Peanut Butter Crispy Bars

This weeks Snack Food Sunday post is a sweet treat. I have been eyeing these bars since drooling over the pictures at Smitten Kitchen in October. Deb warns you about making these bars, and she is right, they are fan-freakin-tastic! Something about creamy peanut butter sandwiched between sweetened rice crispies and smooth chocolate makes these irresistible. Do yourself a favor and don’t make these unless you have company coming or you are bringing them somewhere, because you will eat them all!

Peanut Butter Crispy Bars

• For the crispy crust:
• 1 3/4 cups crisped rice cereal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 3 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• For the milk chocolate peanut butter layer:
• 5 ounces good-quality semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• For the chocolate icing:
• 3 ounces dark chocolate (60 to 72 percent cocoa), coarsely chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon light corn syrup
• 4 tablespoons salted butter

Make the crispy crust: Lightly spray a paper towel with nonstick cooking spray and use it to rub the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan.

Put the cereal in a large bowl and set aside.

Pour 1/4 cup water into a small saucepan. Gently add the sugar and corn syrup (do not let any sugar or syrup get on the sides of the pan) and use a small wooden spoon to stir the mixture until just combined. Put a candy thermometer in the saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; cook until the mixture reaches the soft ball stage, 235 degrees F.

Remove from the heat, stir in the butter, and pour the mixture over the cereal. Working quickly, stir until the cereal is thoroughly coated, then pour it into the prepared pan. Using your hands, press the mixture into the bottom of the pan (do not press up the sides). Let the crust cool to room temperature while you make the next layer.

Make the milk chocolate peanut butter layer:In a large nonreactive metal bowl, stir together the chocolate and the peanut butter. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring with a rubber spatula, until the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan and stir for about 30 seconds to cool slightly. Pour the mixture over the cooled crust. Put the pan in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until the top layer hardens.

Make the chocolate icing: In a large nonreactive metal bowl, combine the chocolate, corn syrup, and butter.

Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring with a rubber spatula, until the mixture is completely smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan and stir for 30 seconds to cool slightly. Pour the mixture over the chilled milk chocolate peanut butter layer and  roll it around until coated smoothly, into an even layer. Put the pan into the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until the topping hardens.

Cut into 16 squares and serve. The bars can be stored in the refrigerator, covered tightly, for up to 4 days.

Recipe from Smitten Kitchen, adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking.

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Eat your veggies!

These veggie bars are so good! They are a great way to have fresh vegetables at a party without going the traditional veggies and dip routine. From allrecipes.com, I typically only make half of the recipe, unless there is a large group of people.

Veggie Bars (1/2 of traditional recipe w/my modifications) 

• 1 8-ounce package crescent rolls
• 1 8-ounce package low-fat cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup low-fat mayonnaise
• ½ envelope ranch dressing mix
• Assorted raw vegetables, chopped (tomatoes, broccoli, red onions, celery, carrots, cauliflower, green and/or red peppers)
• ½ to ¾ cup shredded mozzarella or cheddar cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread crescent rolls out onto a baking sheet or a pizza pan. Crimp seams together. Bake 8 – 10 minutes. Leave on pan until cool.

In a small mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, and ranch dressing – mix well. Spread over cooled crust. Top with assorted vegetables. Sprinkle cheese over top. Chill 1 – 2 hours before serving. Cut into bars and serve.