Peanut Butter Bars

I was a little skeptical about these bars because they were so easy to make and required no baking. But they turned out really well and were very tasty and addicting. They taste like peanut butter cups in bar form. Yum!

* * * * * * *

Here we go...

Melt Butter

 Stir in 2 cups of crushed graham cracker crumbs

 And 2 cups of powdered sugar

 And 1 cup of creamy peanut butter

(I had crunchy peanut butter on hand, so my bars turned out, well, more crunchy)

 Mix it all together

 Press into a 9x13 dish

 Spread Chocolate on and refrigerate. 

Cut and serve. That's it!

I tried two different chocolate toppings for fun. On one half I did the chocolate topping called for in the recipe (pictured below, right half) and on the other half I melted mini peanut butter cups from Trader Joes and spread that on and then sprinkled cut up pieces of peanut butter cups on top of that. Both combinations were tasty, but the recipe topping makes it taste more like Reese's Peanut Butter cups. But really, you can't go wrong with any peanut butter/chocolate combo.

 These are great because you can make them in advance and refrigerate them until ready to serve. I cut some this morning after chilling all night and they were nice and soft and cut really easy.

Peanut Butter Bars

source: allrecipes.com

Ingredients
1 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
4 tablespoons peanut butter

Directions
In a medium bowl, mix together the butter or margarine, graham cracker crumbs, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup peanut butter until well blended. Press evenly into the bottom of an ungreased 9x13 inch pan.
In a metal bowl over simmering water, or in the microwave, melt the chocolate chips with the peanut butter, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread over the prepared crust. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into squares.

* I refrigerated the peanut butter bar part for about 20 minutes before spreading on the melted chocolate, then popped them back into the refrigerator.

Peanut Butter Cups + Peanut Butter Cookie = Pure Heaven.

Everyone loves these peanut butter packed cookies.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookie
INGREDIENTS:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.

Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan. 

Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.