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
Scale
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
