I know; I know. Three dessert recipes this week? What is going on around here?!
This is what happens when my Husband goes out of town. I get whipped into a baking frenzy and the next thing you know sugar, butter and chocolate are flying everywhere.
And there is nothing for dinner.
You know what else happens when Hubs is out of town? Peanut butter and chocolate are combined to my heart’s content! He’s not the biggest fan. I am, however, a HUGE fan! Especially if Reese’s are involved. {Swoon}
On Tuesday I wasn’t really sure what to bake next, so I asked our peanut butter, chocolate, Reese’s loving concierge what to make. At first he said to make these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies but I told him I had to make something new. Only slightly dismayed, he said, “well, why don’t you turn those cookies into a brownie?”
Why don’t I?
Yeeesssss! Why didn’t I think of that?!
So here we have a peanut butter packed fudgy “brownie” with a milk chocolate ganache on top. Yes. Holy Wow.
These Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Bars are chewy and absolutely packed with peanut butter flavor! I mixed in some milk chocolate chips and mini Reese’s peanut butter cups, because…well, why not?
And the milk chocolate ganache! Oh my gawd! It’s smooth and creamy and the perfect balance to the peanut butter bar. In fact, I might double it next time for an extra thick topping. No one is here to judge. Tee hee!
So I whipped up these peanut butter milk chocolate bars and then rushed downstairs to make sure the aforementioned concierge got some before he left for the night. {He actually got some BEFORE photos were taken…yes, special. How special? Only a food blogger could understand.}
I held my breath as he took the first bite…
He loved them! He said he wasn’t sure whether the bars or the cookie version is better! {phew}
They are seriously yummy. Too yummy for my own good…
Fudgy Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Bars
- Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Yield: 16 square bars 1x
Description
These Peanut Butter Milk Chocolate Bars are chewy and absolutely packed with peanut butter flavor! Milk chocolate chips and mini Reese’s are baked inside with a creamy milk chocolate ganache smoothed on top!!
Ingredients
For the Peanut Butter Bars:
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cups + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup mini Reese’s peanut butter cups
- ½ cup milk chocolate chips {I use Ghirardelli}
For the Milk Chocolate Ganache:
- 2/3 cup milk chocolate chips {Ghirardelli}
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 1 Tablespoon +1 teaspoon unsalted butter, softened
Instructions
To Make the Bars:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer (I used a hand mixer here for convenience) until light and fluffy. Beat in peanut butter until incorporated.
- Next add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until well combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add in the flour, mixing only until just combined.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and Reese’s. Press batter into prepared baking dish (it will be thick) and bake in pre-heated oven until bars are deep golden, puffed on top and a toothpick comes out with a few crumbs still attached, about 45 to 60 minutes.
- Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
- When the bars are cool, make your ganache topping.
To make the Ganache:
- Put chocolate chips in a medium, heat proof bowl. Bring cream to a boil in a microwave safe measuring cup in the microwave. Watch it carefully so it doesn’t bubble over. You can also do this in a small saucepan over the stovetop.
- Pour hot cream over chips and whisk until chocolate is melted. Immediately whisk in the butter until smooth.
- Pour ganache over bars and spread with an offset spatuala. Let cool until ganache is set. Slice and serve!
- Bars will keep for 3 days in a sealed container at room temperature.
Notes
The peanut butter bar recipe is adapted from Smitten Kitchen.
The Milk Chocolate Ganache recipe is my own.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
You May Also Love these Peanut Butter Recipes:
RoRo’s Old-Fashioned Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter Banana Muffins with Peanut Butter Streusel
Peanut Butter Reese’s Ice Cream Pie in Nutterbutter Crust
Healthy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Muffins
Reese’s Peanut Butter Blondies with Reese’s PB Icing {YUM}
Peanut Butter Stuffed Double Chocolate Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting
22 Comments
Kristine @ Kristine's Kitchen
May 3, 2014 at 10:40 amThe peanut butter-chocolate combo is one of my absolute favorites. I love how rich and fudgy these look! Pinned!
Lindsey
May 3, 2014 at 10:50 amThanks for the pin, Kristine! They are insanely rich and fudgy! I love the combo too but I try to hold back in the name of dessert diversity!
Lindsay @ Life, Love and Sugar
May 5, 2014 at 11:06 amOh my gosh, I hear you – the husband goes out of town and I’m lost in sugar and flour! Your concierge must be one nice guy to get before-picture bars! 🙂 These look delicious!
Lindsey
May 5, 2014 at 11:12 amIt’s out of control! I’m glad I’m not the only one…and I suppose there are worse ways to “cut loose” when Hubs goes out of town!
Miss Kim @ behgopa
May 5, 2014 at 10:46 pmYay for another Reese’s recipe. I wish I could’ve had some earlier. It sure would’ve hit my chocolate craving that I was having earlier. I ended up picking up a Godiva bar instead. I love the symbiotic relationship that you got going with your concierge.
You must have one heck of a work out program to keep in shape with all the baking that you do. Your figure looks great.
Lindsey
May 6, 2014 at 9:51 amI ate a Godiva bar on the plane yesterday! I only meant to eat 2 squares but before I knew it…vanished. The concierge’s in my building are awesome!
Thanks! I am lucky that I love to workout as much as I love to bake. Recently I’ve been into running longer distances (that means 5-6 miles for me…not marathon style) and HIIT strength training. I change up my workout everyday and I write them all down in a notebook. My husband made me scan all my workouts into my computer recently because one time I thought I lost it and I cried.
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen
May 6, 2014 at 7:50 pmHow could anyone not adore peanut butter and chocolate together? They were made for each other. And these bars were made for me. 🙂
Love those mini Reese’s!
Lindsey
May 6, 2014 at 9:08 pmI know, right?! The first time he had a flourless pb chocolate chip cookie he was, like, “meh”…I could hardly believe my ears!
Kayle (The Cooking Actress)
May 7, 2014 at 3:32 pmGRRREAT idea!!!! Esp. that milk chocolate ganache. Oh yeah!!!
Whenever Michael’s gone I make s’mores things. Or banana things.Cuz he doesn’t like em.
Boys *sigh*
Lindsey
May 7, 2014 at 3:49 pmI could swim in the milk chocolate ganache. Swim, I tell you! So amazing!
I love s’mores and bananas too! Who are these guys?!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust
May 8, 2014 at 10:07 amOh my gosh I just made something so similar, but they totally did not turn out as pretty. I like yours better! 🙂
Lindsey
May 8, 2014 at 1:47 pmWhat a compliment!!!! Doesn’t always have to be pretty to taste amazing!!! I’m sure yours were fab. 🙂
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Suzanne
October 6, 2015 at 12:24 pmI saw that my husband had plused this on google and immediatley took the hint and got your recipe. Thank you so much. I have a feeling he is going to LOVE THIS ONE! You are amazing!
Lindsey
October 6, 2015 at 12:31 pmHi Suzanne! You are so sweet!! If he loves peanut butter and Reeses, he will love these! Plus they are super easy. Enjoy!
Suzanne
October 6, 2015 at 12:54 pmI am going to make this Reese’s Peanut Butter Cupcake for my brother’s bday this weekend. Wish me luck. I hope i get the decorating done right as i normally dont concern myself over looks but i go on the ooh’s and aww’s of the flavor. I am usually a hit whenver i take things anywhere.
https://www.goodshomedesign.com/reeses-peanut-butter-cup-cake/
Lindsey
October 8, 2015 at 11:23 amThat cake is sure to be a hit! It sounds and looks delicious! If you have a large offset spatula to apply the frosting, you are going to be fine. Use a hot sharp knife to get perfect cuts on the Reeses 🙂 Those are my 2cents from pastry school! Good luck!
Suzanne
October 8, 2015 at 11:32 amThank you so much. Great idea. I just bought like six or more new spatula’s on a shopping trip and some are large. I will try that. I will have to try that at home as we are hiking/ pick nicking for lunch. So wont be able to use a hot knife but that is a great idea. Have to keep the critters out of the cake! ahahaha.
Ashlyn | Dollop of Yum
December 24, 2015 at 8:19 amThese sound so amazing! Love the idea of a fudgy bar similar to a brownie. My stomach is growling just looking at the pictures!
Lindsey
December 30, 2015 at 10:58 amThanks, Ashlyn!