Peanut Butter Cravings

Peanut, Peanut Butter & jelly or maybe it should be Chocolate for this combination? One of the best loved candies in American is Reese's Peanut Butter Cups and something that is not always easy to find here in the UK. Growing up I never was a huge fan of the treat more or less but preferred the mini Reese's cups for the small bits of sweet & salty combo all in one. But this treat I have found from Nigella Lawson is simple, easy and a real crowd pleaser. My brother has even started to make them in LA and his friends are loving it. They make for a good party platter when you need a simple dessert and being here in the UK is even a hit with the Brits.

This comes from Nigella Lawson's "How to be a Domestic Goddess" that I received as a wedding shower present 6 years ago! I have a few favourites out of this book but this one is high on the list of a go to recipe.

Peanut Butter Bars - A sweet American treat!

For the Base:

1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar (Icing sugar here in UK)

1/4 cup unsalted butter, slightly warmed up but not fully soft

3/4 cup plus 2 Tablespoons creamy peanut butter

For the Topping:

7 ounces milk chocolate

4 ounces bittersweet chocolate

1 Tablespoon unsalted butter

Grease 9-inch square pan and set aside.

Mix all the ingredients for the base together until smooth. Either a mixer or wooden spoon work well. The brown sugar on occasion will stay in clumps but rub it into the mixture as best as possible but it is ok to not be fully smooth as the mixture should be sandy. Press the mixture into the prepared 9-inch pan and make the surface as even as possible, pushing into the corners and make sure the surface is even.

For the topping, melt the chocolates and butter together in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave in 30-60 second burts. Be careful of the chocolate as it can easily burn in the microwave if not stirred and watched. Once the chocolate and butter are melted pour over the base and spread out evenly to cover the surface. Put the pan in the refridgerator to set. When the chocolate has hardened, cut into small pieces and serve or take to a bbq and share!