Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars after Supper

For Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars after Supper, the counter starts with butter cut each stick in half, semisweet chocolate chopped, and sugar. Portion it for 24 bars.

Count on 20 minutes of prep, 20 minutes of cooking, 1 hour of resting, about 1 hour from the first measurement to the plate.

Ingredients Method

What goes in the bowl

Batter

• 1 cup butter cut each stick in half
• 5 ounces semisweet chocolate chopped
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 ¼ cups flour
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Filling

• 1 ½ cups peanut butter
• ½ cup butter softened
• 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping

• 1 12-ounce bag semisweet chocolate morsels
• ½ tablespoon shortening optional
• ½ cup chopped honey roasted peanuts

How the cooking goes

1. Warm the oven to 350 degrees and line a 13X9-inch baking pan with heavy duty aluminum foil. Spray foil with cooking spray.
2. In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine the 1 cup butter and chopped chocolate. Microwave on HIGH for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Keep it to one side.
3. In a mixing bowl, whisk together sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract.
4. Gradually add chocolate mixture while whisking continuously.
5. Using a wooden spoon or sturdy flexible spatula, mix in flour, cocoa powder, and salt.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes or until set in middle. (It’s ok for it to still look slightly undercooked in the middle.) Allow it to cool.
7. Using an electric mixer, beat peanut butter and ½ cup softened butter until the texture looks smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar. Beat in vanilla.
8. Spread peanut butter filling on top of cooled brownies, smoothing with a spatula. Place in freezer for 15 minutes.
9. Place chocolate chips and shortening in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 20 second intervals, stirring after each, until melted.
10. Spread melted chocolate on top of peanut butter filling. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
11. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cutting into bars.

After it comes off the heat

Let the pan settle before you slice, so the crumb stays together. Cover leftovers once they are cool.

If you want another plate from Brownies and bars, open Caramel Blondies for the Dessert Plate and Peanut Butter Brownies with a Fudgy Middle.