Peanut Butter Bars

I'll be the first to say "Stupid Easy Cooking" is also lazy cooking.  A few simple ingredients and you're done.  No fussing about.  I like bars, or bar cookies as they are called in some circles as you skip the tedious scooping individual cookies and pop it all into a 9X13 baking dish and call it a day.  

This recipe is reminiscent of those peanut butter cup candies in the orange package.  It's the rich peanut butter and chocolate chips playing together well that makes it such a satisfying treat.  Or bribe if you have a toddler under foot that needs a little friendly persuasion to do things right.

I use the traditional Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate chips for this recipe.  I like the more intense pure chocolate flavor.  Its also not as sweet as milk chocolate, but if thats your perference have at it.  You won't see a significant change in the flavor of the bars.

Peanut Butter Bars

• 3/4 c creamy peanut butter
• 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 c brown sugar
• 2 t vanilla
• 3 T milk
• 1/2 t salt
• 1/2 t baking soda
• 1 egg
• 1 3/4 c all purpose flour
• 1 1/2 c semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F  Butter or spray with cooking spray a 9X13 baking dish.

Cream together peanut butter, butter and brown sugar.  Beat 3-5 minutes until very fluffy a light in color.  Add egg, beat until well combined.  Add vanilla and milk and beat until well combined.  

Reduce speed on mixer. Sprinkle on salt and baking soda.  Add flour slowly and stir until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.  This is a very thick dough.  When combined dump into prepared baking dish and lightly press smooth and level across the pan.

Bake 18-22 minutes until lightly browned and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.  Cool on wire rack before cutting into bars.