Peanutty PB Bars

  • Pecan Peanut Butter Bar

    A while back I made Chewy Pecan Bars that rocked my world.  The smell, the texture, and the taste- oh yes, the taste.  I was left almost speechless (which is a hard thing to accomplish).

    But I knew there was a weensie opportunity to take the bars to the next level.  And I had a bag of peanut butter chips already opened in the cupboard, asking to be finished off… and so the lightbulb went off.  Bake the bars in little tart shells (with peanuts instead of pecans), then melt the peanut butter chips and spread overtop of the freshly-baked wonders.  Nod in agreement.  This is a recipe for success.

    (Oh- in the interest of success… don’t overheat your PB in the microwave like I just might have done here.)

    Adapted from my Chewy Pecan Bar recipe…

    2 eggs, lightly beaten

    1 cup white sugar

    1 cup brown sugar

    1 teaspoon vanilla

    1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

    Pinch of salt

    3/4 cup roasted peanuts (chopped)

    3/4 cup butter, melted

    1 cup peanut butter chips

    1. Preheat oven to 350° and grease individual tart pans or a foil-lined 8 x 8″ baking pan.
    2. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together.
    3. Spread evenly into tart pans or baking pan, and bake for 15 minutes for tarts and 35 minutes for bars in the 8″ pan (until cake tester pulls out mostly clean of crumbs in the center).  Allow to cool on a wire rack before spreading melted peanut butter chips overtop.  If making bars, allow to set before slicing.

    Tips:

    • Salted peanuts or unsalted?  I have a small salt addiction, so you know how I’m going to answer.  In the interest of balance though, I’d say to use salted peanuts and decrease your pinch of salt to a mere sprinkling.
    • No brown sugar in the house?   Okay, do you have molasses?  If so, replace the cup of brown sugar needed and use a cup of white sugar with a teaspoon of molasses stirred into your batter.
    • No molasses in the house?  Goddamn it.  Then just use white sugar all the way.  But go buy a bag of light brown sugar, will you?
    • No peanut butter chips in the house?  You could always melt a cup of peanut butter with a teaspoon or so of shortening, and beat in enough confectioners’ sugar to achieve the right spreading consistency.  OR- just spread your favorite PB on top and save the drama.
    • I wish I had sprinkled peanut crumbly bits on the tops of the tarts, so they’d look at least a little bit appetizing.
    • Chocoholic?  I can’t hold you back.  Go ahead and stir in a cup of chocolate chips.
    • Enjoy!

     

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    November 20th, 2013 | More Sweets Please | No Comments | Tags: , ,

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