Something happened to the pantry. I don't know how it got so cluttered. I look around and see it filled with bits of this and half bags of that. A few months ago my pasta had gone from a big collection to a reasonable variety. The area for dried beans and rice had become manageable. How could it build back up in such a short amount of time? The mission is to get it back in order. Baking supplies drew my attention first. A couple of half bags of chips inspired me to make Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars.
Winter kicked off a craving for comfort food. I tackled short ribs for the first time and ate a ridiculous amount of holiday treats. I managed to chow on the entire tin of fudge from my mom in no time at all. Did that satisfy my cravings? Not in any way whatsoever. I gave in to my ultimate weakness of peanut butter and polished off the jar to make these bars. I had to use up those peanut butter and chocolate baking chips anyway.
How are the peanut butter chocolate chip bars? The texture is similar to a brownie or blondie. They can be more or less chewy depending on how long you beat the eggs (2 minutes for chewy-moist and 4 minutes for cake-like). I prefer them to be in between so I went with 3 minutes as noted in the recipe below.
Do you clean out your pantry often? Is there a schedule you keep? Or are you like me and wait until it is packed and needs to be de-cluttered? At least it can lead to inspiring some fun and tasty new creations. Now I'm off to do something about the rest of the pantry…
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- ⅓ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted and cooled
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¾ cup peanut butter chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9-inch square baking pan. For easier removal, line bottom of pan with parchment paper and lightly grease parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.
- Beat eggs for 3 minutes in a large bowl using an electric mixer at high speed, or until thick and fluffy.
- Add brown sugar to eggs and beat to combine until smooth.
- Add peanut butter, melted butter, and vanilla to egg mixture. Beat until combined.
- Add flour mixture and mix until just combined.
- Place the chocolate and peanut butter chips in a bowl and toss to mix together.
- Stir half of the chips into the batter.
- Spread batter evenly in prepared pan.
- Sprinkle top with remaining half of the chips.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
- Cut into bars or squares.
Notes
Recipe adapted from one in the Me and Mom N' Dad Cookbook published by Mars, Inc. in 1992 (no longer in print).
I just did an inventory of everything in our pantry - who knew I had 3 cans of black beans? The bars look fabulous!
Then it is time to do something with those black beans. Good thing they are so good (at least I enjoy them a lot).
After moving my pantry is tightly packed with every imaginable spice, powder and grain you can imagine. But the fridge is almost empty! I have only cooked once in the last 3 weeks. And every time I walk into my new tiny kitchen, all I want to do is use things up and make space! Too bad I don't have any peanut butter... these look amazing Renee!
I can only imagine your new pantry being tight after moving into a smaller space. Hopefully you will start back with regular cooking soon (and regular posts too) and use up some pantry items.
This is just classic deliciousness. You can't go wrong with choc & pb!
Thanks so much Kayle and I could not agree with you more.
Clean out the pantry? Uhhhh well I guess that happens when the freezer gets too packed (I tend to get keep chocolate chips, nuts and stuff in there so they don't spoil). Generally I'm good about not buying more pasta or rice before I finish what I have though. This bars look amazing and anything with peanut butter and chocolate gets me.
I keep nuts in the freezer but never thought to store chocolate chips there. Great idea.
I've never thought that much about how long I beat the eggs in relation to the texture of the final product-- thanks for that tip. I now will pay more attention and do some experimenting in my kitchen.
Thanks! Holly
I was surprised to make that egg beating length discovery too. It's fun to learn new techniques and thing in cooking.
When you finish cleaning out your pantry, can you please purge mine??? Great bars, Renee...I think I'd toss in some white chocolate chips, too...all in the name of using up leftovers 🙂
Sure Liz, I'll be right there... well, maybe. White chocolate chips in the mix would be great too.
i'm glad you posted a recipe. i've been getting requests for pb bars! they look great!
Thanks Dina and I hope you enjoy them.
Happy belated New Year, Renee! Lol, no matter what i do, my pantry is always over-stuffed and disorganized! I have a ton of half used baking stuff from 6 months ago that I really ought to use. I like your idea of putting them into a delicious bar. This looks amazing!
A very happy belated New Year to you too Nancy!!
I am powerless around peanut butter. 🙂
I swear a jar of peanut butter whispers, and sometimes screams, my name at all hours of the day and night.