Creamy peanut butter and fresh milled flour come together to create these irresistible peanut butter cookie bars. A quick weeknight dessert recipe for the entire family.
Quick and easy. That is what kind of meals and dessert recipes I need in my life these days.
Prior to having children, I would happily spend hours in the kitchen cooking and baking all sorts of things. Elaborate and detailed were right up my alley. But these days, that season of free time is over … for now. Dinner and any kind of treats or snacks need to be made in a jiffy.
Now quick and easy doesn’t mean I want to skimp on the nutrition. Quite the opposite, in fact. This easy fresh milled flour dessert recipe combines the nutrition I want for my family while still satisfying the sweet tooth.
These peanut butter bars without butter are actually my Grandma’s recipe. She originally made them into the traditional peanut butter cookie with the fork imprint on top but to save time for a busy Mama like myself, I just doubled her recipe and spread out the cookie dough into a 9 x 13 baking pan. In a matter of moments, dessert is done … and just in time for dinner, thankfully.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to Make – These chewy peanut butter cookie bars are quick to whip up, making them a perfect last minute dessert recipe for the weekdays or weekends.
Healthy Fresh Milled Flour Dessert Recipe – Not only are these bars made with nutritious freshly milled flour but they are also packed with vitamin D filled lard and farm fresh eggs.
Great Peanut Butter Bars for Kids – Sweet, soft and easy to hold, kids will love this recipe.
Make it Your Own – Transform this peanut butter cookie recipe to suit your family’s taste. Make as the recipe calls for or swap smooth peanut butter for crunchy or add a chocolate topping. See the recipe variations section below for more ideas.
What is the Difference Between Cookies and Cookie Bars?
Cookie bars are made from a stiff dough that is pressed and baked in a rimmed baking pan. After the cookie bars come out of the oven, they can then be cut into bars using a spatula or knife.
How Long Can I Store Cookie Bars at Room Temperature?
The peanut butter cookie bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days. The bars will get drier the longer they sit out. To preserve freshness store in a freezer safe container or zipper bag.
Tools You May Need
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Mixing bowl or stand mixer
Grain mill
Oven mitts
Easy Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Learn how to make peanut butter bars using simple pantry ingredients. This cookie bar recipe is incredibly moist and packed full of peanut flavor.
Ingredients
1 cup lard or palm fruit shortening
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 cups freshly milled soft white wheat flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Preheat your oven to 375°. Cream the shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs together in a large bowl or stand mixer.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Slowly add the flour mixture into the creamed peanut butter and sugar. Mix well.
In a greased 9 x 13 pan, add batter, press into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes then cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars, serve and enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Mix in a half cup of chocolate chips or peanut butter chips into the cookie dough.
- Add a chocolate ganache to the top of the bar after the bars have cooled. Place 1 1/2 cups of chocolate into a bowl with a couple tablespoons of cream. Microwave on high, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Spread chocolate over top of cookie bar. Chill bars in fridge for about an hour to help solidify chocolate coating.
- Use crunchy peanut butter instead of smooth for a textured dessert.
Fresh Milled Flour Dessert Recipes
Peanut Butter Cookie Bars
Creamy peanut butter and fresh milled flour come together to create these irresistible peanut butter cookie bars. A quick weeknight dessert recipe for the entire family.
Ingredients
- 1 cup lard or palm fruit shortening
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 1/4 cups brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups freshly milled soft white wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°. Cream the shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar, vanilla and eggs together in a large bowl or stand mixer.
- In a separate bowl, combine the flour, salt and baking soda. Slowly add the flour mixture into the creamed peanut butter and sugar. Mix well.
- In a greased 9 x 13 pan, add batter, press into an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes then cool on a wire rack. Cut into bars, serve and enjoy!
