Peanut Butter Shortbread Cookie Bar

Four layers of goodness! They're made with the best of two flavors that go so well together, peanut butter and chocolate. 

Ingredients

Cookie Layer
1 stick of butter, softened
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 tsp of vanilla
1 cup of all purpose flour

Peanut Butter Layer
1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 cup of all purpose flour
1 (8) oz container of whipped cream cheese

Topping
1 cup of semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup of chopped dry roasted peanuts

Directions
Preheat oven to 350° degrees.

Lightly grease an 8"x 8" pan and set aside. 

Combine the butter and powdered sugar. Mix until the mixture is a creamy consistency.

Add the vanilla and mix until well blended.

 Add the flour. Combine all ingredients until the mixture forms a soft dough.

Add the dough to the prepared pan. Pat the dough onto the pan so that it covers the entire bottom of the pan. Set aside.

In a medium size bowl, combine the peanut butter and powdered sugar and mix until smooth and creamy.

Add the softened cream cheese and mix until smooth and creamy.

Add the flour and mix until all ingredients are well blended.

Add the peanut butter mixture to the pan by placing it on top of the cookie dough. Pat the peanut butter mixture evenly onto the cookie dough so that it covers the entire layer of cookie dough. Place in the oven to cook for 30 minutes or until the cookie bar is lightly browned.

Remove the cookie bar from the oven and add the chocolate chips as shown. Place the cookie bar back into the oven to melt the chocolate chips. Cook for 5 minutes and remove from the oven.

Using a frosting spreader or small spatula, gently spread the melted chocolate chips so that it forms a smooth topping. Cover the entire bar as shown.

Sprinkle the chopped peanuts on top of the melted chocolate and let cool in the refrigerator for approximately one hour.

Enjoy!  Makes 9 - 12 servings.

©Rolisweets