Peanut Butter Cup Gooey Cookie Bars

1 cup unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 TBS pure vanilla extract
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3- 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup chocolate chips
30 Miniature Peanut Butter Cups see note
1 14 ounce can fat-free or regular sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13” baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray for easy removal.

2. Stir together melted butter with both sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing completely. Mix in vanilla extract, salt, and baking soda. Mix flour in slowly. Stir in chocolate chips.

3. Pour the sweetened condensed milk into a small bowl and add the peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Set aside.

4. Press half the cookie dough in the prepared pan. (Spray your hands with nonstick cooking spray so it won’t stick to you.) Top the dough with peanut butter cups.

5. Pour sweetened condensed milk mixture over the top of the bottom layer (be careful to leave about 1/4” edge around the pan so the milk doesn’t touch the foil), then break up the remaining cookie dough and place on top of milk mixture. Press with your hands to flatten. It will mostly cover but not completely cover the bottom layer.

6. Bake for about 30-35 minutes until the tops of the bars just start to get golden brown. Cool completely before slicing into bars.

7.Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to one month. These are best served room temperature.

from Crazy for Crust