Preparation Steps

• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch baking pan.
• In a large bowl, cream together softened butter and packed brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract.
• Beat in the eggs one at a time until fully incorporated.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, baking soda, and kosher salt.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Do not overmix.
• Stir in the semi-sweet chocolate chips.
• Press half of the cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking pan. Reserve the remaining dough for the topping.
• Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden.
• Remove the pan from the oven and carefully spread the melted peanut butter evenly over the baked cookie layer.
• Crumble or flatten small pieces of the remaining cookie dough and place them over the peanut butter layer. It's okay if some peanut butter shows through.
• Return to the oven and bake for an additional 20-23 minutes, or until the cookie topping is golden brown and the peanut butter is bubbling.
• Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares.