No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Bars

When it comes to giving our neighbors gifts for the holidays, I prefer to make them anything that is super-duper-easy. The last thing I need is something that is going to take up my limited time during the holiday season. That's why I think you will find that this candy recipe is a winner!

Not only are these peanut butter cup bars delicious, but they are also homemade. Don't you just love giving and receiving homemade gifts? They taste just like a Reese's cup, and by the way Reese's Peanut Butter Cups are the best selling candy bar in the U.S. and in Canada. True story.  Random I know; it's a fact that I picked up from the Food Network yesterday.

All I am saying is, when it comes to candy-licious neighbor gifts, you can't go wrong with a homemade peanut butter cup bar. Unless of course your neighbor is allergic to peanuts and you don't know it. Then you might have a bit of a problem on your hands.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Bars

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I buy the already crushed ones because they need to be VERY fine)

3 1/4 cups powdered sugar

1 cup salted butter, melted

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1 (12 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the graham crackers and powdered sugar together in a medium size mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat in the peanut butter and melted butter until completely combined. Press evenly into prepared pan.

Freeze for 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the chocolate chips in a small glass bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium high heat just until it comes to a boil. Pour the hot cream over chocolate chips. Cover the bowl with a glass plate and let sit 5 minutes.

Remove peanut butter bars from freezer. Whisk the chocolate mixture until it is smooth and shiny, adding in vanilla extract while whisking. Spread chocolate ganache mixture evenly over peanut butter bars. Refrigerate until chocolate is set.

Lift foil from pan and use a pizza cutter to easily cut the bars into small squares OR you can use a cookie cutter of your choice to cut them out. Let sit at room temperature for thirty minutes or so before eating (the peanut butter part gets nice and soft if you let them sit out for a while). 

Recipe Source: The Taste Tester, adapted from Heat Oven to 350

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