Perfectly Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Squares

 

I decided to bake an after school treat for the boys on Monday, kind of to ease the pain of letting go of their Summer freedoms. ha :) Truthfully, I only heard one of them bemoaning that fact but I think he'll come around. :)

 

I have made these bars countless times without the peanut butter but I always think they're too sweet and too gooey in the center. I decided to play around with them a bit and add some peanut butter in the place of some of the regular butter and also reduce the sugar.

 

Like!

 

The peanut butter is not over powering at all but adds a subtle flavor, and with the sugar reduction they are fluffier but still somewhat chewy. And I didn't think they dried out as quickly as usual with the addition of peanut butter.

 

This makes a pretty big pan (half bakers sheet) of bars so for those of you not feeding an army, cutting the recipe in half works well, too. :)

 

1cup butter, softened

½ cup creamy peanut butter

2½ cups brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla

6 eggs

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

½ cup mini peanut butter chips

 

Combine the first six ingredients in a Kitchen Aid Mixer and with the paddle attachment beat until fluffy. Add the baking powder and salt. Give it a stir then add the flour 2 cups at a time. Mix well. Add the chips and stir again.

 

Bake in a half bakers sheet (sprayed with non stick spray) @350° for 25 minutes.

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

♥Blessings!♥