Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Butterfinger Frosting
Try this Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Butterfinger Frosting recipe
Try this Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Butterfinger Frosting recipe
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- dry ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
- 2 cups quick oats
- 1 cup (2 sticks) butter softened
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter*
- peanut butter layer
- butterfinger chocolate frosting
- 2 king size (3.7 oz.) butterfinger bars finely crushed (i use my food processor)
- 2 cups sifted powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup evaporated milk plus more as needed
- topping (optional)
- 1/2 king size (3.7 oz.) butterfinger bars finely crushed (i use my food processor)
- Carbohydrate 20.6000101990767 g
- Cholesterol 22.7767488922208 mg
- Fat 10.2273705213653 g
- Fiber 1.07045653767763 g
- Protein 2.4723964867931 g
- Saturated Fat 5.90834137071588 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (47g)
- Sodium 56.9464234828465 mg
- Sugar 19.5295536613991 g
- Trans Fat 0.765829728398829 g
- Calories 180 calories
Step-by-step
- In a stand or electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
- Beat in 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter.
- Add eggs and vanilla and mix until just combined.
- In a separate bowl, mix together the Dry Ingredients until well combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients to Wet Ingredients and mix a few times then proceed to mix by hand (the dough will be thick) until evenly combined.
- Lightly grease a large 12" x 17" jelly roll pan and add cookie dough.
- Spread dough out into an even layer.
- Bake at 350F degrees for 12-15 or until edges are barely golden.
- While the cookie is still hot, top with spoonfuls of 1 cup smooth peanut butter.
- Let sit 30 seconds or so for the peanut butter to melt a little to become more spreadable.
- Once spreadable, smooth peanut butter evenly over cookie with a spatula.
- Let cool.
- Meanwhile (you can do the first part while your cookie is baking) melt butter in a medium saucepan.
- Stir in cocoa powder and bring to a boil for 1 minute.
- Let cool (I put mine in the refrigerator).
- Transfer to a mixing bowl and beat in Butterfingers, powdered sugar and vanilla until combined (it will be thick).
- Slowly beat in evaporated milk to reach desired consistency.
- Spread frosting over cooled peanut butter layer.
- Sprinkle with crushed Butterfinger crumbs (optional).
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Butterfinger Frosting: A Sweet Treat for Any Occasion
As a busy mom, I'm always looking for delicious and easy recipes that won't take up my entire day. These Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Butterfinger Frosting fit the bill perfectly. They're incredibly rich and satisfying, and the combination of peanut butter and Butterfinger is simply irresistible. What started as a simple craving for a comforting dessert has become a family favorite, enjoyed at birthdays, potlucks, or just a quiet night at home. The best part? These bars are surprisingly easy to make, even for beginners.
The base of these bars is a classic peanut butter cookie, chewy and packed with nutty flavor. I love the contrast of the crunchy peanut butter mixed into the dough, providing little bursts of texture in every bite. The smooth peanut butter layer adds an extra layer of decadence, melting beautifully into the warm cookie base. Then comes the star of the show – the Butterfinger frosting! It’s rich, creamy, and studded with crunchy Butterfinger pieces, creating a truly unforgettable combination of textures and tastes. I often use a food processor to finely crush the Butterfingers, ensuring even distribution throughout the frosting, but you can certainly crush them by hand if you prefer.
The recipe is flexible. Feel free to adjust the sweetness to your liking by altering the amount of sugar in either the cookie or the frosting. If you're not a huge fan of Butterfingers, other chocolate-peanut butter combinations would work equally well. Perhaps a Snickers or Reese's Pieces frosting, for example. The possibilities are endless! But regardless of what you choose, the core elements remain: that melt-in-your-mouth peanut butter cookie, the luscious peanut butter layer, and a decadent, almost sinful, chocolatey frosting.
These bars are perfect for sharing. I often bake a batch and bring them to family gatherings or potlucks, where they're always a huge hit. They're also great for meal prepping – bake a batch on the weekend and enjoy them throughout the week as a delicious after-school snack or a satisfying treat after a long day. The cookies keep well for several days stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Although, I doubt they'll last that long!
The beauty of this recipe lies in its simplicity and its ability to deliver extraordinary results with minimal effort. It's a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most satisfying desserts are the ones that are the easiest to make. So, whether you're a seasoned baker or a kitchen novice, I encourage you to give this recipe a try. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.
Baking these Peanut Butter Cookie Bars with Butterfinger Frosting isn't just about creating a delicious treat; it's about creating a moment of joy, a small act of self-care, or a way to connect with loved ones. The aroma filling your kitchen as they bake, the satisfaction of assembling the layers, and finally, the pure pleasure of tasting that first bite – it's an experience I treasure. And knowing that I can share this simple joy with others makes the whole process even more rewarding.
So go ahead, indulge your sweet tooth! You deserve it.
