Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

This recipe has become one of my favorite go to recipes for that sinful dessert. Ridiculously easy, this recipe is rich and delicious with chocolate and peanut butter running throughout. Best of all, no oven is needed, so your kitchen can stay cool and so can you, especially with temperatures on the rise. This is the perfect dessert to make for a potluck or a party. Everyone will be asking for more!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars Nigella Lawson

1/2 cup dark brown sugar {packed}
2 2/3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons softened unsalted butter {divided}
1 3/4 cups creamy peanut butter
10 ounces milk chocolate chips
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate {chopped}

Cut a piece of parchment paper big enough to line a standard sized brownie pan, with a bit of overhang. Grease the brownie pan & lay in the parchment paper.
Combine the brown sugar, confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup butter & peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Blend until smooth. Dump the mixture out into the pan & press it down, making it an even as possible.
Melt the chocolates & 2 tablespoons of butter in a double boiler, or in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water. Stir occasionally to combine. Spread the melted chocolate over the peanut butter base & smooth out the surface.
Put the pan in the refrigerator, until the chocolate is set. Remove the bars from the pan by lifting on the overhang of parchment paper & slice into squares using a sharp knife. It may help to warm the knife under hot water to get through the hard chocolate layer more easily. The bars are very rich, so 1" squares would be a good size.

Suggestion: Try using different flavors of peanut butter to mix it up! There are so many different kinds out there, from white chocolate to cinnamon raisin, to more!

Puppy Chow/Muddy Buddies aka Heavennnn

This is one snack with many names. Some may argue about what it's truly called, but one thing everyone can agree on is that it is deliciously sinful. Simple, inexpensive, and decadent, this one is a hit. Just a warning, do be careful when you make this: it is addicting. My roommate begged me to take it out of the house for a week before I finally gave in. Regardless, this recipe is not only tasty, but fun to make too. A great project for kids and adults alike, get in the kitchen and give this one a try. I promise you won't be disappointed, maybe just a little bit too indulged. But then again, to each his own. :)

Puppy Chow/Muddy Buddies by Alice on Savory Sweet Life

Ingredients:
9 cups Chex cereal ( whatever you prefer)
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 1-gallon ziplock bags

Directions:
Place cereal in a large bowl and set aside. In a medium microwavable bowl, add chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter. Microwave on High for 1 minute and stir. Microwave 30 seconds longer and stir mixture until smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour sauce over cereal and stir until evenly coated. Spoon half of the mixture in each 1-gallon resealable ziplock bag. Add 3/4 cup powdered sugar to each bag, and seal. Shake the bag until everything is coated. Spread on waxed/parchment paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Suggestion: Make this dish user friendly. Are you a fan of crunchy peanut butter? Add that instead of creamy. Try dark chocolate or white chocolate for a twist too. Have fun. Regardless, it'll definitely be tasty.

This is no Reese's!

It's summer and it's hot! Every time I step in the kitchen I secretly dread turning on that oven. But as usual, I was craving something sweet, so I thought, why not use the freezer? Yep, it is possible to create a decadent, sinful, delicious dessert with the help of just your freezer. How do dark chocolate (full of antioxidants and can lower blood pressure) peanut butter cups sound? Delicious, right!? These have you leaving the kitchen cool as can be and asking the question, "What's a Reese's?".

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups

Makes 12-15 mini peanut butter cups

12 oz. any kind of chocolate you like (I prefer dark chocolate)

1/3 cup of creamy peanut butter (try crunchy for a twist)

1/4 cup crushed graham crackers

1/4 cup confectioners' sugar

Melt the chocolate in a pan over low heat being sure to continuously stir until all of the chocolate is melted. Place mini cupcake liners in a mini muffin pan. Using a pastry brush, brush the melted chocolate on the bottom and sides of the mini cupcake liners. Be sure that there is a good coating, as this will be the base of the candy. Place the muffin pan in the freezer for 5-10 minutes until the chocolate sets.

While the chocolate is setting, mix the peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, and crushed (very fine) graham crackers in a bowl.

Remove the muffin pan from the freezer and place about a teaspoonful of the peanut butter mix into each cup. Press down on the peanut butter mix, so that it spreads a bit. With a spoon, pour more melted chocolate on the top of each cup, so that you can no longer see the peanut butter mixture.

Place back into the freezer for 20 minutes to set, and then remove to enjoy some decadence in a tiny little package!

Suggestion: This is no Reese's! Be creative and try different combinations of ingredients. White chocolate with a raspberry peanut butter filling, dark chocolate pecan, or whatever you seem to be craving. Have fun with it!