Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars

 The lad next door turned 15 earlier this week.   I have great neighbours.  Good neighbours are worth their weight in gold.  I wanted to make him a treat and knew that his mom would probably have gotten him a cake and so I baked these delicious Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars instead.  They went down a real treat, but then these always do!  No surprise there.



These bars are so delicious that I only ever make them when I am going to be giving most of them away.  I am no Saint, so I always have a  blissful taste, but then I am quite happy to hand them over because if I didn't I'd probably eat the whole pan myself!

 

With their moreishly buttery chocolate chip shortbread base . . . which gets an additional scrummy layer of sweetened condensed milk prior to baking  . . .



To the melted layer of additional chocolate chips which get spread on top after baking . . .

 

 A thin layer of smooth peanut butter and melted white chocolate drizzle on top . . .  and these bars are screaming  EAT ME NOW!  Seriously difficult to resist.



But don't take my word for it . . .  bake them if you dare . . .  and while they are in the oven, think of someone you can gift some of them to, because you will soon learn that they are totally irresistably moreishly scrumdiddlyumptiously tasty.   They are the perfect way to make and influence friends.  ☺

*Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars*

Makes 12

Printable Recipe 

These are delicious with a chocolate chip shortbread base and surprise topping of sweetened condensed milk, hidden beneath layers of melted chocolate, peanut butter and drizzled white chocolate!  

225g of butter, softened (1 cup)

96g of caster sugar (1/2 cup)

1/4 tsp salt

210g of plain flour (1 1/2 cups)

180g of chocolate chips (1 cup)

to top:

90g of chocolate chips (1/2 cup)

120ml of sweetned condensed milk (Not evaporated, 1/2 cup)

90g of smooth peanut butter (1/2 cup)

90g of white chocolate chips melted with 1 tsp shortening (1/2 cup) 

 

Preheat the oven to 180*C.350*F/ gas mark 4.  LIne an 11 by 7 inch baking dish with baking paper.  Butter the paper.  Set aside.

Cream the butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy.   Add the flour, salt and 180g chocolate chips, mixing together well.  Press into the prepared baking dish.  Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over top evenly.   Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until golden.  Remove from the oven.  Sprinkle the 90g of chocolate chips over top and return to the oven for a couple minutes.  Remove and spread out over top of the squares with the back of a spoon.  Set aside to cool completely.

Once they have completely cooled spread the peanut butter over the chocolate layer evenly.  Drizzle with the melted white chocolate chips and allow to set before cutting into squares to serve.  Delicious!



 Bon Appetit!

Note:  These are not low fat, low sugar or diabetic friendly.