Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Start by preparing your baking pan. Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with foil and spray it with cooking spray. This ensures that your bars come out easily without sticking.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F. This step is crucial as it helps the bars cook evenly. While the oven heats up, you can mix the cookie base.
- In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and 1 egg. Use a spoon to mix until it forms a cohesive dough. The mixture will be thick and slightly sticky.
- Press the dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. You might want to spray your hands with a little cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Next, sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the peanut butter layer. This gives a wonderful chocolatey surprise in every bite!
- In a medium bowl, beat together cream cheese, sour cream, 1 egg, and 1/4 cup of granulated sugar. Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature to avoid lumps. Beat on high with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
- Pour the cheesecake mixture over the chocolate chip layer, spreading it evenly to cover everything. This creates a beautiful, creamy top layer.
- Sprinkle with Reese’s Pieces or other candy for an extra crunch and color. This adds a fun visual element and enhances the flavor.
- Carefully place the pan in your preheated oven and bake for 40 to 45 minutes. The top should just begin to brown, and the center will wobble slightly when shaken.
- Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let it cool at room temperature for at least one hour. After that, refrigerate for a minimum of four hours or overnight so the bars can set completely. Once set, slice into bars and serve!
Notes
If you're looking for storage tips, keep leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days. They taste great chilled! You can also freeze these bars! Just wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and foil. They’ll stay fresh for up to three months. To enhance your dessert experience, pair these bars with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a delightful dessert. The creaminess of the ice cream complements the bars perfectly. Feel free to experiment with different toppings! Try using chopped nuts or swap out the Reese’s Pieces for another type of candy or sprinkles. These bars are delicious served cold or at room temperature. Experiment to see which you prefer!