Peanut Butter Crispy Bars

These bars are a more decadent version of the Rice Krispie Treats we grew up with. I made these for the super bowl (Yeah they are a little too fancy for guys watching football.), but they would be great for any holiday.
I think a few mini marshmallows mixed into the peanut butter layer would be a nice addition.

Peanut Butter Crispy Bars
From Baked 

For The Crispy Crust 1 3/4 cups Rice Krispies 1/4 cup sugar 3 Tbs light corn syrup
3 Tbs unsalted butter, melted
For The Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer

5 oz milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup creamy peanut butter

For The Chocolate Icing
3 oz dark chocolate, coarsely chopped
1/2 tsp light corn syrup
4 Tbs unsalted butter

Make The Crispy Crust
Lightly spray a paper towel with nonstick cooking spray and use it to rub the bottom and sides of an 8-inch square baking pan.

Put the cereal in a large bowl and set aside.

Pour ¼ cup water into a small saucepan. Gently add the sugar and corn syrup (do not let any sugar or syrup get on the sides of the pan) and use a small wooden spoon to stir the mixture until just combined. Put a candy thermometer in the saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat and bring to a boil; cook until the mixture reaches the soft-ball stage, 235 degrees.

Remove from the heat, stir in the butter, and pour the mixture over the cereal. Working quickly, stir until the cereal is thoroughly coated, then pour it into the prepared pan. Using your hands, press the mixture into the bottom of the pan (do not press up the sides). Let the crust cool to room temperature while you make the next layer.

Make The Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer
In a large nonreactive metal bowl, stir together the chocolate and the peanut butter.

Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring with a rubber spatula, until the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan and stir for about 30 seconds to cool slightly. Pour the mixture over the cooled crust. Put the pan in the refrigerator for 1 hour, or until the top layer hardens.

Make The Chocolate Icing
In a large nonreactive metal bowl, combine the chocolate, corn syrup, and butter.

Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water and cook, stirring with a rubber spatula, until the mixture is completely smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan and stir for 30 seconds to cool slightly. Pour the mixture over the chilled milk chocolate peanut butter layer and spread into an even layer. Put the pan in the refrigerator for 1 hour or until the topping hardens.

Cut into 9 squares, or use a cookie cutter warmed in hot water, and serve. The bars can be stored in the refrigerator, covered tightly, for up to 4 days.

Christmas Is Coming

Every year while on Thanksgiving vacation, I load up on magazines and get inspired for Christmas.
My magazine reading is actually quite a process. It begins with flipping though each magazine, making mental notes of what looks good. Then I go back through and folding the corners of the things I like. After that I actually read the recipes. Finally, when we get home, I rip out all the pages I had folded and put them in a binder. (A tip I learned from my friend and her mother.) Just when you thought I couldn't be more compulsive, I then make a list of everything I want to make in December and map it out on my calendar. (I know what your thinking, "Psycho".)

One of the things that caught my eye in the Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Cookies magazine wasn't even a recipe, it was the gift packaging. It is such a simple idea, that's not only great for Christmas, but would make a cute goodie bag for birthdays as well.

To make the bags you need festive scrapbook paper, glue, scissors, and cellophane bags (found at your local craft store or even Walmart). Cut scrapbook paper to fit folded over bag, fill the bag with goodies, fold top of bag down, cover with scrapbook paper, and staple on each side of the scrapbook paper. Voila! Cute food gift for Christmas.

You might be wondering what is in this bag, it's Oreo Coal. I saw a photo of No-Bake Cookies and Cream Bars on the Picky-Palate blog, and instantly thought of coal. They turned out perfect for the naughty people on my Christmas list. (They look even better in real life.)

Oreo Coal
From Picky-Palate

1 bag of Oreos (15oz)
1 bag large marshmallows (10oz)
4 Tbs butter 

Put Oreos in a food processor and process until crumbs.
Grease a 9x9 baking dish. (I use a silicone pan so I skip this part.)
In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add Marshmallows and stir until completely melted.
Remove from heat and stir in Oreo crumbs, until well coated.
Pour into baking dish and press to spread.
Using the thin side of a rubber spatula hit the top of the Oreo mixture to make a few indention's for a coal like appearance.
When cool, cut into uneven shapes.


These are really chewy and dense, and taste just like Oreos and marshmallows. I think they look better than they taste, but the people at work seemed to really like them (:

Super Bowl Treats

Not only are these super cute, they are THE BEST tasting Rice Krispie Treats EVER! These are not the dry Cocoa Krispie Treats mom's bring into class room parties, (sorry mom's) these are creamy triple chocolate Krispie Treats. The secret is in the chocolates, cocoa powder and high quality milk chocolate. They are even decadent enough to cut into hearts for a Valentine's Day treat for someone special.

Triple Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats

3tbs butter
4 cups mini mashmallows
1/4 cup cocoa powder
6 cups Cocoa Krispies
2 oz milk chocolate, finely chopped

Butter a 13x9 pan
Melt butter, marshmallows and cocoa powder in a large sauce pan over medium heat.
Stir until completely melted.
Remove from heat.
Stir in milk chocolate.
Add Cocoa Krispies and mix until well coated.
Spread evenly into prepared pan. (spray CLEAN hands with cooking spray to help spread Krispies in pan)
When cool cut with greased cookie cutters.

For the football design: melt white chocolate and pipe on stripes using a piping bag fitted with a #4 tip.
The nooks and crannies in the Krispie Treat make it hard to get smooth lines. It was killing me.

You still have a few minutes left to make these for you Super Bowl Party :)

Samoas Krispies Treats

I love Girl Scout Samoas cookies. Every year we buy a ton of boxes and freeze them for later, unfortunately they never last long because I can eat a whole box in one sitting. For the last few days I have had Samoas on my mind. I always want to make my own, but for some reason never do. Then yesterday came the perfect opportunity. My daughter wanted to make Rice Krispies Treats and we were throwing around different ideas when I said suggested adding coconut to them, and from there I realized I could turn them into Samoas.
The recipe is only somewhat time consuming because of the homemade caramel, but I would rather sit and watch sugar syrup boil than to use store bought caramel squares. Gross! Being that I just came up with the idea off the top of my head there is some room for improvement. The idea is good, but it was hard to distinguish the flavors, the Rice Krispies Treat are so overly sweet. Even with the recipe as is  they are still yummy, but you do need an extreme sweet tooth.

Samoas Krispies Treats

Caramel - The Culinary Institute of America recipe

1/2 cup water
2 cups sugar
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup light corn syrup
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 tsp salt
2 tsp vanilla extract

Coconut Rice Krispies Treats
3 Tbs butter
1 package regular marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut

chocolate chips

Caramel:
Combine water, sugar, condensed milk, corn syrup, and butter in a heavy-bottom 4 quart sauce pan
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until it reaches 245 degrees (about 25 minutes)
Stir in salt and vanilla
Set aside

Samoas Rice Krispies:
Coat a 13x9 pan with cooking spray or butter
In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat
Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted
Remove from heat and stir in Rice Krispies and coconut
Pour into pan press evenly
Pour caramel over top
Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the caramel and let stand for 5 minutes
Spread melted chocolate with knife and let harden
*I sprinkled sea salt on top to contrast with all the sweetness

Maybe make caramel Rice Krispies Treats and add the coconut and chocolate on top. Or sprinkle short bread cookie on top or mixed in. I know there are possibilities with the idea, further experimentation is needed.