Healthy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

These peanut butter cookie bars have been one of my favorite healthy treats to make for years!! They are soft, perfectly sweet, and taste like a monster cookie.

If you are a sucker for anything peanut butter like I am, then you have to try these cookie bars. They ae made with natural peanut butter giving you a strong peanut butter flavor and with the addition of the chocolate chunks they are heavenly!

Making these healthy peanut butter cookie bars is super simple. You beat all the ingredients together. Then add in any chocolate that you like. Spread the dough into a baking dish then bake until set. In just 30 minutes you have a delicious, soft and healthy treat to enjoy!

I love these cookie bars because they taste just like a peanut butter cookie but with no refined sugars, are gluten free and can also be made dairy free if you need. They are great for kids to enjoy, as an afternoon sweet treat with a cup of tea, or as a healthy dessert to serve.

Tips For Making Healthy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

1. Make sure you beat the butters and sweeteners together until nice and smooth before adding everything else. This will help give you the perfect texture in your cookie bars without any greasy pockets.
2. When spreading the mixture into the pan, make sure you press it down well. You want to get it nice and flat and make sure there’s no air pockets in the dough to get the most even baking.
3. Be sure to remove the bars from the oven when they seem slightly undercooked. They will set as they cool (just like a cookie does) and taking them out undercooked, will ensure you get a nice soft bar.

Healthy Peanut Butter Cookie Bar Ingredients

Peanut Butter– You want natural peanut butter for this recipe. You can use smooth or chunky.

Butter– Salted or unsalted is good. If you want these dairy free, you can sub with softened coconut oil.

Maple Syrup– This is the main sweetener in these bars bringing delicious flavor and nutrients.

Coconut Sugar– Just a touch, for a bit of additional sweetness, If you don’t have coconut sugar sub with brown sugar.

Egg– One egg is all you need to help bind the cookie dough.

Vanilla– Helps enhance the cookie flavor.

Oats– Rolled oats is great for this recipe, not quick oats.

Almond Flour- This keeps the bars gluten free and also keeps them moist and chewy.

Coconut Flour– A touch of this helps balance out the oily almond flour to give a perfect cookie texture.

Baking Soda– This is the leavening agent in these.

Chocolate Chunks- You can use chunks, or chips. Semi sweet, dark chocolate or even m&ms if you like!

Peanuts– These are optional, but I love adding chopped peanuts for some crunch.

The Steps

1. Preheat your oven to 350F and grease and line a 8-9 inch square baking dish with parchment.
2. Start by adding the butter, peanut butter, maple syrup and coconut sugar to a bowl of a stand mixer.
3. Beat until the mixture is light, fluffy and smooth.
4. Then, add in the egg and vanilla and mix.
5. Once combined, add in the almond flour, oats, coconut flour, baking soda and salt. Beat until well incorporated.
6. Finally, fold in the chocolate chunks and chopped peanuts.
7. Dump the dough into the prepared baking dish and press it down so it is nice and flat and getsinto every corner.
8. OPTIONAL: Place a few extra chocolate chunks over the top of the cookie dough, and a sprinkle of flaky salt.

1. Bake the cookie bars for 13-14 minutes or until set around the edges, but still soft in the center. You want them to still seem slightly underbaked.
2. Allow the bars to cool for 20 minutes before slicing and enjoying!

If you give this recipe a try, leave a comment or a recipe review below!

Looking for more healthy treats to try!?

https://cmbarndominium.com/healthy-cookie-dough-protein-bites/

https://cmbarndominium.com/how-to-make-healthier-oat-fudge-bars/

https://cmbarndominium.com/the-best-easy-healthy-morning-glory-bars/

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