I spent a fairly large part of my weekend getting my kitchen supplies in order.
Do you buy compulsively or are you the list making type, the kind who has a plan? Judging by my endless boxes, jars, packets of whatever nut, flour, dry fruit and spices can be found, it´s fair to say I do not plan much. Which makes for a hard-to-maintain-order in the kitchen.
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So a few things got done. I toasted and skinned hazelnuts and walnuts, arranged my molds in two new shelves under my stove, got rid of old ones that were missing parts, the same with plastic containers whose covers are never where they should be, arranged my food magazines and cookbooks in a new shelf I got for them, and cleaned up my freezer.
In the middle of that, I realized I have more nuts than I know what to do with. And I do bake a lot. I use things a lot. But even then it’s getting a bit out of hand.
Maybe that should be my only new year’s resolution, to have a plan and stick to it. Yeah right, just don’t bet any money yet.
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The peanuts were in the worst of shapes. So into the processor they went and a very nice peanut butter was born. The thing with natural, homemade peanut butter is that it has no sugar. So it’s not like the one you buy. It’s coarser and the taste is somewhat dry.
These bars came to be as a need to use that peanut butter. Because worse than having too many ingredients lying around is using them only to find you still have the same amount just in a different form.
They are so easy, you can make them with your kids. They don’t need to be baked and can even be made by hand. I increased the sugar due to the lack of it in my homemade butter. Some melted chocolate on top, a few hours in the fridge, and you have sweet squares, with that incomparable flavor pair that is peanut butter and chocolate.
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They are perfect for the holidays, and a savior if you need something else that is sure to please everyone.
Yield:
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I used homemade, sugar-less peanut butter. If you use commercial pb, decrease confectioners’ sugar by ¼ cup and omit vanilla. It can be kept in the refrigerator for weeks.
Scale
Ingredients
For the peanut butter base:
- ½ cup packed dark brown sugar
- 1 ¾ cups confectioners’ sugar
- ¼ cup butter (softened)
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
For the chocolate glaze:
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1 Tbs butter
- 1 Tbs corn syrup
- 3 Tbs cream
Instructions
For the peanut butter base:
- In a large bowl beat sugars, butter, vanilla and peanut butter. Pat into a 7x 5 inch pan. Try to even the top as much as you can.
For the chocolate glaze:
- Melt chocolate, butter and syrup and mix well. Add cream and mix.
- Pour on top of the peanut butter mixture and spread to cover evenly. Refrigerate until firm.
adapted from Kathleen’s Bakeshop Cookbook, by Kathleen King
In the directions it says mix butter twice so do you half the 1/4 cup into the PB and chocolate separately?
Hi Rebecca, there are two different measures of butter (1/4 cup and 1 Tbs). I changed the recipe a bit so it is easier to read. Let me know if you have more questions!
What a perfect summer treat! Minimum cooking and maximum taste! Now that is a recipe we can all love! They remind me a bit of a confection here in the States we call "buckeyes." It is little balls of peanut butter dipped in chocolate – but I love these little triangles best! ~ David
PS… Congrats on the organization of everything! Doesn't it feel gratifying? I bet your kitchen looks great and I don't think you can ever have too many cookbooks, magazines, nuts or kitchen utensils. 🙂
Yum! I love the taste of sweetened peanut butter with chocolate. This looks so good!
Oh my goodness! I would be frightened to organize my kitchen during this time of holiday frenzy! The Peanut Butter Squares look so much better than those mass produced candies we all adore. A very tempting holiday recipe!
I think I died and went to PB-chocolate heaven. It's a pair meant to be. Like apple and cinnamon! Or PB and apple! Or chocolate and orange! Everything PB and chocolate. You totally got me.
Yummy! PB fudge i just love! Adding that chocolate layer would make it even better 😀
Oh, I LOVE these! I've made something similar before and they are outstanding! I'm sending the hubby out for peanuts tonight so I can make some cookies…wish I was your neighbor b/c I'd be happy to take a cup of them off your hands 😉
PAULA! those photos are too much for 8 in the morning!
loved your post. i'm on christmas holidays soon (last day today!) and i use the time to go thru my kitchen cupboards and pantry and freezer etc and have a good sort out and invariably i too find things that have been forgotten and used up, as you did here. it's a good mental challenge!!
have a lovely christmas in argentina, and see you in the new year. e XX
Hi Paula! We have nominated Vintage Kitchen Notes for the Liebster Award – http://www.honeyandlulu.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/liebster-blog-award-wonderful-team.html
Congratulations! You really deserve it!
Have a great day,
Chloe & Sarah
I love the ingenuity that led to these Paula…I wonder how they would taste with a sprinkle of maldon smoked salt?
They would taste great I think!
Did somebody say peanut butter? Yum! I wonder if these would work with crunchy PB.
You can easily sub crunchy pb, it adds another texture too!
I can totally relate to the state of your kitchen, Paula. I have so much bakeware and ingredients – it's all over the place! It makes my beloved baking experience a bit frustrating because I have to dig things out of my cupboards and pantry and then there's stuff everywhere. My New Years resolution is to organize! At least you made this delicious dish out of your abundance of peanuts. I love chocolate and peanut together and having a no-bake recipe up your sleeve is always a good thing.
I'm the kind of person who buys ingredients for a specific recipe then forgets to use them up so my cupboard is full of bizarre ingredients! I'm glad you had a clear out thought because this looks SO yummy. Love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter 🙂
Im a new follower, these look so good!
Always nice to meet new foodies Melissa!
These are my ultimate naughty favorite treat!!!
Oh these look so good! I haven't made fudge in ages.
There is a man at our local Veterans Home who loves any kind of fudge, I think I'll make this for him today. Thanks for sharing.
These are one of my favorite treats (when I can get someone to make them for me 🙂 ) Beautiful