Peanut butter cup lovers, prepare to be very happy. And when I say “happy,” I mean thrilled. Excited beyond the bounds of belief.
You all know that I have a passion for bar cookies, and I have an equally great passion for chocolate and peanut butter. In my world, no snack beats a Reese’s peanut butter cup. In fact, the absence of PB cups in life is a really good reason to never give up on sugar.
These are dense, chewy, peanut buttery, and flourless. That’s right. Why do you need flour when these bar cookies are decked out with enough peanut butter cup goodness to satisfy even the biggest fanatic?
To put this in perspective, my son ate these. One of my favorite bloggers in the whole universe, Dorothy, has a category for food her husband actually ate. I should institute a similar category for my own son, because he usually turns his nose up at my baked goods and opts to eat rice cakes instead. No, I am not kidding.
He ate these yesterday, and then he had seconds, and then he asked for more later in the day. #success #victoryismine
Of course, he needed some extra TLC after a particularly violent fight with his little sister. Here’s how it went down:
Boy: (screeching at top volume)
Me: What happened?!
Boy: (exhibiting red arm) She pinched me!
Girl: (also crying at top volume) No!
Me: (to Girl) Why are you crying?
Girl: It was sort of an accident!
She maintained that injuring her brother was “sort of” an accident and I never got more details. So I “sort of” punished her by sending her to her room in floods of tears while my son nursed his arm and talked me into giving him more of these bars.
On my trip to Hershey’s Chocolate World a year ago, I learned the secret to baking with peanut butter cups by observing their baked goods and methodology. In my field, that’s the best kind of research. Anyway, I noticed that they use the snack-sized (i.e. regular-sized) Reese’s in their baked goods, which makes so much sense. It packs a more powerful PB punch. So now I try to use them when I can.
The cookie base is simple: peanut butter, egg, sugar, baking soda, salt and vanilla. The baking soda and egg help these bars to rise, and the absence of flour makes the texture super dense and chewy. These are perfection.
If you’re a peanut butter fan, these bars are for you. No Reese’s addict can resist!
Flourless Reese’s Cookie Bars
Ingredients
1 egg
1 cup creamy peanut butter (don't use natural)
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
12-14 snack-sized Reese's peanut butter cups
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350. Line an 8-inch square pan with foil and coat with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients (except the peanut butter cups). The mixture will be thick and sticky.
- Using a spatula, press the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. At even intervals, press the peanut butter cups in rows over the surface of the bars.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.
- Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container.
3.1
https://justaboutbaked.com/flourless-reeses-cookie-bars/
Yes I am super thrilled and excited to see this recipe! It looks so good Mir! Woah look at all those PB cup in there! And so awesome that your son liked it, yay!
Manali @ CookWithManali recently posted…Strawberry Mango Lime Sorbet (No Machine)
He eats like nothing, so it was super exciting!
I love that these bars are flourless- it just makes that pb flavor all the more intense and delicious! 🙂
Medha @ Whisk & Shout recently posted…Spring Pasta with Mint Pesto, Asparagus, and Edamame!
No flour needed with all that PB goodness!
I made a flourless brownie during Passover that had me wondering what other flourless wonders are out there. These bars are exactly what I was hoping to find! Dense,chewy and peanut buttery. I am not sure if converting our sons into cookie lovers is a good thing, but I totally understand the warm fuzzy feeling of your child enjoying your baking.:) I am excited to share these with my gluten free daughter too! Thanks, Mir!
Wendy recently posted…3-2-1 Pineapple Upside Down Cake
Yay! I’m so glad, Wendy. Have you tried oat flour yet? It’s a miracle!
I am definitely thrilled with this recipe. After all, peanut butter and I are practically best friends. And you really can’t get much easier than this! Wishing I had this entire plate right now!
Gayle @ Pumpkin ‘N Spice recently posted…Roasted Lemon Parmesan Asparagus
They’re my best friends, too!
Haha! I love the description of that fight, Mir. Pretty soon, your son is going to figure out that getting in a fight with his sister leads to cookies. And that could be a dangerous road… But in the meantime, cookies for everyone (including me!). I also love the fact that you left flour out of these cookies. Flour just gets in the way of the PB. 🙂
David @ Spiced recently posted…Sundried Tomato and Gorgonzola Burgers
Oh, he’s 8, so he has it all figured out. Now we spend all our time trying to outsmart one another!
I can see why your son ate these, Mir… I’d be seriously shocked if anyone turned their nose up at these! Shoot, you know I’m allergic to chocolate and I want to say screw it and eat a dozen of these!! 😉 Reeses are the thing I miss most since I developed a chocolate allergy, so these beauties are torturing me! They look beyond amazing, girlfriend! Seriously swooning over here. Plus FLOURLESS?? What!? You are a bar genius, dear! Pinned! Cheers!!
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary recently posted…Balsamic & Honey Chicken Skewers {with Strawberry-Kiwi Salsa}
I have so much sympathy, Chey. I love Reese’s, and I’d be so sad if they left my life!
I’m in love with these bars! I’m literally drooling in front of my computer screen. 😮 I don’t think I ever met a peanut butter dessert I didn’t like and I’m predicting that this one would be no different.
Michele @ Alwayzbakin recently posted…Almost German Potato Salad
No different at all, Michele. Very PB!
Ummmmm….so many of your goodies leave me absolutely speechless and this is no exception. However, it must be said – I have company coming in a few weeks and these babies will definitely be making an appearance!! YAY! Thank you for making that easy for me!
annie@ciaochowbambina recently posted…Fusilli Cacio E Pepe
Yay back atcha! These are a GREAT company dessert!
My husband would die for these… If I didn’t eat all of them first! SO delicious!
Sues recently posted…Purple Mashed Potato Pancakes with Garlic and Pancetta
I had to hide a few for myself or people would eat them all!
You make the best cookie bars Mir! Love Reeses pb cups and will definitely try the recipe! Sharing!
mira recently posted…Skirt Steak And Poblano Peppers Tacos Recipe
Thanks, Mira! You know I love the bars!
These look divine, Mir. I’m glad you were able to console your son with some treats! These would be gone in my house in no time.
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg recently posted…Refreshing Blackberry and Mint Canapés
They were gone in mine for sure!