Shelly's Recipe

Decadent Peanut Butter Bars

Category: Bars

3/4 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup peanut butter, crunchy
1/2 t. salt
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
3 eggs, large
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups unbleached or all-purpose flour
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

For the topping
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup peanut butter, crunchy
1/4 cup granulated peanuts, finely chopped

For the batter:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl combine the butter, peanut butter and salt, beat on low then medium speed until well blended.

Add the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract. Start on low to blend in the eggs, then beat on high for about a minute, or until the batter is fluffy.

Add the flour and chocolate chips and mix on low just until blended.

Spread batter evenly in a 9 x 13 pan.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the outside edges just start to turn light golden brown. The center will look a little soft, that is ok, you do not want them over baked.

Remove the bars from the oven and cool for 10 minutes, while you make the topping.

For the topping:
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the peanut butter, milk chocolate chips and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Stir constantly until melted and blended.

Pour the peanut butter & chocolate mixture over the warm bars. Sprinkle with the granulated peanuts.

Cool completely before cutting into bars.