If you have a serious sweet tooth and a love for all things rich and creamy, then wait until you try this Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Bars Recipe. This dessert is the perfect marriage of deep chocolate flavor and luscious peanut butter creaminess, baked into irresistibly soft bars that melt in your mouth. Each bite is a divine combination of a fudgy chocolate base and a smooth, buttery peanut butter topping with chocolate chips scattered on top for extra bursts of sweetness. If you’re looking for a dessert that feels like a warm hug and delivers serious comfort, these bars are an absolute must-make.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe calls for simple, everyday ingredients that come together beautifully to create layers of flavor and texture. Each component plays a crucial role in making these bars truly ooey and gooey, ensuring every bite is balanced perfectly between chocolate richness and peanut butter silkiness.
- Chocolate cake mix: Provides a rich, chocolaty foundation that is easy to work with and yields a soft, cakey crust.
- Butter, melted: Adds moisture and richness to the cake crust and helps bind the ingredients together.
- Egg: Helps the crust set firmly while keeping it tender.
- Cream cheese, softened: Brings a tangy creaminess that balances the sweetness and creates that signature gooey texture.
- Peanut butter: Delivers a nutty depth and velvety smoothness that pairs perfectly with chocolate.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens the peanut butter layer while keeping the texture delicate and smooth.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances all the flavors, tying the chocolate and peanut butter together harmoniously.
- Chocolate chips: Sprinkle bursts of melted chocolate on top for extra indulgence and a delightful texture contrast.
How to Make Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Baking Dish and Crust
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C) and greasing a 9×13-inch pan, or line it with parchment paper for easy removal later. Then, mix the chocolate cake mix, melted butter, and egg until the mixture is smooth and fully combined. Press this mixture firmly into the pan to form an even, chocolaty crust—the base for all that peanut buttery goodness.
Step 2: Whip Up the Peanut Butter Filling
In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until you get a creamy, luscious filling. This step is key to achieving that famously ooey, gooey texture that makes these bars so irresistible. Smoothness here ensures your topping spreads evenly and bakes up perfectly.
Step 3: Assemble the Layers
Pour the peanut butter mixture carefully over the chocolate crust, spreading it out evenly with a spatula. The even layer helps every bar have that perfect ratio of chocolate to peanut butter in every bite. Once smooth, sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top to add spots of melted chocolate pleasure.
Step 4: Bake to Perfection
Pop the whole pan into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. You want the top to turn a lovely golden color, with a toothpick inserted coming out mostly clean but still with a few moist crumbs—that’s the sign of rightly gooey bars. Let them cool completely before slicing; this cooling time solidifies the perfect texture you’re after.
How to Serve Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
Garnishes
To make these bars even more eye-catching and flavor-packed, consider topping them with a light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of melted chocolate or peanut butter. Chopped roasted peanuts on top add a delightful crunch contrast to the creamy filling, making each bite exciting and fun.
Side Dishes
These bars shine as a decadent dessert on their own, but pairing them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream takes the indulgence up a notch. Fresh berries or a cup of strong coffee can balance the richness and keep the experience refreshing.
Creative Ways to Present
If you’re serving these at a party or giving them as gifts, consider cutting them into smaller bite-sized squares and placing them on decorative trays or mini cupcake liners. You can also stack them in layers with parchment paper in between and wrap beautifully for a thoughtful homemade treat.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Bars stay fresh for up to four days when stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Keeping them covered is key to preserving their signature soft and moist texture without drying out.
Freezing
You can freeze these bars for longer storage without losing their delicious quality. Wrap individual bars tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, or store in a freezer-safe container. When you want a treat, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator and enjoy their ooey gooey magic all over again.
Reheating
If you prefer a warm dessert, reheating these bars gently in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds gives them a fresh-baked feel, reactivating that melty peanut butter and chocolate combination that’s pure heaven.
FAQs
Can I use natural peanut butter for this recipe?
Natural peanut butter can work but may affect the texture since it often has a higher oil content. It might make the filling a bit runnier, so make sure your cream cheese is well softened and consider chilling the bars for longer before slicing.
Do I have to use a boxed cake mix?
While the boxed chocolate cake mix adds convenience and consistent flavor, you can substitute with a homemade chocolate cake batter if you prefer. Just be sure it’s thick enough to form a sturdy crust layer.
Can I make these bars gluten-free?
Yes! Simply choose a gluten-free chocolate cake mix and confirm that all other ingredients (especially the chocolate chips) are gluten-free to make this dessert safe for gluten-sensitive eaters.
How long do these bars need to cool before serving?
It’s best to let them cool completely at room temperature, about 1 to 2 hours. This ensures the filling sets up nicely so your bars cut cleanly without crumbling or being too messy.
Can I add nuts into the recipe?
Absolutely! Chopped peanuts or even walnuts mixed into the peanut butter layer or sprinkled on top add a wonderful crunch and nutty flavor that complements the chocolate beautifully.
Final Thoughts
This Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Bars Recipe is a true crowd-pleaser that combines the best of both worlds—comforting chocolate and creamy peanut butter—in the most deliciously gooey way imaginable. Whether you’re baking for family, friends, or just yourself (because you deserve it), these bars bring warmth, joy, and a little touch of magic to any occasion. Give them a try, and get ready to become everyone’s favorite baker!
Print
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Bars Recipe
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
Description
Indulge in these rich and creamy Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Bars featuring a chocolate cake crust topped with a luscious peanut butter cream cheese layer and melty chocolate chips. Perfectly gooey and irresistible, these bars are a delight for peanut butter and chocolate lovers alike.
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Crust
- 1 box chocolate cake mix
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 egg
For the Peanut Butter Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Make the Chocolate Crust: In a large bowl, combine the chocolate cake mix, melted butter, and egg, mixing until fully blended. Press this chocolate batter evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish to form the crust.
- Prepare the Peanut Butter Filling: In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Assemble the Bars: Pour the creamy peanut butter mixture over the chocolate crust and spread it evenly using a spatula to cover the entire surface.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the chocolate chips evenly over the top of the peanut butter layer, distributing them for every bite to have rich chocolate bursts.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top turns golden and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature to set fully before cutting into squares. Serve and enjoy the ooey, gooey texture in every bite.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for smooth mixing without lumps.
- Do not overbake; the bars should be slightly gooey inside for the ideal texture.
- For easier cutting, refrigerate the bars after cooling to firm up further.
- Use parchment paper lining for effortless removal and cleanup.
- You can substitute creamy peanut butter with natural peanut butter, but the texture may vary slightly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
