Peanut Butter Bars-Secret Recipe Club

One of the nice things about getting my Secret Recipe Club assignment early like I do now is that I get the chance to delve deeply into my assigned blog.  Such was the case with this month’s blog,  Rebekah’s Family, Food, and Fun, which has been around since 2008.  I really enjoyed  going back and learning about her family as it grew and new children were added.  Of course, I was there to find recipes, and I certainly found many delicious sounding ones
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Rebekah has a wide range of recipes on her blog.  I made the Cream Biscuits, but mine were ugly and not blog worthy.  I would encourage everyone to try the recipe though as the biscuits were delicious even warmed up in the microwave.

I found so many recipes that sounded wonderful that I could create a list here a mile long; but since it is holiday time, I thought I would point out some that would make great food gifts.  There is Praline Party Mix, Cinnabon Pop Corn, White Chocolate Popcorn and Caramel Glazed Apple Bread to mention just a few.  I am for sure going to add the apple bread to my Christmas quick bread list this year.

The recipe I ended up making Peanut Butter Bars which was among Rebekah’s early posts.  When I saw the recipe, I knew it was the one.  With graham crackers, peanut butter and chocolate among the ingredients, what is not to like?  These are a no-bake, quick and easy bar cookie which uses ingredients I always have on hand.  Again, what is not to like?  The only thing I might be tempted to do is call these Graham Peanut Butter Bars to reflect that they contain graham crackers.

I actually ended up making the recipe twice, much to my husband’s delight.  Sometimes when you make a recip,e you do what you have always done, and it is not the right thing to do for that recipe.  I always sift my powdered sugar, and did so when I made these the first time.  After the butter and peanut butter mixture was added to the graham cracker crumbs and sugar, the mixture was too soupy.  I crushed and added an additional 4 graham cracker rectangles for a total of 1 and 1/2 sleeves of graham crackers.  I then chilled the mixture and added the chocolate topping.  Though a bit soft, the bars were very good.

I kept thinking about what could have gone wrong and decided that it could only be two things.  I had use Skippy 100% Natural Super Chunk Peanut Butter and I had sifted the powdered sugar.  I made the bars again still using the 100% Natural Skippy, but not sifting the powdered sugar.  The sifting appeared to be the problem as the second mixture set up nicely right away.  I did chill them for a little while before adding the chocolate topping. 

I chose to use milk chocolate chips for the topping instead of semi-sweet as I like them better.  I would recommend that only brand name milk chocolate chips be used as I have had some challenges when melting store brand milk chocolate chips.  If you use semi-sweet chips, it probably doesn't matter.

The cookies remind me of Twix candy and are maybe more candy than cookie, but they are so worth making.  If you like any of the ingredients in these, do give them a try.  They will be in regular rotation at my house.

Rebekah has wonderful photos, great recipes (check out the gorgeous cakes),  and a fun blog to read.

Peanut Butter Bars from Rebekah's Family, Food and Fun
1 sleeve graham crackers, crushed (this is about 1  1/2 cups)
2 2/3 c. powdered sugar (do not sift)
1 c. butter
1 c. peanut butter, creamy or chunky
1 pkg. semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips
1/4 c. milk

Place graham crackers in a zip-top plastic bag and crush with the flat side of a meat mallet or use a rolling pin.  Place cracker crumbs in a medium mixing bowl and add powdered sugar.  Mix well, to eliminate any sugar lumps.  Set aside.  Combine butter and peanut butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave about 2 minutes at 50% power until butter is melted.  Beat to mix well.  Combine butter/peanut butter mixture and graham cracker/sugar mixture and mix until well blended.  Turn into a foil-lined 9x13-in pan.  Place in refrigerator and chill about 15 minutes.  Combine chocolate chips and milk and melt according to package directions.  Spread over peanut butter mixture and chill 10 minutes until set.  Remove from pan and cut into 1 x 1 1/2-inch bars (these are very rich).  Make about 60.

The way that Secret Recipe Clubs works is that each participant is assigned a blog that they are to visit, choose a recipe, secretly make that recipe and blog about it on a given date.  If you would like to be part of the fun, you can find all the information about joining here.

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