Peanut Butter Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Name: Peanut Butter Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup peanut butter; 1/2 cup tahini; 1/3 cup maple syrup; 2 large eggs; 1 tsp vanilla; 1/2 tsp baking soda; 1/2 cup chocolate chips; 1/2 tsp coarse kosher salt (optional)

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These little bars of goodness pack a big flavor punch without the use of any flour! That’s right, these are a grain free cookie bar with peanut butter and tahini and chocolate chips and they are magic. I still can’t believe they work even though I’ve made them dozens of times. Make them now and be eating in less than 30 minutes!

peanut butter chocolate chip tahini bars with a glass of milk

Why you should make these now!

These bars are mixed together in less than five minutes and the hardest part is cleaning out the measuring cups when you are done with them.

They are naturally dairy free and grain free which makes them feel guilt free in our house! The kids can snack on them as they please and I feel good about it. There is also some magic chemistry that happens in these peanut butter tahini chocolate chip cookie bars that I still can’t understand, but the simple ingredients come together perfectly every time.

I first saw these when Melinda Strauss shared them on her instagram and they went totally viral. These peanut butter tahini cookie bars are perfect for a quick Shabbat dessert or an afternoon snack. A simple parve dessert, they take 5 minutes to make and are a real crowd pleaser.

Ingredients

A few notes on the ingredients:

Tahini: Make sure to stir the tahini in the jar before you measure it out. The oil sometimes separates and needs to be reincorporated.
Peanut Butter: Any brand of regular store bought peanut butter will work. I have not tested this with natural peanut butter.
Chocolate Chips: I like to use Ghiradelli 60% chocolate, but any chocolate chips you have on hand will work. If you want to make sure these are totally dairy free cookie bars, be sure to choose a dairy free chocolate chip

Simple step by step instructions

You won’t believe me when I tell you how easy these are. First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Then, simply put all the ingredients, except the chocolate chips into a bowl and whisk.

egg, peanut butter, tahini, maple syrup and baking soda in a glass bowl

Yep, that’s it. Seriously, they are super easy to make.

cookie batter in a bowl with chocolate chips next to it

The peanut butter tahini chocolate chip cookie bar batter will look broken when you start mixing, but just keep whisking. It will come together after about a minute. Once it’s nice and smooth, stir in the chocolate chips.

Then, pour the batter on the parchment lined baking sheet into a general log shape. Sprinkle with coarse salt, put into the oven and bake at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes.

log of tahini cookie bar dough on parchment paper

After 15 minutes, take the log of peanut butter tahini chocolate chip cookie goodness out of the oven and slice into bars. Separate the bars a bit so they can firm up on all sides and return the pan to the oven. Bake another 5 minutes or so before removing from the oven.

Cool on the baking sheet and enjoy!

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is tahini and what is used for?

Tahini is a sesame paste that is made from toasted and hulled sesame seeds that are ground up to paste. It’s a condiment often found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine and can be found in many of the classic dishes. Tahini is a main ingredient in hummus and is awesome on a falafel sandwich.

Tahini is a super versatile ingredient. You can use it in baking (think salted tahini chocolate chip cookies, tahini brownies, etc) in salad dressings and marinades. It’s also great as a veggie dip or swirled into sauces with noodles or spread on toast. Basically, anywhere you use peanut butter, you can also use tahini.

Where can I buy tahini?

While you could make it at home, while not hard, it’s not quite simple enough for me. Instead, I like to buy a jar almost every time I’m at the grocery so I can make these tahini cookie bars at a moment’s notice. Tahini can be found in most grocery stores and is also readily available online.

My favorites are the Trader Joe’s brand and the brand, Soom that is super smooth and creamy. Another great alternative is the Whole Food’s store brand tahini.

Can these cookie bars be made nut free?

Yes, definitely. Just substitute more tahini for the peanut butter and you’ll have a great nut free dessert on your hands. Call them tahini chocolate chip cookie bars and no one will be the wiser 🙂.

Tip & Tricks

Peanut butter tahini chocolate chip cookie bars are best eaten the same day you make them or the next day. They don’t last as long as other cookies, but you’ll eat them up anyway, so it won’t be something to worry about.
You can easily half this recipe if you aren’t looking to eat all the cookie bars in just a day. It won’t look like much in the bowl, but I promise it works just as well.
To clean your measuring cups easily, spray them with non-stick cooking spray before using and the peanut butter and tahini will pop right out into the bowl.

Looking for more simple and delicious cookie recipes? Try these:

When you try this recipe and love it 😍 let me know by leaving a comment below or 5 ⭐ rating!