These Halloween themed creamy peanut butter cookie bars are the best way to celebrate—especially if you are like us and have always enjoyed the “treat” part of Halloween more than the “trick.” They are peanut butter cookie dough with chocolate chips and topped with Reese’s goblins. We also add peanut butter Halloween M&Ms because, when it comes to chocolate and peanut butter, we are of the belief that more is more.
Recipe notes for perfect peanut butter cookie bars:
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter is best for this recipe. A chunky peanut butter won’t create the same texture in the bars.
- Cook Time: We like our peanut butter cookie bars on the underdone side so we bake them for closer to 25 minutes. This gives them a soft, chewy, moist interior. If you like them a little more done, like a cookie, increase the bake time slightly.
- Metal Pan: Metal pans conduct heat more than a glass pan so the bake time is lower. This is also what creates the perfect chewy, crisp edges on brownies and bars. We prefer using a metal pan, but if a glass pan is used, increase the bake time.
Halloween toppings:
- M&Ms: The M&Ms we used are Halloween colored and filled with peanut butter
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups: To get the green goblins, we used Frankenstein Reese’s peanut butter cups. After they melt slightly, we top them with eye sprinkles
- Eye sprinkles: The eyeball sprinkles we used are edible and stay intact when baked
Halloween Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Servings 12
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter room temperature
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
- 2 eggs
- 2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt diamond kosher, ½ teaspoon if morton
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- ½ cup Halloween M&Ms we used peanut butter
- 8-10 googly eye sprinkles optional
- 3 green Halloween Reese's optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray or line with parchment paper
- On medium speed in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer, cream the butter, peanut butter and sugars for 2 minutes until fluffy
- Add in the eggs and vanilla extract and mix on medium for 1 more minute
- Add in the flour and salt and mix on low until just combined (~20 seconds)
- Fold in the chocolate chips
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula to form an even layer
- Scatter the M&Ms on top and eye sprinkles, if using
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until the center is no longer jiggly but soft (note this bake time is for a 9×13 inch metal pan – if using a glass pan or smaller pan, the time will need to be increased)
- After baking, add three Halloween Reese's to the top if using. Let them sit for ~1 minute to soften and then press in two eyes on top of each peanut butter cup. Let cool for ~1 hour before cutting
