Chocolate-PB Squares

We had a couple friends over for lunch on Labor Day, so of course I had to make a dessert. I asked Adam to choose from a stack of recipes I had torn out of magazines, and this is what he came up with. Wow, they were rich - more like fudge than bars - but super yummy. I did cut them into 48 squares, and I'm glad I did. Anything bigger would have been too much!


chocolate-pb squares

2 pkg (10 oz each) peanut butter chips
1/3 c unsalted butter, cut up
2 cans (14 oz each) sweetened condensed milk
2 c finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c unsalted peanuts, finely chopped, plus 1 c coarsely chopped or left whole
1 pkg (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

Line 13 x 9 x 2" baking pan with nonstick foil. Combine peanut butter chips and butter in large glass bowl. Microwave on 50% power for 30 seconds. Stir. Return to microwave; heat on HIGH for 90 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds. Whisk in condensed milk.

Gradually stir in crumbs and the 1/2 cup of chopped peanuts. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

Microwave chocolate chips on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir until smooth; microwave in additional 15-second increments, if necessary. Spread over top of peanut mixture. Sprinkle with additional 1 cup nuts. Let stand at room temperature until firm, about 1 hour. Cut into 48 squares.

Next time I will leave off the peanuts on top. Even though I pressed them into the chocolate, they all fell off when the bars were cut and taken out of the pan. I loved how the graham cracker crumbs cut out some of the sweetness, but as our friend noted, that just made it easier to eat more of them and then the sugar rush crept up on you instead of coming on all at once!