I may have gone a little bit overboard with the chocolate chips on this one. Just a little. But they’re mini chips so you are supposed to use 3 times as many right?
These Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bars are definitely on the decadent side compared to the FF usual style. It’d be really pushing it to call them breakfast acceptable. Yes of course there is fruit involved, but the blanket of chocolate chips on top plus the ones you can’t see in the crust sort of cancel any health claims I could make here. But hey, sometimes you just need a gooey rich Reese’s-in-bar-form chocolatey treat!
It wasn’t until I got a reader request for a chocolate peanut butter recipe that I realized I’ve never actually done that combo on the blog before! Crazy huh? I’ve done chocolate and I’ve done peanut butter, but never at the same time. In the same bowl. In the same bite.
The crust is an oat and date base with chocolate chips mixed in chocolate chips with some oats and dates in between.
The peanut butter cookie dough layer is just what it sounds like–decadence! I originally made these bars with powdered peanut butter, but since I know many of you prefer the real stuff I gave an option for both.
I kid you not a tornado passed through my kitchen while I was photographing these bars. It went straight through from my pantry to my photography station. I didn’t even see it happen, but when I finally looked up from the viewfinder there were plates and pans and peanut butter and chocolate chip debris everywhere. It was hard to even find a clear path back to the kitchen. I was at serious risk of stepping on chocolate. Even my camera had peanut butter on it, and it’s usually spotless 😉
So be on the lookout for chocolate natural disasters if you try these…
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bars
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 480 minutes
- Total Time: 500 minutes
Ingredients
Crust
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/4 cup cacao powder
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life Mini Chips)
- 10 pitted Medjool dates
Cookie Dough (powdered peanut butter)
- 1 ripe banana
- 10 pitted Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup unsweetened powdered peanut butter (I used Crazy Richards Pure PB)
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup non-dairy milk
Cookie Dough (regular peanut butter)
- 10 pitted Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter (I used Crazy Richards Creamy)
- 1/2 cup oat flour
- 1/4 cup + 2 tbsps non-dairy milk
Instructions
- For the crust: Add all the crust ingredients to a food processor.
- Process to form a sticky dough.
- Press into a loaf pan lined with plastic wrap (for easy removal). Set aside
- For the cookie dough: For either version, combine all the ingredients in a food processor. Process till well combined.
- Transfer to the pan on top of the crust. Spread evenly.
- Top with a sprinkling of chocolate chips. Press them in slightly
- Refrigerate for at least 6-8 hours or overnight.
- Slice and devour! Keep the leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
WHOA!!!! Are you sure Willow didn’t help you create this recipe?! Holy chocolate chips! These look insanely good! We went to your site this morning because I got the email for the pop tarts, but when we saw this recipe, Willow’s eyes lit up! As I’m typing this, she’s watching the video for the fifth time. Haha!! I love the title your Dad gave these…sounds like he’s a chocolate lover like my dad. Looks like I’ll be making these for Willow soon – we always have pb and chocolate chips on hand. Oh, and I love that purple jar!!!
Hahahaha! This does look majorly Willow influenced now that you say it. I could’ve used her assistance, there’s no one better at applying a generous helping of chocolate chips 😀 And I’m a little behind on my email list if you can’t tell. Yes everyone in my house is chocolate lover, but my dad has said that many times in the past so I only trust him so much lol. The purple jar is from Jo-Anns, that was a happy find. So many of the best foods are brown, I have to find creative ways to sneak in color 🙂
You know….I was playing around with some choco chips AND a banana myself yesterday…and peanuts….that’s weird 😉 But that’s just a damn good flavor combo so….yes 😉
And I want the one with the most chocolate chips! Why even waste time eating something with a “few” chocolate chips. You need A LOT because no one ever eats just one “chip” no matter the form (i.e. chocolate, potato, kale….is that still a trend???)
A banana!?! Rebecca and a banana!?! I’m shocked and thrilled all at once! Nah I’m kidding, I know you like nanas in baked goodies 🙂 Chocolate + banana + peanut is a perfect trio! This is a very true trend you’ve spotted here though, why are all things named “…. chip” so addictive? Or is it a chicken egg situation, they are called chips because they are addictive? Mysteries of the world…:/
This looks like a dream come true! Peanutbutter is DEFINITELY my biggest guilty pleasure so I’ll be thinking about those bars all the time from now on. I bought a big bag of dates today so I now know what to use them for!
Hahaha well I hope you can quit dreaming about them soon and actually make them! I’m not usually a huge peanut butter fanatic, but lately it’s been a daily occurrence in my life. But chocolate is my biggest guilty pleasure so we both win here 🙂
O M G ! I don’t even know what to say…I just want to shove these straight into my mouth! Thank goodness you finally put this combo on the blog. It would have been a crime not to have it. 🙂 Now excuse me while I wipe the drool from my keyboard.
I know right, i was a little mad at myself for not having gotten to this classic flavor pair sooner 😮 Thanks Jenn!
YUM! Did you use Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips?! They’re my new favorite dairy-free chocolate chips. These look amazing!!
Yes I did! They are my favorite chocolate chips too–so good! Like dangerously good. Like sometimes I just want chocolate and eat them by the handful good 😀
OMG :O :O :O These chocolate pb cookie dough bars looks so super yummy and decadent and sweet and you did it again.. making something that decadent healthy and fruity! <3
Thank you Bianca <3 Dates are perfect for bridging the healthy-decadecnt gap because they are fruit but they certainly don't taste like it! Love those little guys 🙂
GAH! I’m so tickled you honored my request (well, my husband’s really) and created a chocolate PB dessert! I can’t wait to give these a try. By the way, how is the end result different with the regular PB v. the powdered PB?
Of course! I’m so happy you asked, I can’t believe I didn’t have anything till now 😮 I tried to keep them a little on the decadent side too, we want to convince him that vegan can be delicious right 😉 And the regular PB version is a little bit firmer than the powdered, but they are quite similar.
OMGGGGGGG. Reeses in snackable bar form!? GIMME GIMME GIMME. As soon as I replenish my date stash, I am totally making these!!! Pinning, tweeting, sharing with the world too!
Yipppeeeee! I can’t wait! Almost as good as Reese’s in egg form 😉 Thank you for sharing <3
There can never be too many chocolate chips! 😀 I love chocolate and peanut butter together, so if I had peanut butter at home, I would go make them right now!
I feel the exact same way! In fact the only real risk with chocolate chips is too few, often when I put them on a smoothie bowl I’ll go back to get more halfway through 😀 You don’t have PB on hand at all times!?! 😮
Me too – I pretty much always add more chocolate chips or cacao nibs when I use them in smoothies 😀 Nope, I’m the only one in my household who eats pb, and it’s not even all that common here 😉
I’d welcome a natural disaster if I had these to eat while I cleaned up the mess it left. I’m seriously salivating over your pictures. I can’t believe you’ve never done a PB & Chocolate recipe before. This was well worth the wait.
Hahaha a chocolate disaster is always welcomed here too. And of course clean up always needs snacks 🙂 I realized after posting this that I did actually have a PB chocolate dipped strawberry recipes, but that’s different. That’s not just straight up PB chocolate decadence. Thanks Linda!
Oh my goodness PB and cookie yes please! These are making me drool by just looking at them <33
Just the title makes me drool a little! Pb, chocolate, and cookie dough–all the decadent things 🙂 Thanks Rachel!
I NEED ALL THE COOKIE DOUGH! AND THE PEANUT BUTTER!! Bless your soul for sharing this recipe!
Hahaha! If you just want to make the cookie dough part and eat it with a spoon I certainly won’t tell 🙂 I might have even done that myself!
OMG I don’t know how I missed these but these are just GORGEOUS Natalie!! And peanut butter and chocolate is like a drug to me, haha! I love how this is one of your more indulgent recipes, yet still so healthy! They look so rich and so amazing and gooey and fabulous. All of those chocolate chips are of course, calling my name! The crust looks so amazing and I love your video, like always. What a great recipe!
Thank you Brandi! I know right, “indulgent” but still mostly fruit. But they taste much richer than most, and I’m usually not as free flowing with the chocolate chips haha! I could eat just the crust…or just the filling…or just the chocolate chips. Heck all the parts would be totally enticing on their own, but so fantastic together!
Wow these cookie bars look amazing, loving the layers!
Thank you Thalia!
These look really good , but my son is allergic to peanuts, what can I use as a substitute or can I leave the peanut butter out. He’s also allergic to dairy, corn ,egg, soy, gluten.
These can totally be made peanut free! Just replace the powdered peanut butter with another 1/2 cup of oat flour and you’ll still have a delicious non-peanut cookie dough!
OMG I need these in my life NOW! <3 Drool alert 😀
★★★★★
Hahaha thanks Lucie!
These bars look so amazing!! PB & chocolate is definitely a delicious combination, so I’m glad to see your version of the dastardly duo – I have everything on hand so I’m going to surprise Man-thing today 😀
Also, in Morocco I only ever saw salted & sugary PB in the stores and it is absolutely gross. When I saw unsweetened PB as an ingredient it was a big sigh of relief, because I don’t know why anyone would willingly buy the sugary version!
xx
Yay! Your kitchen must be stocked similarly to mine 🙂 Unsweetened PB all the way, that stuff tastes amazing (even by the spoonful:D) without sugar! I have to tell you I am obsessed with your Banana Choc Breakfast Bars right now <3 <3 <3 I have made them 3 times in the past week lol! They are just the perfect snack/dessert/breakfast/whatever!
😀 So glad you like them! I always have such a massive to-do list that I never get around to making my own recipes again for what feels like years at a time, but I’m thinking those and these bars will be rather welcome in the house for the crazy week ahead!
Ah man, every time I come past this post it’s just swooning all over again! xx
Yes, yes and yes! To the peanut butter and the chocolate, and the cookie dough, and all of those things together! Whaaaaaa?!?! Awesome!
Lol this comment totally made me laugh 😀 I read it in my most excited mental voice, I can sense your enthusiasm! We are all brought closer in our enthusiasm for chocolate PB <3 Thank you Laura!
Cookie dough with peanut butter and chocolate!?!?? I NEED TO MAKE THESE ASAP! As if the recipe wasn’t delicious enough, the pictures and the video make these look even more delicious and decadent! However, the decadence probably won’t stop me from having multiple bars. 😉
You ROCK for making these bars of joy!
Hahaha I know right, nothing not to love about that title! Thanks for watching Ellie, I do love those video close ups for extra drool-worthy ness 🙂 Oh definitely at least 2 is a totally reasonable way to go! All the fruit cancels out all the chocolate chips, right!? haha!
Fruit definitely cancels out chocolate! Yum,
I inspire to make videos like yours 😀
I cant find vegan chocolate chips where I live. What else can I put on top?
★★★★
These. Look. AMAZING!! Can’t WAIT to try them!!!
Thanks Laura 🙂
Haha. I know those disasters all too well 😉 These look amazing. And I’m surprised this is the first choco-pb combo on FF 😮 Gotta love those reader requests for keeping you on your toes and making sure you’re not slacking in all the needed areas 😉
I do love them for exactly that, they point out my holes. This one should’ve been obvious I guess. I wish my work photo station was actually in my kitchen, then the mess would at least be a little more contained 😀
Hi!
I love your blog and youtube Chanel you always have such awesome recipes that are genuinely good! I noticed that you have two larabar recipes and I was wondering, after watching this delicious bar recipe, if you could do a copycat homemade chocolate chip cookie dough larabar recipe? Pretty please with a medjool date on top!!!!
I can’t get them where I live and I’ve tried so many different alternatives but none of them have been as good. But I now if you made a version of it they would be delicious and actually healthy!
Thank you so much for making such amazing content
Haha with a medjool date on top, how can I say not to that!! 😀 The cookie dough is my favorite flavor, so I can definitely do that! I actually have a protein powder version that I guest posted here: http://thebigmansworld.com/2016/08/19/healthy-3-ingredient-no-bake-cookie-dough-protein-bars/ And you can sub oat flour for the protein powder if you prefer. But I can do a classic version like the others I have on my site coming up too 🙂
Doing these for like the 6th time now lol. They are so easy but so so good!!
That is awesome!! I am so happy you love them, yes I completely agree 🙂