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Peanut Butter Fudge Bars are the ultimate sweet, rich, chewy, luscious, and incredible treat.
I always get slightly panicky when I run out of peanut butter. I am not exaggerating when I say I eat the stuff practically every day. It feels like something is missing in my life when I run out so I usually buy the biggest jars I can find. Recently I ran out and couldn’t get to the store immediately so I felt like I was going through peanut butter withdrawals. As soon as I got my gigantic container of PB I knew I had to bake something with it to satisfy my craving. I turned to my new favorite baking book from King Arthur and found this recipe which completely satisfied my peanut butter lust.
Is there one food that you just can’t live without? I could never completely exclude chocolate, peanut butter, bread, or seafood from my diet unless I became severely allergic. Even then…
Recipe Rundown
Taste: Sweet, rich, and like a giant peanut butter cup but better.
Texture: Firm, chewy, smooth, and luscious.
Ease: Easy. Flattening the crust onto the baking pan was the only part that caused a little bit of trouble.
Appearance: I think all bar desserts are pretty cute and scrumptious looking.
Pros: Fun way to enjoy the chocolate and peanut butter flavor combination.
Cons: Lots of sugar but you only need a small piece to enjoy.
Would I make this again? Yes.
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Peanut Butter Fudge Bars
Ingredients
Crust:
- 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup peanut butter
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
Filling:
- 4 1/2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
- 8 tablespoons (4 ounces) unsalted butter
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup corn syrup
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup (3 ounces) chocolate chips or peanut butter chips
Frosting:
- 3/4 cup (4 1/2 ounces) white chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
Instructions
For the crust:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil and spray lightly with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the butter and peanut butter until well combined. Add the sugar, salt, and vanilla and beat until combined. Gradually add the flour, beating until just combined. The mixture will be dry and crumbly.
- Press the dough into the prepared baking pan, using a can on its side to help cover the pan evenly with the dough. Bake the crust for 8 to 10 minutes, or until lightly browned at the edges. Keep the oven at 350°F.
For the filling:
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, heat the chocolate, butter, salt, and cornsyrup in the microwave in 30-second bursts until melted and smooth, stirring between each burst. Stir in the sugar and flour. Beat in the eggs until well combined. Stir in the chips. Pour the filling onto the crust and bake until shiny and set, 22 to 24 minutes (a tester will come out with moist crumbs attached). Do not overbake.
For the frosting:
- In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat the white chocolate chips in 30-second bursts, stirring between each burst, until melted and smooth. Stir in the peanut butter. Spread the mixture over the warm bars. Let cool completely before cutting into 1 1/2×2-inch bars. For clean cuts, use a sharp knife heated in hot water, wiping often.
I really love the way these look,- actually quite unassuming and innocent. But-I can imagine they must be one of the most fantastic delicious squares you can ever make. Thanks for the chocaholic, peanut butter lovers’ dream recipe come true!
These bars look amazing- I love, love, love peanut butter too and always have a jar on hand. May go need to buy another jar just to make these bars. Yum!
These look great.
I freak out when I don’t have plenty of pasta and cheese in the house!
I always, Always, ALWAYS must have peanut butter in the house. I buy the large sizes, too, with one for backup in the pantry. It’s an emergency when/if we run out. Bananas are the other thing. It doesn’t matter how many different types of fruit we have, we must have banana too. These bars look fabulous!
These look so good, I can imagine these sticking to your teeth in that way that peanut does. I found your blog after purchasing your new book, it’s great and I can’t wait to start baking from it 🙂
I love that you eat PB every day. I think I need to have carbs every day. Without it, I just won’t survive!
Btw, can you send over some of these bars? I need a dessert fix, stat!
Peanut butter is the very best and so are these bars! I love them!
Tessa, I LOVE these. I freak out when I’m low on PB, too. It’s never a good thing.
Life without peanut butter would be sad! Love these bars! They look amazing!
Wow Tessa! These are amazing. Perfect for summer!
These are awesome looking! I also could not live without peanut butter. Also add cheese, cream cheese, and bread products to that list.