Description
Indulgent chocolate peanut butter dream bars blend rich cocoa with creamy peanut butter in a heavenly dessert. Layers of smooth chocolate and nutty filling create a luxurious treat that melts seamlessly, leaving sweet satisfaction with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 chocolate sandwich cookies (like Oreos), finely crushed
- 5 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup whipped topping (like Cool Whip or homemade)
- 1 (3.9 oz) package instant chocolate pudding mix
- 1 ½ cups cold milk
- 1 ½ cups whipped topping
- ¼ cup chopped peanuts (optional)
- Chocolate shavings or mini chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Crust Creation: Pulverize cookies and meld with butter, pressing firmly into a parchment-lined baking dish. Refrigerate for a quick 15-minute firming session.
- Peanut Butter Fusion: Whip peanut butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla into a silky-smooth mixture. Gently fold in whipped topping, creating a luxurious layer that blankets the chilled crust with creamy precision.
- Chocolate Pudding Transformation: Vigorously blend pudding mix with cold milk until it thickens into a luscious, velvety consistency. Carefully spread this decadent chocolate layer over the peanut butter base, ensuring an even, tempting surface.
- Decorative Finale: Crown the dessert with remaining whipped topping, artfully scattering chopped peanuts and chocolate shavings across the top for a textural and visual masterpiece.
- Chill and Set: Nestle the assembled dream bars in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours, allowing all layers to harmonize and solidify into a magnificent, cool dessert ready to delight.
Notes
- Press cookie crumb mixture firmly and evenly into the pan to ensure a solid, compact base that won’t fall apart when cutting.
- Use room temperature cream cheese and beat ingredients thoroughly to achieve a creamy, lump-free consistency that spreads easily.
- Whisk pudding mix and milk vigorously for exactly 2 minutes to activate thickening agents and create a silky, smooth chocolate layer.
- Allow minimum 4 hours refrigeration to let layers set completely, which helps develop rich flavors and ideal slice-able consistency.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg