A Peanut Butter Treat to Beat the Heat

Since it’s been like a million degrees lately, I’m sure you really don’t want to turn on your oven.  Never fear, we can get our peanut butter fix without heating up the house.  These little peanut butter squares taste an awful lot like Reese’s and are quite addictive (consider yourself forewarned).  They’re really easy too, so go ahead and whip up a batch!

These are great if you need to bring treats somewhere, like to share with some coworkers who share your affinity for peanut butter.  No one has to know how easy they are – unless of course, you post it somewhere for everyone to read.  In that case, oh well, we still get to eat our peanut butter treats, and that’s what really matters, isn’t it?

No Bake Peanut Butter Squares

adapted from Kraft

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 2 cups  powdered sugar
• 1-1/2 cups  graham cracker crumbs
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 12 ounces of chocolate (semi-sweet, dark, milk chocolate, or a combination – your choice)

Directions:

Line a 9 x 13 inch pan with aluminum foil, leaving ends of foil to hang over the sides of the pan.  You will use these as handles later.

In a food processor, pulse graham crackers into fine crumbs.  Mix crumbs with butter, powdered sugar, and peanut butter until thoroughly combined. I did this in my stand mixer just to make it easy.

In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate in 30 second intervals, stirring between, until completely melted.

Press peanut butter mixture into the pan with your hands so it is flat and even.  Cover with melted chocolate.  Let the chocolate harden a bit and then cut partially through to make your squares.  Then put the pan in refrigerator to allow chocolate to harden fully.  Using the foil as handles, lift the dessert out of the pan, cut, and serve!