Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

Peanut Butter Fudge Bars - made June 5, 2011 from Cake Mix Cookies by Camilla V. Saulsbury (book #120)


This is the type of baking book that if you wanted to bake with kids or you're a novice baker and want to make simple things without a lot of fuss, there are a lot of recipes in here that would be up your alley.  I must've gone through a use-cake-mix-as-an-ingredient phase as I have several baking books with this theme.  Which is a little baffling since I don't normally like cake mix flavor unless the other ingredients can overcome it and make it taste like something more than a box mix.  But the recipes aren't bad and their simplicity can't be beat.  I always recommend this type of baking book for people with kids who like to help them bake or are starting out in the kitchen since there's nothing easier than using a cake mix as a base.  If you find the right recipe, you're not sacrificing much on taste (says the baking snob).  Paired with measuring cups or spoons or little aprons for tykes plus a boxed mix itself to get them started, these make good gifts for busy parents and/or newbie bakers.

This recipe was super easy to put together.  Strain the cake mix first to get rid of any lumps then follow the directions.  The peanut butter batter was more like a stiff cookie dough batter than a cake batter but it wasn't crumbly.  I did "crumble" the topping by pinching off bits of the batter and dropping them randomly over the top.  The topping bits didn't spread out but stayed how I crumbled them.  I also added some chopped up Hershey kisses on top for additional texture and chocolate.  Overall, this was pretty good and didn't taste like cake mix. The peanut butter and chocolate combo help with the disguise.  This is like eating a soft peanut butter cookie with a layer of chocolate in the middle.  I'm glad I added the Hershey kisses and could've probably added even more.  If you're a peanut butter lover, feel free to add peanut butter chips.  There's no going wrong here.


1 18.25-ounce package yellow cake mix
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs
½ cup vegetable oil
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1.   Preheat the oven to 350⁰F.  Position oven rack in middle of oven.  Spray the bottom only of a 13 x 9-inch metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray (I line with foil then spray).
2.   In a large bowl place the cake mix, peanut butter, eggs and oil.  Blend 1-2 minutes with an electric mixer set on low speed until well blended.  Reserve 1 ½ cups of the mixture.  Press remaining mixture into bottom of prepared pan; set pan and reserved mixture aside.
3.   Meanwhile, in a heavy saucepan set over low heat, melt the chocolate chips with the condensed milk and butter, stirring until blended and smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract; pour over crust.  Sprinkle with remaining crumb mixture.
4.   Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown and topping is firm to the tough.  Transfer to wire rack and cool completely; cut into bars.



14 comments:

  1. Two of my favorite combinations! These will definitely be on my list to bake. XOXO

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  2. I love how you described it- a peanut butter cookie with chocolate in the middle. Sounds so good!

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  3. OH Wow these look fabulous!! I am so obsessed with PB and chocolate lately. :)

    -Marissa
    http://noraisinonmyparade.com

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  4. These look so good! I am in love with PB and chocolate! I'm visiting from Sweet as Sugar Cookies.
    Dorothy @ www.CrazyforCrust.com

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  5. Your bars look delicious. I just love this combination of flavor. Thanks for sharing and have a great week end!
    Miz Helen

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  6. I agree with you on using boxed cake mixes. But this looks like the other ingredients would combing to make a tasty treat. I'll try it mext time my granddaughter comes to visit. She is five and loves to cook but sometimes gets bored if the process takes to long. Thanks and have a sweet weekend.

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  7. I am your newest follower! :)

    These look great!

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  8. Hi Alyssa, I already linked up yesterday and left a comment to let you know. Thanks for the invite.

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  9. Thanks for linking these up to Sweets for a Saturday. They made the Top 5!!!

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  10. That's awesome, Lisa, thanks for letting me know. Woo hoo - 2 weeks in a row! Now I'm feeling the pressure :).

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  11. Oh. So. Good. These look amazing! I'd love for you to link up to my sweet treats party this weekend! Hope to see you there :)
    Ashton
    www.somethingswanky.com

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  12. Brrrr, cold here in Kansas City. Just made these for the next door neighbors because they let us use their snow blower to get the 10+ inches of snow off our driveway. Great way to thank them. YUMO

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    1. What a great thing for you to do for your neighbors! I'm sure they appreciated it as much as you appreciated their snow blower :).

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