Irresistible Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars: Your Ultimate Peanut Butter Dessert

Prepare for an extraordinary dessert experience with these decadent Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars. Imagine rich, chewy peanut butter cookie layers, generously studded with chunks of everyone’s favorite Reese’s peanut butter cups and sweet mini chocolate chips. But wait, there’s more! Nestled between these glorious cookie layers is a smooth, tangy cream cheese filling that perfectly complements the nutty sweetness, creating a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that will leave you craving more.

Would you ever say no to a dessert that marries the classic appeal of peanut butter and chocolate with the luxurious touch of cream cheese? The answer is a resounding NO! These bars are an absolute dream come true for any peanut butter enthusiast. Get ready to indulge in a treat so good, it might just become your new favorite. If you’re passionate about peanut butter and candy desserts, you won’t want to miss these 30 Peanut Butter & Candy Desserts!

A Symphony of Flavors: Why This Recipe is a Must-Try

These Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars aren’t just another dessert; they’re an experience. Each bite delivers a complex yet utterly satisfying flavor profile that sets them apart. From the moment you take your first bite, you’ll understand why these bars are so hard to resist.

The Magic of Peanut Butter and Chocolate

The timeless combination of peanut butter and chocolate is universally loved for a reason. The salty, rich nuttiness of peanut butter perfectly balances the sweet intensity of chocolate. In these cookie bars, this dynamic duo takes center stage, with a soft, chewy peanut butter cookie base providing the perfect foundation, enhanced by the delightful crunch of Reese’s peanut butter cups and the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of mini chocolate chips. It’s a classic pairing elevated to new heights.

The Creamy Indulgence

What truly makes these bars special is the luscious cream cheese filling. This smooth, slightly tangy layer cuts through the richness of the peanut butter and chocolate, adding a sophisticated creaminess that prevents the dessert from being overly sweet. It’s a brilliant contrast that creates a beautifully balanced flavor, making each bite feel incredibly luxurious and utterly satisfying. The velvety texture of the cream cheese filling provides a delightful counterpoint to the chewiness of the cookie.

Texture Perfection

Beyond flavor, the textural interplay in these bars is simply divine. You get the soft, slightly crumbly texture of the peanut butter cookie layers, the smooth and yielding cream cheese filling, and the delightful chew of the chopped Reese’s cups and mini chocolate chips. This multi-layered texture keeps things exciting and makes every mouthful an adventure for your taste buds. It’s a treat that truly engages all your senses.

I must confess, I couldn’t resist devouring these Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars as if it were my last meal. I admit to being a dessert enthusiast, always ready for a new sweet challenge. It’s why I’m always eager to share these incredible goodies with you!

I could have easily eaten more, but I had just indulged in some Ultimate Banana Cake with Fluffy Nutella & Toffee Frosting. With two irresistible desserts battling for my attention, something had to give. And… I… ate… too… much! It’s a common dilemma when deliciousness abounds!

After about three days of delightful torture, pretending I wasn’t sneaking bites during commercial breaks and conjuring any excuse I could, I reluctantly concluded that these sinful cookie bars and I needed a temporary separation. However, the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ approach proved utterly ineffective. My mind kept wandering back to my new best peanut butter dessert friends in the land.

From one peanut butter lover to another, I assure you these decadent Peanut Butter Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars are an absolute winner. This recipe delivers on all fronts: flavor, texture, and sheer indulgence.

Crafting Your Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars: Step-by-Step Guide

Creating these delightful bars is a straightforward process, resulting in a show-stopping dessert that looks and tastes incredibly impressive. Follow these steps to ensure your cookie bars turn out perfectly every time.

The Foundation: Rich Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

The base of these bars is a classic peanut butter cookie dough, enhanced with the perfect balance of sweetness and a hint of salt. Start by whisking your dry ingredients together – flour, baking soda, and salt – to ensure an even distribution. In a separate bowl, cream together softened butter, creamy peanut butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. This step is crucial for achieving that wonderfully chewy texture. Incorporate a large egg and vanilla extract for moisture and depth of flavor, then gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined. Don’t overmix, as this can lead to tough cookies.

The Luscious Cream Cheese Filling

The star of the middle layer is a simple yet incredibly effective cream cheese filling. For the smoothest result, ensure your cream cheese is completely softened to room temperature. Beat it together with powdered sugar, an egg, and vanilla extract until the mixture is utterly smooth and free of lumps. This creates a velvety, slightly tangy layer that beautifully contrasts with the rich peanut butter cookie.

Layering for Success

Assembling the bars is where the magic happens. Press two-thirds of your prepared peanut butter cookie dough into the bottom of an 8-inch baking dish. This forms your sturdy, flavorful base. Sprinkle half of your chopped Reese’s cups over this layer, ensuring an even distribution so every bite gets a taste of that iconic candy. Next, carefully spread the creamy, dreamy cream cheese mixture over the cookie dough and Reese’s layer. Finally, crumble the remaining one-third of the cookie dough evenly over the cream cheese. Top with the remaining chopped Reese’s cups and a generous sprinkle of mini chocolate chips for an extra touch of decadence. This layering technique ensures a beautiful presentation and a delightful eating experience.

Baking to Golden Perfection

Bake your layered bars initially covered with foil to prevent the top from browning too quickly, allowing the center to cook through. After 20 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden brown and the cream cheese layer is visibly set. The exact baking time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them. Once baked, let them cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This cooling period is essential for the bars to set properly, making for clean cuts and perfect texture. Store any leftover bars in the refrigerator to maintain their freshness and firm consistency.

Expert Tips for the Best Cookie Bars

**Room Temperature Ingredients:** Ensure your butter, cream cheese, and eggs are at room temperature. This helps them cream together smoothly, creating a uniform dough and filling.
**Don’t Overbake:** Overbaking can lead to dry bars. Keep an eye on the cooking time and look for a lightly golden top and a set cream cheese layer.
**Chill Before Slicing:** For clean, neat slices, allow the bars to cool completely to room temperature, then chill them in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 hours before cutting. A warm knife can also help with cleaner cuts.
**Storage:** Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. They also freeze beautifully for longer storage.
**Pan Size Matters:** An 8-inch baking dish is recommended for the best thickness and bake. Adjust baking time if using a different size.

Delicious Variations to Explore

While these Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars are perfect as is, feel free to get creative and customize them to your liking:

**Different Reese’s Candies:** Experiment with Reese’s Pieces, Reese’s Thins, or even chopped Reese’s Sticks for varied textures and flavors.
**Nutty Additions:** Fold in chopped peanuts or other nuts into the cookie dough for extra crunch and nutty flavor.
**Chocolate Choices:** Instead of mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, try milk chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or even white chocolate chips to alter the chocolate profile.
**Swirl It Up:** Before the final bake, gently swirl a spoonful of extra peanut butter or even a touch of chocolate syrup into the cream cheese layer for a marbled effect.
**Salted Caramel Drizzle:** A light drizzle of salted caramel sauce over the cooled bars would add another layer of irresistible flavor.

More Reese’s & Peanut Butter Delights

If you’ve fallen in love with these Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars, you’re in for a treat! As someone who truly has a peanut butter addiction (and proudly so!), I’ve got plenty more recipes to satisfy your cravings. Explore these other fantastic creations that celebrate the glorious combination of peanut butter and chocolate:

Ultimate Reese’s Pieces Cookies: Chewy cookies packed with colorful Reese’s Pieces.
Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies: A delightful blend of oats, chocolate chips, and chopped Reese’s Cups.
Ultimate Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Trifle: Layers of rich brownies, creamy filling, and Reese’s for an impressive dessert.
Reese’s Pieces Magic Bars: A delightful, easy-to-make bar with a condensed milk base and plenty of Reese’s Pieces.
Reese’s S’mores Graham Cracker Candy: All the s’mores flavor with a peanut butter twist, perfect for any time of year.
Extreme Peanut Butter Cookies: For those who can’t get enough peanut butter.

BTW…You need all 16 of these in your life!

Don’t mind me. I kind of have a Peanut Butter addiction? 🙂

Peanut Butter Reese’s Cream Cheese Cookie Bars

Kim Lange

Would you turn luscious, rich peanut butter & Reese cup cookie bars inter-twined with velvety cream cheese filling down?

Average rating: 4.75 from 8 votes

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Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 40 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

Course: Dessert

Calories: (Information not available)

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Reese’s Cookie Dough

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
⅓ teaspoon salt
⅔ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup peanut butter
⅔ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
⅓ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
20 to 30 mini Reese’s Cups, chopped up & divided into two groups

Cream Cheese Filling

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C).

Peanut Butter Reese’s Cookie Dough

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In another bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter, peanut butter, and sugars until smooth and fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla extract and combine until well mixed.
Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet mixture, mixing well after each addition until just combined.
**For the cream cheese filling:** In a separate medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, egg, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
Spread two-thirds of the peanut butter cookie dough evenly in the bottom of an 8-inch baking dish.
Add one half of the chopped Reese’s cups on top of the cookie dough layer.

Cream Cheese Filling

Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the dough and Reese’s cup layer.
Using your fingers, crumble the remaining cookie dough over the top of the cream cheese layer.
Add the other half of the chopped Reese’s cups and sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top.
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the cream cheese layer is set.
Cool completely on a wire rack before cutting into bars. Store leftover bars in the refrigerator.

Keyword: bars, chocolate, party dessert, peanut butter, reeses