Christmas Cookie Experiments: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars

Every year when the Girl Scouts start taking cookie orders, I have the same strange feeling of ecstasy mixed with dread. Do I want some Tagalongs? Duh…put me down for 8 boxes. Oh, make that…12.

Little, innocent Girl Scouts, I know the truth. Just go ahead and call them what they are. Addicting-chocolate-peanut-butter-cookies-that-will-ensure-you-eat-each-box-in-a-single-sitting-so-you-gain-five-pounds. Yeah, I’m onto you people.


If I make chocolate-peanut butter Christmas cookies, it’s okay right? It’s not like I’m enabling an addiction, because I’m supposed to give them away.

Confession: only 75% of these actually made it out of my house… Sorry. Did I mention I love chocolate and peanut butter?

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Bars
From Southern Living
Yields 48 squares

There are always a few unexpected Christmas gifts that are received right before Christmas. If you’re in that awkward situation where you think you need to give a gift back but don’t have time to get one, whip these together. They are fast, don’t require baking, and fairly universally enjoyed

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup crunchy peanut butter
16-oz box confectioners’ sugar
1 ½ cups vanilla wafers, crushed
12-oz semisweet chocolate morsels
½ cup whipping cream

Line a 13×9-inch baking dish with wax paper.

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together butter and peanut butter until blended. Add sugar and crushed wafers; beat to blend. Press mixture into prepared baking dish.

In a medium saucepan over low heat, stir together chocolate and cream. When it’s melted and smooth, spread over peanut butter mixture.

Chill at least 1 hour. Remove from refrigerator and let sit for 10 minutes. Cut into 48 bars.

Picnic tip:  A small tin is the perfect way to take your cookies to a friend’s house as a gift. If you’re going to an outdoor picnic and worried about ingredients melting, pack the cookies in a small baggie and place them in your insulated cooler.