Description
Sweet chocolate peanut butter dream bars blend creamy indulgence with rich, nostalgic flavors. Layers of silky chocolate and smooth peanut butter create an irresistible dessert you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 package (16 ounces/453 grams) chocolate sandwich cookies, crushed
- 1 cup (240 milliliters/8 ounces) creamy peanut butter
- 1 package (3.9 ounces/110 grams) instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 package (8 ounces/226 grams) cream cheese, softened
Dairy and Sweet Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (113 grams/1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (120 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 container (8 ounces/226 grams) whipped topping, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups (360 milliliters) milk
Garnish:
- Additional whipped topping
- Chocolate curls
Instructions
- Create a robust base by pulverizing chocolate sandwich cookies and blending with melted butter. Press the crumbly mixture firmly into a 9×13-inch pan, ensuring an even, compact foundation. Chill the crust in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
- Whip cream cheese, peanut butter, and powdered sugar until achieving a silky, uniform consistency. Delicately incorporate whipped topping, maintaining a light, airy texture. Distribute this luxurious layer evenly across the chilled cookie foundation.
- Construct the chocolate layer by vigorously whisking pudding mix with cold milk until the mixture transforms into a thick, glossy pudding. Carefully spread the chocolate pudding across the peanut butter stratum, creating a smooth, seamless surface.
- Refrigerate the assembled dessert for a minimum of 4 hours, allowing layers to solidify and flavors to meld. The dessert requires thorough chilling to achieve optimal texture and structural integrity.
- Prior to serving, adorn the dessert with a lavish blanket of whipped topping. Embellish with delicate chocolate curls, adding an elegant finishing touch. Slice into generous portions and indulge in this decadent, multi-layered confection.
Notes
- Experiment with gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies to make the crust suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Consider using reduced-fat cream cheese and sugar-free pudding mix for a lighter version of the dessert.
- Enhance the chocolate flavor by adding a thin layer of melted dark chocolate between the peanut butter and pudding layers for extra richness.
- Prepare the dessert a day ahead to allow flavors to meld and texture to set perfectly, making it an ideal make-ahead treat for gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Refrigerating
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 130 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg