I am not a fan of chocolate and peanut butter COMBINED. Separate they are both awesome, together, not so much. This recipe is perfect because one, I won’t eat any of it! My colleagues have been taking turns requesting treats on Fridays (see what telling everyone you have a blog does to you?!). Last week, one requested chocolate and peanut butter. These bars were the perfect treat. Decadent, delicious, and relatively simple, these are elegant enough to bring to a party, or to make when you have that chocolate-y craving!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (adapted from Kraft)
1 devil’s food cake mix (2 layer)
1 chocolate pudding mix (3.4 ounces)
1 stick butter, cold
1/2 cup skim milk, cold
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup dry roasted peanuts
1 cup peanut butter
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 13×9 pan with tin foil. Then spray with cooking spray. Combine the cake mix, pudding mix, butter, and skim milk. The dough will form a sticky ball. Press half the cake mix into the bottom of the pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Top with half of the chocolate chips and half of the peanuts. Melt the peanut butter in the microwave (45 seconds on HIGH). Pour the peanut butter over the cake mix. Then, cover with remaining cake mix mixture (I rolled it out and placed it over the top–it wasn’t exact but the cake mix did spread out while baking). Bake an additional 15 minutes. Let cool to room temperature and then refrigerate overnight. Cut into bars and serve.
Important note: keep the bars in the fridge until serving, that way the peanut butter won’t begin to melt. This happened to me while they were at work. Once the peanut butter melts, it starts to ooze out. Not the best idea ever!
This week I have 2 more delicious recipes. I hope you are enjoying your day today grilling outside, celebrating the start of summer, and most of all remembering those who gave their lives so we could do whatever we wanted today!
Until the next time my oven is on…
