Tagalong Bars are a homemade version of the classic Girl Scout Cookie. A buttery shortbread crust with a creamy peanut butter filling, topped with rich chocolate. Some say this recipe is even better than the original Tagalong cookie!
Tagalong Bars are my contribution to Girl Scout Cookie season…which basically means I snagged their idea. I mean, not in a bad guy, thieving kinda of way, just in an “inspired by” way. That’s a thing, right?
And plus, having purchased no less than 25 boxes of Girl Scout cookies this year alone I feel confident that I am doing my part.
I just can’t say no to those cute girls selling cookies. Not that I even want to say no…I mean…you can only get them once-ish a year, so they’re totally rare, like an eclipse or locusts.
I mean what happens in October when you need a Thin Mint? Panic!
Anyhow, these bars are just a twist on the famous Tagalong that the Girl Scouts sell. And because I love me some bar cookies I wanted to make these in square form.
So here we go…Tagalong Bars
How To Make the Shortbread Crust for Tagalong Bars
First you just make a simple shortbread crust. I used Challenge Butter in this recipe, because it’s my favorite. If you have been a reader of my site for any length of time you know I use Challenge almost exclusively. It’s always consistently creamy, fresh, and delicious. It’s 100% pasteurized sweet cream and salt…that’s it. Using a quality butter in shortbread absolutely makes a difference!
You simply bake the crust until it’s lightly golden and then let it cool!
Next make the filling, which is simple…just peanut butter and powdered sugar.
Spread the filling on top of the cooled crust…
Chill the filling while you make your topping. It will make spreading the chocolate on top easier.
It’s just chocolate and heavy cream…
Spread it carefully on your peanut butter layer…
Now chill it again so the chocolate layer sets and you’re ready to eat.
And eat.
Annnnd eat.
PrintTagalong Bars
- Prep Time: 20 mins
- Cook Time: 15 mins
- Total Time: 35 mins
- Yield: 20–25 squares 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bowl
- Cuisine: American
Description
Tagalong Bars are a homemade version of the classic Girl Scout Cookie. A buttery shortbread crust with a creamy peanut butter filling, topped with rich chocolate. Some say this recipe is even better than the original Tagalong cookie!
Ingredients
Shortbread Crust
- 1/2 cup Challenge Butter, room temperature (1 stick)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons milk
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup flour
Peanut Butter Filling
- 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Chocolate layer
- 1 1/4 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
Instructions
Shortbread Crust
- Preheat oven to 350°
- Line 9×9 with aluminum foil. Spray lightly with cooking spray, set aside.
- In mixer fitted with your paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar for 1-2 minutes on medium speed until creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as necessary. Turn the mixer to low and add in vanilla, milk, salt, and flour. Stir until incorporated and dough comes together.
- Press this evenly in your prepared pan and bake 15-20 minutes or until golden.
- Allow to cool completely before moving on to the filling.
Peanut Butter Filling
- In the bowl of your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream the peanut butter and powdered sugar together until smooth.
- Spread filling evenly on cookie crust.
- Chill for about 30 minutes.
Chocolate layer
- In a double boiler melt chocolate chips and cream until smooth.
- Spread on peanut butter layer.
- Chill until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.
- Cut into squares.
Notes
Store at airtight at room temperature for 3 days or refrigerated for up to 5 days
Want To Save This Recipe?
Find more recipes like this:
*This post is in partnership with my long-term relationship with Challenge Butter. All opinions are my own.
Shelly, these look awesome!!! The peanut butter looks so creamy, I just want to dive in head first!
Tagalongs are my favorite!! Good to have a recipe for when I devour all of the boxes in a matter of days and am craving the delicious cookies later in the year. My mouth thanks you and my thighs hate you. 🙂
There are somehow never ANY girl scouts near where I live so I almost always have to resort to homemade or going without. These bars sound way easier than making a gazillion cookies! Yum.
Oh yay! Thank you for making Girl Scout stuff from scratch. I always get all huffy and jealous when I see recipes that involve Thin Mints and stuff, just because I haven’t been able to find Girl Scout cookies since I was a girl scout. I don’t know why that is.
Anyway, these look great! And so fun.
PS – I like the word thieving. Random, I know…
hahaha!
These look yummy…..
I need a big batch of these right now! Yum!
I too have ordered a ridiculous amount of girl scout cookies, and they aren’t HERE YET. These are just what I need.
Um, I’ve never had a tagalong cookie and my daughter is a girl scoot. I’ll just make these bars to console myself now, please.
What?! How is that possible? Karly, I am embarrassed for you 😉
LOL! That is embarrassing. It is the best cookie.
I would love to tagalong with you as you make these bars! Oh man. That shortbread crust looks like the perfect base to hold those amazing choco and pb layers!
I want to tagalong these bars all day long!