This 5-ingredient oven baked peanut butter cup dessert is the kind of easy treat that feels a little magical, because a handful of simple pantry and candy aisle ingredients turn into a warm, gooey, crowd-pleasing pan dessert with barely any fuss. It is perfect for bake sales, game nights, family movie evenings, or anytime you need a quick sweet recipe that looks fun and generous without requiring much measuring or fancy technique.
Serve this dessert warm with cold milk, hot coffee, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic pairing. If you are bringing it to a gathering, cut it into small squares and set out extra whipped topping, chocolate syrup, or chopped peanuts so everyone can dress up their own piece.
5-Ingredient Oven Baked Peanut Butter Cup Dessert
Servings: 12
Ingredients
1 package refrigerated sugar cookie dough, about 16.5 ounces
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and lightly grease a rimmed sheet pan or baking pan. Press the sugar cookie dough evenly into the bottom of the pan to form the base.
2. Scatter the miniature peanut butter cups all across the cookie dough, covering the surface as evenly as you can.
3. Warm the peanut butter for a few seconds in the microwave until pourable, then drizzle it over the peanut butter cups. Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top, then sprinkle on the chocolate chips.
4. Bake for 22 to 28 minutes, or until the cookie base is lightly golden around the edges and the top looks melted and bubbly. Let the dessert cool for at least 20 minutes so it can set up before slicing.
5. Slice into squares and serve slightly warm, or let it cool completely for neater bars. For an extra-special finish, serve each piece with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Variations & Tips
For a saltier finish: Add a light sprinkle of flaky salt right after baking. That little salty touch helps balance the sweetness and makes the peanut butter flavor stand out even more.
For neat slices: If you want cleaner bars for a party tray, let the dessert cool fully and chill it for 30 to 45 minutes before cutting. A lightly greased knife works especially well here.
For picky eaters: You can swap the semi-sweet chocolate chips for milk chocolate chips if your family prefers a sweeter, more familiar candy-bar flavor. This is a nice way to make it extra kid-friendly.
For easy pan prep: Lining the pan with parchment paper makes lifting and slicing much simpler. It is one of my favorite little tricks when I am making dessert ahead for friends or school events.
