Hello!
I went looking through my “bars” recipes this past weekend. I wanted something different to try. I ran into one called Peanut Butter Bars. I read down through the recipe and the list of ingredients, and thought it sounded really good. I had everything on hand, and it sounded pretty quick. It had to be quick because I was already in the kitchen canning all day. It was a pickled beets and canned tomatoes kind of day.
I thought this year, I would pull up a few beets (like a Dutch oven full) at a time instead of always doing them all at once. They take so long to cook.
Anyway, after canning tomatoes and pickled beets, I made the Peanut Butter Bars. I finally got to relax a bit on Sunday evening and enjoy them. They are very good. I brought the rest of them to work with me to see how the reviews from my co-workers would go. It was a hit! The bottom layer is a cake-like consistency and then the next layer is peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar with some shortening. It’s light and kind of fluffy with a creamy consistency. Then you top off all that wonderful stuff with melted chocolate chips and shortening. Just drizzle it across the peanut butter layer. Peanut butter and chocolate is definitely a perfect pair.
I had it as my late night snack to end a very busy day. It would make a scrumptious dessert for the ending of a meal. Definitely a Sunday Dinner kind of dessert.
Peanut Butter Bars
Bottom layer: Ingredients
1/3 cup shortening (I used Crisco, butter flavor)
½ cup peanut butter
1 ½ cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 ½ cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ cup milk
Frosting layer:
2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
½ cup shortening (I used Crisco butter flavor)
4 cups confectioners sugar
1/3 to ½ cup milk
Topping:
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
Directions:
In a large bowl, cream the shortening, peanut butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour baking powder and salt, gradually add to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition
Transfer to a greased 15x10x1 inch baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 16 to 20 minutes. Or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely.
Frosting: in a small bowl, cream the peanut butter, shortening and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in enough milk to achieve spreading consistency. Frost bars.
Topping: In a microwave, melt chocolate chips and shortening, stir until smooth. Drizzle over frosting. Store in the refrigerator.
Enjoy!
