In these Fudgy Peanut Butter Bars, creamy chocolate ganache fills a fudgy peanut butter base for a deliciously decadent treat!

For my sister.

I’m baking you a treat.

Because you are so pretty,

And you always make me laugh.

Because we shared clothes in high school.

And you painted my toes when I was 13 months pregnant. 😉

Because I love you, sister that made you a yummy treat.

Happy Birthday my beautiful, wise yet-still-older-sister Julie!!!

I love you! 🙂

All right. Let me break it down for you on these bars. THESE. ARE. YUM.

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First this recipe came to me as a peanut butter bar. The crust is like fudge with a few scattered peanuts for some texture and deliciousness.

Then I thought about ganache… who doesn’t dream of melted chocolate? So I poured over the top! {In my opinion} this dessert is not overly sweet and totally the perfect marriage of peanut butter and chocolate.

I love these bars. Speaking of marriage…

To Make These Fudy Peanut Butter Bars Base You will need:

for the bars:

  • butter
  • brown sugar
  • granulated sugar
  • baking soda
  • powder
  • kosher salt
  • vanilla both
  • creamy and crunchy peanut butter
  • unbleached all-purpose flour

for the ganache:

  • 4 ounces semi sweet chocolate
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Next, grease and line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper.

Then, in the bowl of your stand mixer, measure and add in the butter, peanut butter, light brown sugar and granulated sugar in a large bowl of your mixer.

Next, add one teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.

Then mix until blended and the mixture is light and creamy.

Next, measure and add the salt, baking soda and powder, half of the flour. Mix and then add the rest of the flour.

Then, continue mixing until all the flour is incorporated, scraping down the sides as well.

Next, tip the fudgy peanut butter dough into the prepared pan.

Then, using a spatula, spread it evenly and press with fingers to flatten a little.

Next, bake the dough in a preheated 350° for 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden. Since this dough is egg free, if you insert a tester and it comes back with a little dough on it, it’s okay. Remember it’s suppose to be fudgy!

Lastly, allow the bars to cool completely in pan on a wire rack.

Once the bars are cooled it will be time to make the ganache. To make this, you need semi-sweet chocolate and heavy cream.

What is Ganache?

Ganache is a silky, sauce, icing, glaze or icing made of chocolate and heavy cream.

Chop the chocolate into small pieces.

And place it into a medium sized bowl.

Next pour the cream into a small sauce pan, bring just to a simmer and then quickly pull it off the heat and pour over chopped chocolate.

Let it sit so the chocolate has a chance to soften up.

Then stir. Slowly. You don’t want to get any air into it.

Let the ganache hang out until it’s thick but pourable.

Pour into the center of the bars.

Tilt the pan to coat evenly. Chill for about an hour.

Cut.

And enjoy! These bars are so delicious. My sister was so kind to let me take a couple of her birthday bars for my girlees and me to try. I don’t know if I could be so generous! 😉

Im in love with the texture and with their fudgy-ness. I can’t wait to make these for my husband… he will love love LOVE them and you will too!

Enjoy! And if you give this Fudgy Peanut Butter Bars recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!

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Yield: 16 servings

Fudgy Peanut Butter Bars

A fudgy peanut butter base topped with chocolate ganache is a deliciously decadent treat!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes

Ingredients

FOR THE FUDGY PEANUT BARS:

  • 1 cup room temperature unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
  • 1 cup light brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda

FOR THE GANACHE:

  • 4 ounces semi sweet chocolate
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350° and grease and line an 8x8 square baking pan.
  • Mix together butter, peanut butters, sugars, vanilla until light and creamy.
  • Add rest of ingredients in batches, and mix well until totally combined. Spread peanut butter batter evenly into pan. Place in preheated oven for 20-25 min.
  • Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
  • Roughly chop the chocolate into small pieces and place into a medium bowl. Bring Heavy cream to a simmer and immediately remove off from the heat and pour on top of chopped chocolate. Let this sit to soften chocolate. Whisk the hot cream and chocolate slowly until the chocolate is completely incorporated into the cream.
  • To finish the bars: Let the ganache sit for 5 minutes until slightly thicker in consistency. Pour into cooled peanut butter bars. Tilt the pan to spread the ganache and then chill in the fridge until the ganache is set. Cut and serve.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 383kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 6g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 12g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 326mg, Potassium: 193mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 24g, Vitamin A: 468IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 1mg
Author: Laurie McNamara
Course: Desserts & Sweet Treats
Cuisine: American