Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Chocolate Peanut Butter Dream Bars

Betty Crocker, you are my hero.

Looking for a new dessert for yourself, to give as a gift for a friend, or to be the hit of the party? I've found it for you.
A couple of summers ago, I had a friend working in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. A couple of us jumped in the car and drove up there for a few days to visit her. While we were there, we attended a church activity and one of the girls had brought this dessert. It was AMAZING! After we got home, we did some facebook stalking to find her and ask her for the recipe. She was nice enough to forget our creepiness (finding her on facebook) and give us a link to the recipe on the Betty Crocker website.

If you like Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, you're going to LOVE this. It is delicious! But, very rich. Also very easy to make. But, ingredients can be slightly expensive for a college student budget unless you can find them on sale. In the end, it's totally worth the price.



Chocolate-Peanut Butter Dream Bars
Prize Winning Recipe of 2008

Cookie Base

1

pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® double chocolate
chunk cookie mix

1/4

cup vegetable oil

2

tablespoons cold strong brewed coffee or water

1

egg

Filling

1

package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

1/4

cup sugar

1

container (8 oz) frozen whipped topping, thawed

1

bag (9 oz) miniature chocolate-covered peanut butter cup candies, chopped

Topping

1/4

cup creamy peanut butter

1/4

cup milk

2

tablespoons sugar

3

oz bittersweet baking chocolate, melted

1

cup unsalted dry-roasted peanuts

1. Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir cookie base ingredients until soft dough forms. Spread dough in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Bake 12 to 15 minutes or just until set. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
2. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Fold in whipped topping and candies. Spread over cooled cookie base.
3. In small microwavable bowl, beat peanut butter, milk and 2 tablespoons sugar with wire whisk until smooth. Microwave uncovered on High 30 to 60 seconds, stirring after 30 seconds, to thin for drizzling. Drizzle mixture over filling. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Sprinkle with peanuts. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until set. For bars, cut into 6 rows by 4 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Makes 24 bars