How to Make Peanut Butter Bars at Home

Soft and chewy Peanut Butter Bars topped with peanut butter icing and chopped peanuts. This sweet and salty treat is loaded with delicious peanut butter flavor.

Gather ‘round peanut butter lovers – these are for you! Soft and chewy, sweet and salty Peanut Butter Bars with Peanut Butter Frosting! These bars should come with a warning. Something along the lines of, “do not leave yourself alone in the house with these,” “prepare to exhibit little-to-no self control,” “find some friends to share these with” … because, dang it, they are SO GOOD.

I set out to create a Peanut Butter Bar that was loaded with peanut butter flavor. Peanut butter desserts can often be lacking in the flavor department, but I wanted to make sure these had undeniable peanut flavor in every bite. Mission accomplished!

Peanut Butter Bars with Peanut Butter Frosting

• These bars are made up of three different components: base, icing, and topping.
• Peanut Butter Blondie: The base of these bars is a combination of a blondie and a soft cookie. Peanut butter, melted butter, brown sugar, and vanilla flavor the bars and makes them soft and chewy.
• Peanut Butter Icing: This icing comes together quickly on the stovetop. A combination of butter, peanut butter, and milk is heated in a saucepan. Powdered sugar and vanilla are whisked in, then the icing is quickly added to the warm bars and spread into an even layer. This icing will firm up as it cools.
• Toppings: In order to add some crunch and a slight saltiness, I sprinkle roasted salted peanuts right on top of the icing. I also like adding a sprinkling of flaky sea salt to bump up the saltiness even more (optional).

Ingredients

Bars:

• ½ cup unsalted butter melted
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter* at room temperature see note
• 1 ½ cups light brown sugar make sure it is fresh and soft
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Icing:

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter cut into pieces
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter*
• ¼ cup milk
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup roasted salted peanuts chopped
• Flaky sea salt

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