Peanut Butter Cup Bars (no baking required!)

So, my husband was leaving at 2pm.  At 10am, he informed me that he needed "a dish to pass".  We didn't have chips & salsa.  I was all out of brownie mix.  I didn't have oatmeal, sweetened condensed milk or caramels, so my go to bar recipes were falling by the wayside.  I offered grapes, but he seemed disappointed in that possibility.  So, I remembered hearing about no bake peanut butter cup bars so decided to "google" it.  I got lucky on the first recipe I tried.  Thank you "Brown Eyed Baker".  And I had all the ingredients on hand!

Here's what you need:

For the peanut butter layer
½ cup unsalted butter
1¾ cups powdered sugar
1 cup smooth peanut butter
¾ cup graham cracker crumbs

For the chocolate layer
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup milk chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate)

Line an 8 X 8 with aluminum foil and grease.  (Be sure to leave some foil hanging over the edge for easy removal of the bars later)

For peanut butter layer, melt butter in saucepan or microwave.  (I melted in the microwave in my Pampered Chef Batter Bowl).  When butter is melted, remove from heat and stir in powdered sugar until smooth.  Stir in peanut butter.  Stir in graham crackers.  Spread into pan and smooth out.

Next, for chocolate layer, melt butter in saucepan.  Add chocolate and stir until melted.  I suggest a low heat since chocolate & butter seem to burn easily.

Pour chocolate over peanut butter layer and smooth evenly.  Refrigerate for 30 minutes, or until set.  Remove foil from pan and cut using a pizza cutter (super easy way to cut!).  16 small squares is good since they are pretty rich.  Store in airtight container in the refrigerator.

Next time, I may try to make individuals in mini muffin tins with mini muffin liners to resemble Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. 

Peanut Butter Cut Outs

I was pretty excited when I found this cookbook on clearance at Target: "The Great Cookie Book: 50 Recipes for All Occasions" (from the creators of the Original Bundt Pan - Nordic Ware)

I was even more excited when I came across a recipe for Peanut Butter Cut Out Cookies.

YUM!

1.5 c flour
1/8 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c creamy peanut butter
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1 large egg

Beat butter and peanut butter until smooth and creamy. Beat in sugars. Beat in egg. Gradually beat in rest.

Chill for about 3 hours.

Cut in sections on lightly floured surface. Decorate with colored sugars if desired. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Maggie at Smashed Peas and Carrots has done it again...provided us with another yummy dessert. She was also responsible for the delicious Strawberry Upside Down Cake that I posted this summer. My husband and Peyton LOVE Peanut Butter Cups so I knew I HAD to try these.

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups chopped peanut butter cups

Cream together butter, shortening and sugars. Add PB. Add vanilla and eggs. Add flour and baking soda. Stir in PB cups. (Maggie recommends chopping PB cups ahead of time and freezing. That way, when you stir them into your batter they keep their form when baking rather than melting.)

Bake at 350 for 7 to 10 minutes.

(For a more detailed recipe, click on the link above to go to her post. Check out the rest of her blog too for great craft ideas, more recipes, and other fun stuff.)