Thursday, August 6, 2009

Cooking with Kids Episode 2, Chocolate Peanut Butter Treats


If you love Reese's peanut butter cups, you'll love this treat. But I must warn you - they can be addictive. This recipe is another keeper from Children's Quick and Easy Cookbook. If you use a microwave to melt the chocolate, you don't even need to turn on the stove. Just make sure you microwave for only 30 seconds at a time and give the chocolate a stir each time, so it doesn't overcook. I bet this would make a great bake sale item too!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Treats
Children's Quick and Easy Cookbook by Angela Wilkes
For the treats:
4 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
8 1/2 ounces smooth peanut butter (sorry, natural peanut butters won't work here)
scant 2 cups confectioners' sugar
For the chocolate topping:
1 cup dark chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon butter

1. Melt the butter in a saucepan (or use the microwave and a microwave-safe bowl). In a large bowl, mix the melted butter with the brown sugar, peanut butter, and confectioners' sugar. (The mixture was very stiff and I ended up kneading it together with clean hands to get a uniform mixture).

2. Spoon the mixture into an 8- or 9-inch square baking pan and spread it out evenly. Press it down firmly using a spatula or your fingertips.

3. Place the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl and add the butter. Melt over a pan of simmering water (or use that microwave again!) and stir until smooth. (For some reason, mine seized up and so I added a little heavy cream and heated and stirred again.)

4. Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter mixture. Chill until set but is still soft enough to cut. Place cut squares back into the refrigerator to set completely.

One year ago: Grandma's Sloppy Joes

7 comments:

  1. Oh my, I think I am going to have to give this a try. Peanut butter and chocolate, a match made in heaven.

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  2. i'm always a fan of anything with PB and chocolate. i'll have to try this...do they hold up well? out of the fridge?

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  3. jules -
    I left these bars out on the countertop for two days and they were fine. I would probably keep them in the fridge if your kitchen is warm or you need to keep them a few more days. Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. YUM!!! I love anything peanut butter and chocolate!! These look fabulous!

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  5. These look just like the yummy squares that I had in school lunches as a kid. Most Fridays we anxiously awaited lunch in hopes that these little treats would be on the tray. Love it! I'm also in charge of a "cooking class" for a VBS this January, and this could be perfect!

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  6. I checked out the original book from the library and made these. They were so good, I had to make them again! I made them for a special event. I had to turn the book in, and I looked online EVERYWHERE to find the recipe again, and here it is. They were even better this time.

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