on the dairy ingredients and with a low glycemic sugar alternative. If you do not have the specialty ingredients you can use brand creamy peanut butter, full fat cream cheese, regular cows milk and white sugar but this increase the fat and glycemic index of the bar cookies.
Keywords: Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Bar Cookies
Any time is a good time for chocolate chip cookies, especially homemade ones! These cookies are almost too easy to make and are a delicious treat, the perfect snack when you’re in a hurry.
