Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert (Dream Bar Recipe)

corner shot of a slice of a peanut butter dream bar on a white plate

5 from 3 votes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dessert (Dream Bar Recipe)

Our peanut butter chocolate dessert is loaded with chocolate pudding, a fluffy layer of cream cheese and peanut butter, and a cookie base for a sinfully delicious treat.

Prep Time15

Cook Time10

Chill Time2

Total Time2 25

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Peanut Butter Dream Bars Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 522kcal

Ingredients

For the Crust

16 ounces peanut butter sandwich cookies, crushed (reserve 8 to 9 cookies to crush for topping)
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (½ cup)

For the Chocolate Layer

1½ cups milk
3.9 ounces instant chocolate pudding

For the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Layer

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
½ cup creamy peanut butter

For the Whipped Topping Layer

8 ounces Cool Whip
½ cup milk chocolate chips
½ cup peanut butter chips
reserved peanut butter sandwich cookies, crushed

Instructions

For the Crust

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray an 8x8-inch square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Using a small mixing bowl, combine the crushed cookies and the melted butter. Stir cookie base ingredients to completely coat all the crumbs.
Press crumb mixture into the bottom of pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the baked crust to cool completely.

For the Chocolate Pudding Layer

Using a small bowl and a handheld electric mixer on medium speed or a wire whisk, beat together the chocolate pudding mix and the cold milk. Continue mixing until the pudding is thickened.
Use either a silicone spatula or an offset spatula, evenly spread the chocolate layer over the cooled crust. Set it in the refrigerator while you make the peanut butter layer.

For the Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Layer

Using a medium bowl and a hand mixer on medium-high speed, beat the cream cheese for about 1 minute until smooth.
Add the creamy peanut butter and continue mixing on medium-high for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute, until smooth.
Reduce the mixer speed to low, slowly add in the confectioners' sugar and continue to mix until completely incorporated.
Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and evenly spread the peanut butter mixture over the top of the chocolate pudding layer.
Top the peanut butter layer with the 8-ounce tub of whipped topping.
Evenly sprinkle peanut butter and milk chocolate chips over the whipped topping.
Evenly sprinkle the crushed sandwich cookies over the peanut butter and chocolate chips.
Return the baking dish to the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours.
Cut the dessert into 2-inch x 2-inch squares.

Video

Notes

You can double the recipe and make it in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
To crush cookies, you can either use a food processor or a rolling pin and Ziploc bag.
Make sure your cream cheese is at room temperature so that you don't end up with lumps in your layer.

Nutrition