Peanut Butter Bar Cookies with Fudge Frosting Recipe
Deliciously rich and chewy Peanut Butter Bar Cookies topped with a creamy, decadent fudge frosting. These bars combine the classic taste of peanut butter with the wholesome texture of oats and a luscious chocolate cream cheese frosting, perfect for satisfying any sweet tooth.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 18 cookies 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Cookie Dough
- ¾ cup (185g) creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup (111g) salted butter, softened
- ½ cup (111g) margarine
- 1 cup (246g) brown sugar
- ¼ cup (58g) granulated sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 ½ cups (228g) all-purpose flour
- 1 cup (100g) old fashioned oats
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
Fudge Frosting
- ¾ cup (167g) salted butter, softened
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup (120g) dutch processed cocoa powder
- 4 cups (428g) powdered sugar
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- Milk, to thin (as needed)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C) to prepare for baking the cookies.
- Cream Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the creamy peanut butter, salted butter, margarine, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Add Egg and Dry Ingredients: Beat in the egg thoroughly. Then, fold in the all-purpose flour, old fashioned oats, salt, and baking soda until a sticky dough forms.
- Shape Cookies: Divide the dough into portions of 3 tablespoons each. Roll each portion into a ball and place them spaced on a silicone or parchment lined cookie sheet.
- Bake Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 11-13 minutes. The cookies will spread slightly, and the edges should start to turn golden brown when done.
- Make Frosting: While the cookies cool, whip together the softened salted butter and cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add Sugar: Gradually add the powdered sugar, one cup at a time, mixing well after each addition until fully incorporated.
- Flavor Frosting: Mix in the dutch processed cocoa powder and vanilla extract until the frosting is uniform in color.
- Adjust Consistency: Add milk a teaspoon at a time until the frosting reaches a smooth, pipeable consistency.
- Pipe Frosting: Transfer frosting to a piping bag fitted with a large closed star tip and pipe in a zig-zag pattern over the cooled cookies, starting from the top and working downward.
- Serve and Enjoy: Allow frosting to set slightly before serving these delicious peanut butter bar cookies.
Notes
- Use margarine in place of butter for a slightly different texture and flavor.
- Make sure the butter, cream cheese, and peanut butter are softened for easier mixing.
- Don’t overbake the cookies; they continue to firm up as they cool.
- If frosting is too thick, add milk gradually to reach desired spreadability.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate for longer freshness.
Keywords: peanut butter cookies, fudge frosting, baked cookies, oat cookies, chocolate frosting, creamy peanut butter bars
