This post was sponsored by Sunbutter 

I know that To All the Boys was a ‘thing’ like, many months ago now, but there is one fact I learned from PK in that movie that has stuck with me. His mother always made brownies or bars for bake sales because they’re easy to cut into squares. It was a valuable nugget of information that I did not know, probably because I don’t buy things at bake sales and I have no children.  

So today I bring you a foolproof cookie bar recipe, a la PK, that’s oozing with Sunbutter and melted chocolate. These bars are a little chewy, but have a unique flaky texture that’s akin to pie crust or pastry. The Sunbutter is sandwiched between layers of cookie dough so that it peeks out and forms delicious little pockets.  

Free From: peanuts, nuts, dairy, soy, fish, shellfish 
Alternatives: coconut oil can be used instead of lard 

Ingredients 
3/4 cup lard  
2 tbsp. olive oil 
1/4 cup maple syrup 
3/4 cup powdered sugar 
1/2 tsp vanilla 
1 large egg 
1 3/4 cups spelt flour 
1 1/2 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1/8 tsp salt 
1 cup allergen-free chocolate chunks 
1/4 cup Sunbutter Original Sunflower Spread 

Preheat the oven to 375F and line an 8 x 8 inch square cake pan with parchment paper. 

Add the lard, olive oil, maple syrup, powdered sugar, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl. Beat well using an electric mixer/beater. I use a hand-held one. Add the egg and beat well again. Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt, and beat just until combined. Fold in the chocolate chunks.  

Spoon 2/3 of the cookie dough into the pan and spread it out evenly using a spoon dipped in water (so it doesn’t stick to the dough). Drizzle the Sunbutter in lines across the first layer of dough. Spoon small clumps of the remaining 1/3 of dough on top. Pat them down so that most of the Sunbutter is covered and there is a relatively even second layer of dough. It’s okay if there are holes or if some filling is peeking out.  

Bake for 25 minutes, or until deep golden brown. Allow to cool in the pan, then cut into bars.  

Makes 16 bars