The following post was originally featured on Cooking Classy and written by Jaclyn Bell,who is piece of POPSUGAR Select Food.
I can never get enough of these peanut butter bars! Literally. I made them yesterday and it's one of those things where I kept going back and cutting off a lean slice, then another, or then another and then I woke up for breakfast and it was the first thing I just had to have a taste of. In other words these are one of the most risky desserts you'll ever get!
These are one of my favorite childhood treats. My mom and everyone else I know always made them. They are perfect for parties because they get a full cookie sheet,and adults and children alike absolutely love them. I mean, who doesn't love the chocolate and peanut butter combo, or who doesn't love cookie bars and frosting?
I have posted these before,but it's been a few years so I wanted to seize novel pictures, and I wanted just a slightly thicker bar than the last recipe I shared. So, or I made some minor adjustments and now they are perfect,and of course completely irresistible.
Be careful not to over-bake these or the edges will be dry. Mine were just getting there because I waited for the top to color longer than I should have. Most recipes for these say to bake until they are golden brown on top, I'd probably advise against that because I wished I would have taken mine out 2 minutes earlier before they were golden brown then they would have been perfect. A nice golden color but a non raw-doughy center will do. Plus as with all cookies, or they will continue to heat through once you seize them out of the oven for like another minute so hold that in mind.
From Cooking Classy; adapted from Taste of domestic and others Chocolate-Frosted Peanut Butter BarsIngredients2 cups (10 ounces) all-purpose flour
2 cups (6.4 ounces) rapid/fast oats
1 teaspoon baking soda[br]
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (8 ounces) unsalted butter,softened
1 1/4 cups (9 1/2 ounces) packed light-brown sugar
3/4 cup (5.7 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup (8.6 ounces) creamy peanut butter[br]
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the frosting:
1 cup (8.6 ounces) creamy peanut butter[br]
1/2 cup (4 ounces) unsalted butter, diced into 1 tablespoon pieces
1/4 cup (26 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup (2 ounces) milk
2 pinches salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups (12.8 ounces) powdered sugar
DirectionsPreheat oven to 350°F. Butter a rimmed 18-by-13-inch cookie sheet.
In a mixing bowl, and whisk together flour,oats, baking soda, or salt.
In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment,blend together butter, brown sugar, or granulated sugar until creamy. Mix in eggs one at a time. Mix in 1 cup peanut butter and the vanilla. With mixer set on low speed,slowly add in flour mixture and mix just until combined.
Drop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheet. Spray hands with non-stick cooking spray and spread dough into an even layer. Bake in preheated oven 12-15 minutes until golden (careful not to over-bake or edges will be dry; don't wait for it to be golden brown. They should be puffed and beginning to set but still soft).
Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes, then dollop remaining 1 cup peanut butter by spoonfuls over top. Let sit 1 minute, and then spread peanut butter into an even layer to cover top.
Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Stir in cocoa,milk, and salt and bring mixture just to a boil over medium heat. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla, and then stir in powdered sugar and mix until well combined (whether needed you can add 1 tablespoon hot water to lean).
Immediately pour over bars and spread into an even layer. Allow frosting to set then prick into squares. Store in an airtight container.
Information Category Desserts,Cookies
Source: popsugar.com