One recipe...two desserts.

I was craving peanut butter cookies. You know, the kind with the fork marks and sugar sprinkled on top. So I made a dozen...and then decided it was too hot in my kitchen to cook the rest of the batter.

I ate one...craving over. Loved it...and then a new craving stuck me. Peanut butter cookie bars with mini chocolate chips melted over the top. {Have I mentioned I am my own worse enemy when it comes to dessert?!}

I still had enough batter for another two dozen cookies...

This time around, I used my 9X9 pan, some non-stick spray, and piled the rest of the batter in. Sprinkled 1/2 of a bag of mini chocolate chips, and baked at 300* for 50 minutes. After cooling almost completely...this is now my **NEW** favorite dessert.

The recipe:

• 2 C All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 t Baking Soda
• 1/4 t Salt
• 1 1/4 C Granulated Sugar
• 1 1/4 C Brown Sugar
• 1 C Salted Butter {softened}
• 3 Large Eggs
• 1 C Creamy Peanut Butter (I always add a little more...)
• 2 t Pure Vanilla Extract

{mini chocolate chips for cookie bars}

Preheat oven to 300*F

In a medium bowl, combine flour, soda, & salt. Mix well with wire whisk. Set aside.

In a large bowl, blend sugars, using an electric mixer at medium speed. Add butter and mix to form a grainy texture, scraping the sides of the bowl. Add eggs, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix at medium speed until light and fluffy.

Add the flour mixture and mix at low speed until just mixed (do not over mix). **Note: if the dough is too thin, add small amounts of additional flour until the combination is easier to form.

For cookies: drop by rounded tablespoons onto an ungreased cookie sheet, 1 1/2" apart. With a wet fork, gently press a crisscross pattern on the top. Bake for 18-22 minutes until cookies are slightly brown along edges. Transfer cookies immediately to cool surface with spatula.

Remember, I only baked one dozen cookies from the recipe...I made the cookie bars with the remaining batter. I used a glass 9X9 pan, sprayed non-stick spray, and baked at 300*F for 50 minutes. Test doneness with a toothpick {I started checking at the 35-40 minute mark because this was a new dessert for me}.

I'm thinking this might also taste good with vanilla ice cream...