CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER CANDY BARS RECIPES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 13- x 9-inch baking pan with baking spray with flour. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions in prepared pan, baking at 350°F until a wooden pick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 25 minutes. (Baking times may vary among brownie mixes.) Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Place peanut butter chips, sweetened condensed milk, peanut butter, vanilla, and salt in a medium microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH 1 minute. Stir until smooth. Spoon over cooled brownies, spreading in an even layer.
• Place chocolate chips and cream in a small microwavable bowl. Microwave on HIGH until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth, about 2 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds. Pour over peanut butter mixture on brownies, spreading in an even layer. Refrigerate brownies until top chocolate layer is firm, about 1 hour. Sprinkle with peanuts. Slice into 32 bars.

Steps:

• Set 18 mini paper baking cups on a baking sheet. Melt 4 ounces of the chocolate either over a double boiler on the stove top or in short bursts in the microwave. Spoon 1 teaspoon of melted chocolate into each cup. Use an offset spatula or a small spoon to spread the chocolate slightly up the sides of each baking cup; make sure you have an even chocolate base at the bottom of each cup. Let cool at room temperature for about 15 to 20 minutes until mostly solid.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, stir together peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract and salt. (Make sure the peanut butter is well-combined in the jar before you measure it.) Transfer the peanut butter mixture to a resealable plastic bag and seal it tightly.
• Cut one corner of the plastic bag and pipe 2 to 3 teaspoons of peanut butter mixture into the center of each cup. With a very lightly moistened finger, tamp down the peanut butter and make it flat and even, but leave a bit of space between the peanut butter and the edge of the paper cup (you should be able to see a ring of chocolate peeking from below the peanut butter).
• Melt the remaining 5 ounces of chocolate. Spoon 1 teaspoon of chocolate onto the top of each cup. Use an offset spatula or a small spoon to spread the chocolate evenly over the top and down the sides of the cup. Refrigerate until solid, about 30 minutes.