Nuts!!! . . . Well Peanuts and Chocolate!
Today is National Peanut Day!
Did you know that there are over 300 practical uses for peanuts? I didn’t either. George Washington Carver discovered that peanuts can be used in shampoo, fuel, dyes and flour.
But here’s the sad part. Historians believe that George Washington Carver never tasted a PB & J. Really?! How can anyone go through life without tasting one of the most popular sandwiches? A good peanut butter and jelly sandwich is at the top of my favorites list.
To celebrate National Peanut Day why not make a snack using another favorite combo – peanut butter and chocolate.
I whipped up a quick batch of Peanut Butter Squares to celebrate. With six ingredients, not only are these easy to make, they’re really yummy! Hope you enjoy!!
Peanut Butter Squares
- 1 cup butter cut in chunks, slightly softened
- 2 cups flour
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup chocolate chunks (I used Ghirardelli Dark Baking Chocolate Bar 60% Cacao)
- Chopped peanuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 375°
Mix butter, flour and brown sugar in a mixer until well blended.
Press evenly into a sprayed 9 x 13 baking pan. I used a food brayer to evenly spread the crust out in the pan.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden. Cool.
I used a manual food chopper to break up the chocolate bar into chunks.
Melt peanut butter with chocolate chunks (2 to 3 minutes on Medium [50%] in the microwave). Stir well to blend.
Spread over cooled base. If desired, sprinkle with chopped peanuts. I found the best way to “chop” nuts is to put them into a zipper sandwich bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
Cover and refrigerate until firm – 20 – 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.
The flavor of these squares is great. I found the chocolate layer separates from the crust when the squares are cold. Once the peanut butter squares are at room temperature the chocolate no longer separates from the crust. The crust needs additional butter or butter flavoring. The flavor is a bit bland.
Save For Later!
Peanut Butter Squares can be frozen to serve at a later date. As a single woman this is awesome! I can satisfy my enjoyment of baking, have something sweet to nibble on when I have a craving and not waste my goodies by not eating them before they spoil.
To Freeze Peanut Butter Squares –
Lay squares in a single layer on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper and put in the freezer overnight. Place squares in a zipper sandwich bag, squeeze extra air out, seal and write the date on the bag. Place in the freezer. When ready to eat, pull out of the freezer and allow to thaw.
If you love chocolate, give these yummy recipes a try!
Take a few minutes, relax and have some of these delicious treat in celebration of National Peanut Day. Let me know how yours turned out!
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Down Home at Dee’s
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Peanut Butter Squares
A yummy combinaton of chocolate and peanut butter.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, cut in chunks & slightly softened
- 2 cups flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- ¾ cup smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup chocolate chunks I used Ghirardelli Dark Baking Chocolate Bar 60% Cacao
- Chopped peanuts optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°
- Mix butter, flour and brown sugar in a mixer until well blended.
- Press evenly into a sprayed 9 x 13 baking pan. I used a food brayer to evenly spread the crust out in the pan.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until golden. Cool.
- I used a manual food chopper to break up the chocolate bar into chunks.
- Melt peanut butter with chocolate chunks (2 to 3 minutes on Medium [50%] in the microwave). Stir well to blend.Spread over cooked base. If desired, sprinkle with chopped peanuts. I found the best way to “chop” nuts is to put them into a zipper sandwich bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
- If desired, sprinkle with chopped peanuts. I found the best way to “chop” nuts is to put them into a zipper sandwich bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
- Cover and refrigerate until firm approximately 20 – 30 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.