Peanut butter mud bars are a fantastic combination of all things chocolate and peanut butter! They’re easy to make and an excellent treat for a crowd.
I happened upon this peanut butter mud bars recipe while re-discovering The Buttercup Bakeshop Cookbook. Of course, it had me at peanut butter. Then, I read the description that stated that these are a favorite at the bakery. With that kind of endorsement, I started rounding up ingredients. I actually made these twice within just a few days—they are really that good!
Why You’ll Love These Peanut Butter Mud Bars
- A delicious flavor combination. There are a lot of flavors at work here: peanut butter, chocolate, brown sugar, white chocolate, pecans. But, somehow it’s not overkill. Everything plays quite well together.
- Easy to make. This is not a recipe that’s a big production. These peanut butter chocolate chip bars come together quickly and easily, making them perfect for those times when you’re craving a sweet treat but don’t want to make something elaborate.
- Perfect for a crowd. This recipe makes 24 bars, so it’s great for serving at potlucks or outdoor gatherings when you want an easy-to-transport handheld dessert.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.
- All-purpose flour – Here’s how to measure flour.
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Unsalted butter – Learn more: Unsalted or Salted Butter: Which is Better for Baking?
- Light brown sugar – Here’s the difference between light and dark brown sugar.
- Creamy peanut butter – Use “regular” peanut butter, not the natural kind; the natural kind doesn’t always work well in baking.
- Egg – Let this come to room temperature.
- Vanilla extract – I like to use my homemade vanilla extract.
- Chips – You’ll need chocolate, white chocolate, and peanut butter chips.
- Pecans – Buy pecan pieces, which are less expensive than pecan halves.
How to Make Peanut Butter Mud Bars
- Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Mix the wet ingredients. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter and brown sugar, then beat in the peanut butter. Mix in the egg and vanilla.
- Combine wet and dry. Reduce the mixer speed and slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold in 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, 1/4 cup peanut butter chips, and the pecans.
- Bake. Spread the dough into a greased and floured pan. Bake at 325ºF for 25 to 30 minutes.
- Top. Sprinkle 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter chips on top of the hot bars. Allow to sit for 1-2 minutes, then spread with a spatula.
- Finish. Cool for 20 minutes, then add the remaining chips. Cool completely and cut into bars.
Tips and Variations
- Skip the nuts if you’d like. The nuts can easily be omitted or you could substitute another type of nut or go with peanuts to emphasize the peanut butter flavor of these bars.
- Soften the butter. The butter needs to be softened to room temperature before beating it with the sugar. Learn more: How to Soften Butter
- Add the chips right out of the oven. As soon as the bars come out of the oven, sprinkle on the chocolate and peanut butter chips. This will allow them to melt completely so you can spread them smoothly.
- Let them cool completely before cutting. It’s important to let the bars cool completely before cutting into them. This will ensure that they hold their shape.
- Try another topping. Instead of adding that last portion of chips on top of the bars, you could replace that with chopped peanut butter cups, Reese’s Pieces, or even crushed pretzels for a different spin on this recipe.
- Know the basics. Read over my baking tips for beginners before you get started.
How to Store
Store peanut butter mud bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
For longer storage, these bars freeze remarkably well. Wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap, then place them in a zip-top freezer bag or airtight container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy a bar, allow it to thaw at room temperature. (They can also be heated in the microwave, but you’ll need to eat them with a fork—they’ll be messy!)
More Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bar Recipes
Peanut Butter Mud Bars
Peanut butter mud bars are a fantastic combination of all things chocolate and peanut butter! They’re easy to make and great for a crowd.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (200g) firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup (127g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup (127g) + 2 tablespoons chocolate chips, divided
- 1/4 cup (42g) + 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips (or vanilla chips), divided
- 1/2 cup (83g) + 2 tablespoons peanut butter chips, divided
- 1/4 cup (42g) coarsely chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease and lightly flour a 9″x 13″ baking pan.
- Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- Using an electric mixer on low speed, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the peanut butter and beat well. Mix in the egg and vanilla.
- Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add the dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in 1/2 cup chocolate chips, 1/4 cup white chocolate chips, 1/4 cup peanut butter chips, and pecans.
- Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Remove from the oven and sprinkle 1/4 cup chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter chips on top of the bars. Allow to sit for 1-2 minutes. Using a spatula, smooth out the chips as they begin to melt.
- Cool for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons each chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips. Cool completely before cutting into bars.
Notes
Recipe slightly adapted from The Buttercup Bake Shop Cookbook.
Store peanut butter mud bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Recommended Products
Bake or Break is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
15 Comments on “Peanut Butter Mud Bars”
LOVE this!
you always have the best bars/brownies/blondies/etc these ones look really decadent
oh man…..these are going to be made tomorrow!!!! thank you so much!!!
Mmmm these would go in an instant in my house!
oh dear….i would love to make these, but am pretty sure i would end up eating every bit myself and not sharing 🙂 i’ve seen lots of bars, but not any like these….these will definitely be added to my baking bucket list!
Mmmmmmm, I can see why you made them twice. They look so tasty and naughty!
Hi,
First time at your blog and amazing recipes and photos.
These pb bars are delicious, to bad i cannot find the pb chips (here in Portugal they don’t sell it!).
Kisses,
Rita
I can’t believe these – they are absolutely the ultimate indulgence 😀
I like using pecans and crunchy peanut butter.
I’m with Morgan these are definitely going on my Foodie wishlist. This is my first time on your site but I’m definitely adding you to my Google reader! Your pictures are so beautiful by the way…
Hey! I’ve been reading your blog and have been really enjoying it, I tried making these just now! They’re out of the oven and look really good, I haven’t cut them quite yet. Thanks so much!
Wow, those look absolutely amazing! I pinned it so I can make them soon!
these sound yummy! might try to make them with almond butter
Hmmmm – these almost look too good to eat. Emphasis on almost 😉
Okay so I made these again when I had bought Reese chips and I also got extra crunchy peanut butter, and they’re amazing! I also meant to cook them a tad less cause I felt like they were coming out a little dry and I wanted creamy, but I forgot about them again and so they were still golden brown. I will do a third attempt and try to keep a better eye on them.