TAGALONG COOKIE BARS

Tagalong Cookie Bars made with a shortbread cookie crust with a peanut butter layer with chocolate on top. Simple to put together, and taste just like your favorite chocolate peanut butter Girl Scout cookies.

I have always loved Tagalong cookies – the Girl Scout cookies in the red box that have peanut butter in the middle and are dipped in chocolate. There is something about those cookies that is just amazing. These Tagalong Cookie Bars are so easy to make because you don’t have to scoop or shape individual cookies. All three layers are made with just a few simple ingredients, and the results taste so much like the original cookies.

Ingredients in Tagalong Cookie Bars

Cookie Layer:

1 cup butter, softened to room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 Tbsp milk

Peanut Butter Layer:

1 1/2 cups peanut butter

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Layer:

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 Tbsp shortening

How to make Tagalong Cookie Bars

Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9X13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set it aside.

In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer for about 2-3 minutes. Add the flour mixture and the vanilla and milk and mix just until combined.

Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan. I used a small rolling pin to evenly distribute the dough smoothly.

Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the edges just barely begin to turn a light golden brown. Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely.

To make the peanut butter filling, mix the peanut butter and powdered sugar together until smooth. Spread the peanut butter filling evenly over the cooled cookie crust.

To make the chocolate layer, place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 45 seconds. Stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir until melted and smooth, microwaving for another 15 second interval if necessary. You don’t want to cook the chocolate too long so don’t heat any longer than necessary!

Pour the chocolate evenly over the peanut butter layer and then spread with a butter knife until the peanut butter layer is completely covered. The chocolate will set up after a few hours at room temperature, but you can speed the process up by putting the bars in the refrigerator for about 30-60 minutes. Slice into bars and store/serve them at room temperature.

Tagalong Cookie Bars

Tagalong Cookie Bars made with a shortbread cookie crust with a peanut butter layer with chocolate on top. Simple to put together, and taste just like your favorite chocolate peanut butter Girl Scout cookies.

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Tagalong Cookie Bars

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 24

Author: Jessica & Nellie

Ingredients

Cookie Layer:

• 1 cup butter softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp milk

Peanut Butter Layer:

• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Chocolate Layer:

• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1 Tbsp shortening

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9X13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set it aside.
• In a large bowl, beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer for about 2-3 minutes. Add the flour mixture and the vanilla and milk and mix just until combined.
• Spread the dough evenly in the prepared pan. I used a small rolling pin to evenly distribute the dough smoothly.
• Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the edges just barely begin to turn a light golden brown. Remove from oven and let the bars cool completely.
• To make the peanut butter filling, mix the peanut butter and powdered sugar together until smooth. Spread the peanut butter filling evenly over the cooled cookie crust.
• To make the chocolate layer, place the chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 45 seconds. Stir and then microwave for another 30 seconds. Stir until melted and smooth, microwaving for another 15 second interval if necessary. You don't want to cook the chocolate too long so don't heat any longer than necessary!
• Pour the chocolate evenly over the peanut butter layer and then spread with a butter knife until the peanut butter layer is completely covered. The chocolate will set up after a few hours at room temperature, but you can speed the process up by putting the bars in the refrigerator for about 30-60 minutes. Slice into bars and store/serve them at room temperature.

Tried this recipe?Mention @familycookierecipes or tag #familycookierecipes!

TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER COOKIE BARS

• Do not melt the butter! The butter needs to be softened (at room temperature), but using melted butter will ruin the cookies.
• Spend a little extra time when you mix the butter and sugar. Creaming them together for 2-3 minutes will improve the consistency of your cookies.
• Preheat the oven. This will help your cookies turn out right every time!
• Make sure not to over bake your cookie bars.  Once the edges begin to turn even the lightest golden brown, take them out of the oven! I prefer to err on the side of being slightly undercooked for cookies because if they cook even a little bit too long, they can get hard and I really like soft cookies!

LIKE COOKIE BARS! HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE BAR COOKIE RECIPES!

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• Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
• No Bake Cookie Bars
• Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
• Lemon Sugar Cookie Bars
• Swirled Patriotic Cookie Bars
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• Snickerdoodle Cookie Bars

Tagalong Cookie Bars made with a shortbread cookie crust with a peanut butter layer with chocolate on top. Simple to put together, and taste just like your favorite chocolate peanut butter Girl Scout cookies.

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