Chocolate Peanut-Butter Bars
Chocolate Peanut-Butter Bars
Sometimes, you just need chocolate, right? Lots and lots of moist, fudge-y cake topped with a layer of peanut butter and smothered in more chocolate fudge icing.
I came across this recipe from a friend, and I’ve modified it to eliminate the artificial ingredients, and I cut the fudge icing by half. It’s made with 50% whole wheat/50% unbleached flour, organic peanut butter and natural cocoa. It makes a 9X13″ pan and – I’m tellin’ ya – just a small piece will send your guests into Chocolate Orbit.
To top it off, it’s a really easy cake to make. Give it a try!
Chocolate Peanut-Butter Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup Whole Wheat Flour
- 1 cup Unbleached Flour
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1 tsp Baking Soda
- 1 cup Butter
- 1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
- 1 cup Water
- 1/2 cup Buttermilk
- 2 lg Eggs
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 16 oz Peanut Butter no sugar added – important!
Fudge Icing
- 1/4 cup Butter
- 3 tbsp Buttermilk
- 4 tbsp Cocoa Powder
- 8 oz Powdered Sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour a 9X13″ baking pan
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar and baking soda with a whisk. Set aside.
- Combine water, buttermilk and eggs in a medium bowl and whisk until slightly frothy.
- Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in cocoa powder until combined. Then add the buttermilk mixture.
- Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until just evenly boiling.
- Add this HOT mixture to the flour and beat until smooth – maybe 2 minutes or so. Add vanilla midway.
- Spread the batter into your prepared pan.
- Bake at 350 F for 35 minutes, or until a pick comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 10 minutes. Spread the peanut butter gently over the warm cake. Then let it cool completely.
Fudge Icing
- Place the sugar in a large mixing bowl. Melt the butter over medium heat (you can use the same pan you used before – less clean-up!)
- Add the buttermilk, then cocoa and stir constantly until mixture boils as before
- Pour the HOT mixture over the sugar and beat until smooth. It should reach an almost pourable consistency – if it turns dough-y, you’ll need a little bit more melted butter and buttermilk.
- Stir in vanilla. Gently spread the icing over the peanut butter, then let the icing set for a while in a cool place (I covered mine with foil and put it in the fridge for about 30 minutes).Slice and serve.
Notes
Do you prepare treats for others, only to watch your favorite pan disappear? I sure do! But here’s a simple solution, that also makes a great gift: A 9″ X 13″ pan with a personalized lid! No one will forget who that cake came from anymore.
A friend also mentioned what a great wedding shower gift this would be, or perhaps a gift for that friend who just loves to bake (like me.) Having a cake pan with a cover makes it so much easier to share treats with friends and neighbors.
There are several designs to choose from, as well as colors, and all of them are made by a small business owner in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Free shipping in the US!
Personalized Cake Pans, 9″ x13″ Engraved Lid, Perfect for Bridal Shower!
Personalized Cake Pans, 9″ X 13″, Engraved Lid, Perfect for Bridal Shower!Personalized Cake Pans, 9″ X 13″, Engraved Lid, Perfect for Bridal Shower!
