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Almond Joy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars: the perfect cookie bar for Almond Joy addicts!

Two Almond Joy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars stacked on top of eachother with recipe title on top of photo

You all know how much I looooooooove Almond Joy candy bars, right?

It’s love with a capital lust.

Up until a few years ago, I hated them. Er, I thought I did. I’d never had one. Now, I can’t get enough.

What’s really strange is that I only buy them at Halloween time. Halloween was when I first fell in looooove with them, so it’s kind of an anniversary of sorts. It’s my Almond Joy Anniversary!

This last week has been super stressful – Online BlogCon starts on October 8th. Ashton and I are working like madwomen to get it all ready and I just have not had the time I’ve wanted to test recipes and try new things.

{Pssst…OBC ’13 registration ends tomorrow. Go get your tickets!}

After two recipe fails in one day and a lot of frustration, I needed something comforting…and something I knew would work.

Enter: Almond Joy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars.

Two Almond Joy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars stacked on top of eachother on a white napkin on burlap

Last week I was at Walmart and alllll the Halloween is out. I snagged a few bags of Almond Joys because, well, that’s how I celebrate our anniversary.

I knew that these bars would be fantastic, because they start with my favorite peanut butter cookie dough. Instead of making cookies, I just pressed them into a 9-inch square pan.

Then I unwrapped 25 fun size Almond Joys and pressed them on top. Let me tell you, it was hard not to sneak some. Really hard. Like Edward-and-Bella-in-Twilight hard.

But I managed. For all of you!

Closeup shot of two Almond Joy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars stacked on top of eachother with more cookie bars in the background

These bars are super thick and rich. There’s tons of peanut butter flavor and the Almond Joy on top adds a chocolate and coconut kick to every bite.

I made these in a 9″ square pan, but they are really thick. Next time, I think I’ll make them in a 9×13″ pan and use more Almond Joys on top. Do what you like, I’ve noted the options in the recipe.

I think my favorite part about Halloween are all the mini candy bars.

They’re mini – so it’s okay to eat a dozen. On top of cookies. Right?

Close up shot of Almond Joy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars stacked on top of eachother

Riiiiiiight. 🙂

almond joys on peanut butter cookie bars - slices in a stack on parchment

Almond Joy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

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Ingredients
 

  • 1/2 cup butter softened
  • 3/4 cup peanut butter
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 cups flour
  • 25 mini Almond Joy candy bars from about a bag and a half (see note)
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Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9x9” pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. (See note.)
  • Cream butter, peanut butter, and both sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, about 2-3 minutes. Add egg, vanilla, milk, baking soda, and salt and mix until combined. Slowly add flour and mix until dough just comes together.
  • Press the cookie dough into the prepared pan. Unwrap all the candy bars and press them in even rows along the top of the dough.
  • Bake for 22-24 minutes, until it gets golden on top. Let cool before slicing so that the candy has a chance to re-harden.
Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Click here to see more PEANUT BUTTER recipes!

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Sweets from friends:
Almond Joy Gooey Rolls, Happy Food Healthy Life
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Last Updated on February 2, 2023



Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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39 Comments

  1. I am so excited for Online BlogCon! I am sure you guys are super stressed but I know it will be an awesome conference! At least you have a pan of these cookies to get you through it!

  2. You know the candies to pick! Coconut and chocolate = win. And on peanut butter cookie dough = I can’t even. Totally justifies eating a dozen. Man, I need to send you all my Halloween candies and let you go to town with them! You create some amazing stuff!

  3. You sound like a kid, lol! You never liked them – until you actually tried them, haha! Maybe you’re not really as picky as you imagine you are?? 🙂
    These look really, really good! Pinning!

  4. Omg Dorothy I too loooove AJs! They are my absolute favorite acid have been since I was little. Thank you for linking up to my almond joy gooey rolls… They are to die for!

  5. I still have never had an Almond Joy and I have no idea why. Coconut and chocolate together are one of my favorite combos, but add peanut butter too? Yeah, I think I am in heaven now! They look awesome, Dorothy and I hope you get a break soon!

  6. Unfortunately we don’t have AJ’s but we do have Bounty’s which are similar without the almond. Want to make these they sound yummy

  7. Until you relinked them, I did not realize how many recipes with AJ’s you had. Wow! You DO love them! These are so fun. And I just noticed you’re at 30k now. 10k in a week woman. CONGRATS!