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These Peanut Butter Cookie Gooey Bars combine my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe and gooey chocolate for the most decadent gooey bar EVER!

These bars start with my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe. I’ve used that same recipe for so many things, including s’mores, caramel cookie bars, and stuffed cookies. Then I turned them into peanut butter cookie bars with the gooiest chocolatey filling!

How to make Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
- Mix up your cookie dough like you would normally – you can use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer.
- This recipe was written for regular shelf-stable (not natural) peanut butter. I like Skippy or Jif.
- Instead of making cookies out of the dough, I spread about 2/3 of it into the bottom of a 9×13″ pan.
- Then pour chocolate chips and a can of sweetened condensed milk over the top and spread the remaining dough over that. Once they bake they’re ooey gooey chocolatey peanut butter heaven.
Click to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions. See below the recipe card for even more information: process shots, variations, FAQ and more.

SAVE THIS RECIPE
Storing Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
- You can freeze these for up to 2-3 months – just layer between wax paper or parchment paper so that they don’t stick together.
Dorothy’s Expert Tips
- I like to line my pan with foil or parchment paper for easy removal.
- Use a metal pan for best results and bake in the center rack of the oven.
- Let these cool completely before trying to cut them – I even prefer chilling them first.
- You know these are done baking when they’re golden brown on top – if your oven bakes them too quickly on top reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and/or tent the pan with foil.

Peanut Butter Cookie Gooey Bars Recipe
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup (200g) peanut butter (no-stir, not natural, creamy or chunky)
- ¾ cup (150g) packed brown sugar
- ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) milk
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ cups (186g) all-purpose flour
- 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- 2 cups (340g) chocolate chips (milk or semi-sweet or dark)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch metal pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- Cream butter, peanut butter, and both sugars in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add egg, vanilla, milk, salt, and baking soda. Mix until combined. Slowly add flour and mix until dough comes together.
- Press ½-⅔ of the dough in the bottom of the pan. The dough is very sticky so spray your hands with cooking spray first. It’ll look like you don’t have enough dough but spread it into a thin layer.
- Sprinkle the chocolate chips over the top of the bottom layer. Pour the sweetened condensed milk (SCM) over the chocolate chips. Try to give a ½ inch border around the edges where the SCM does not touch the edge of the pan. This prevents bubbling edges.
- Spoon tablespoon drops of your remaining dough over the top of the SCM layer. Spray your hands again with cooking spray and gently flatten the dough with your fingers. I sort of spread the dough a bit while I was flattening. It won’t completely cover; you’ll still see the filling.
- Bake for about 30-36 minutes, until the bars begin to brown on top. Cool completely before slicing. These are gooey when you cut them unless you chill them first. (They taste better gooey!)
- Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. They can be frozen in sealable containers or ziploc bags between layers of paper towels for up to 2 months.
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition






Step by Step Photos
- Cream butter and peanut butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth and fluffy.
- Add egg, vanilla extract, baking soda, and salt. Mix until smooth. Mix in the flour until cookie dough forms.
- Press about 1/2 to 2/3 of the dough in the bottom of a 9×13-inch pan that’s been lined with foil and sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Add chocolate chips and sweetened condensed milk.
- Top with remaining dough.
- Bake until golden – chill before slicing.




Can I substitute melted peanut butter chips instead of peanut butter? Will it throw off the texture?
Yes those are definitely not the same thing
Can I make this using any cookie dough recipe/storebought cookie dough or do I need to specifically make the cookie dough from this recipe?
Any store bought cookie dough is fine!
So I’m a bit confused. I printed the 2021 version of this recipe and it’s completely different. I am missing something or are they 2 different recipes. I want to make them for Thanksgiving, so which version do you suggest?
Thank you in advance.
This one hasn’t changed – do you mean to use this one: https://www.crazyforcrust.com/peanut-butter-cup-gooey-bars/
Confusing, I know, back when I didn’t realize names mattered, ha!
These are easy peasy bars. So good and gooey. Awesome recipe
Delicious! These are a favorite in my house now, especially with my husband who loves anything with peanut butter. These peanut butter cookie bars are easy to make and SO tasty. It’s difficult to eat just one slice! I’ve made these for guests too, and everyone loves them. Thank you for the recipe!
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