Monday 9 March 2009

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FILLED OAT BARS

Chocolate Peanut Butter Filled Oat Bars

Ingredients:
  • 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
  • 3/4 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter, divided
  • 2 cups packed light brown sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-1/2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats, uncooked
  • 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING(recipe follows)
  • 1-2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) REESE'S Peanut Butter Chips, divided
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons shortening(do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil)

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F.

2. Beat butter and 3/4 cup peanut butter in large bowl until well blended; beat in brown sugar. Add eggs and vanilla, beating until well blended.

3. Stir together oats, flour, baking soda and salt; gradually stir into butter mixture. (Dough will be thick.) Set aside 2 cups dough.

4. Press remaining dough onto bottom of ungreased 15-1/2x10-1/2x1-inch jelly-roll pan. Prepare CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING; spread over dough. Set aside 1/2 cup peanut butter chips for drizzle. Add remaining peanut butter chips to reserved dough; crumble mixture over filling.

5. Bake 25 minutes or until top is golden brown (chocolate will be soft). Cool completely in pan on wire rack.

6. Place reserved 1/2 cup peanut butter chips and shortening in small microwave-safe bowl. Microwave at MEDIUM (50%) 30 seconds; stir. If necessary, microwave an additional 10 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until chips are melted and mixture is smooth when stirred. Drizzle over bars; allow drizzle to set. Cut into bars. About 4 dozen bars.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FILLING

1/2 cup REESE'S Creamy Peanut Butter
1/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)
1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Melt peanut butter and butter in medium saucepan over low heat. Stir in cocoa. Add sweetened condensed milk; heat, stirring constantly, until smooth and thick. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla.