Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars

Posted on April 16, 2012 by bakerlady

I didn’t think it was possible, then somebody said “pretzels”. My life will never be the same. I thought my Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars would never be topped. That they were the ultimate. The addition of pretzels is beyond amazing. These bars are essentially the same as a chubby hubby truffles, but they take 5 minutes flat to throw together and do not involve any rolling or chocolate dipping. Pretzels give these bars a little kick of saltiness to cut thru all the sweet richness of the other ingredients. They are perfection. I think I may be changing my mind about peanut butter and chocolate. The last few things I’ve tasted have been simply delightful, which is a very bad thing. Especially these. Reading this post will take you longer to do than actually making these amazing bars will.

Pulse up your pretzels until most of them are finely ground, but there are still pea sized pieces left.

Add peanut butter and powdered sugar.

And my most favorite ingredient ever – melted butter.

Mix until well combined.

Spread into an 8×8 pan fitted with a greased foil sling.

Chill for about 10 minutes while we whip together a chocolatey peanut butter ganache for the top. I used the same ganache as on my Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars for two reasons. First, I think topping bars with a mixture of chocolate and peanut butter is perfect. Second, the site I got this recipe from used just a straight chocolate/cream ganache and the blogger said it was too much chocolate. I didn’t want the top layer to overpower the peanuty goodness of the bar. So, peanut butter and chocolate it is.

Spread in an even layer over your peanut butter mixture and chill for at least an hour.

Remove from the pan and cut (used my pastry scraper for exact lines) into squares.

Enjoy. Really. Find a quiet place to be alone with one of these and simply enjoy the perfect addition of pretzels to creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate. The salty crunch is like that one really awesome person you hope will come to your next party. They make it a par-taaaay. It’s words like “par-taaaay” that make me wish I had a New Jersey accent. Sort of.

Just marvelous.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bars
adapted from Craving Chronicles

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cups pretzel crumbs, fine
1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons peanut butter

Directions

Line 8×8 pan with foil. Spray with baking spray.

In a medium microwave-safe bowl, melt butter in microwave (about 30 seconds on HIGH). Stir in pretzel crumbs, peanut butter & confectioners’ sugar. Spread evenly into prepared pan and refrigerate at least 10 minutes.

Combine semi-sweet chips and peanut butter and microwave, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. Spread evenly over the peanut butter/pretzel layer and refrigerate at least one hour. Remove from pan and cut into squares.

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Posted on April 5, 2012 by bakerlady

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Posted on January 16, 2012 by bakerlady

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You are going to hate me for giving you this recipe. Either that, or you’ll want to erect a monument in your town square. Possibly to me. More likely to these peanut butter bars. They are amazing. In every way. Totally easy. 5 minutes into the pan, no baking easy. Sinfully delicious. I am not kidding. I want to eat the entire batch and I’m normally not really a peanut butter/chocolate girl. I know. I’m crazy. I must have been dropped on my head as a child or something. It’s a flaw. I’m sorry. Does it help that I loooooooove these?
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Posted on May 18, 2011 by bakerlady

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