Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

If Anthony Bourdain were judging these bars on Top Chef, I'm pretty sure he'd call them "perfect stoner food." Because these are basically Rice Krispie treats on crack. The bottom layer is Rice Krispies, pretzels, and marshmallow, topped with a peanut butter layer, then topped with a chocolate layer. And see all that crushed goodness on top? Crushed peanuts and pretzels. Awesome.

I've made these twice since John's sister-in-law, Brooke, posted these on her blog a few weeks ago.  These are so good that John, myself, and two of our friends managed to take down a whole pan in one sitting. Just try to resist the salty, sweet, chewy, crunchy, peanutty goodness and eat only one. It cannot be done.  

Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch Bars

adapted from Pampered Chef, as seen on ...And a Cookie for Dessert

Ingredients:

1/4  cup dry-roasted peanuts
3 cups mini pretzel twists (about 1 2/3 cups coarsely crushed), divided
3 cups crisp rice cereal
3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks), divided       
1 bag (10.5 oz) miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup light corn syrup, divided
1 bag (10 oz)  peanut butter morsels
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Directions:
 

1. Coarsely chop peanuts; set aside. Place pretzels into large resealable plastic bag; coarsely crush using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Set aside 1/3 cup of the pretzels. Place remaining pretzels and cereal in a large mixing bowl.

2. Place 6 tbsp of the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH 60-90 seconds or until melted. Add marshmallows; microwave on HIGH 60-90 seconds. Stir until marshmallows are completely melted. Immediately add marshmallow mixture to mixing bowl; mix well. Spread crust evenly in a 13"x9" pan; firmly press into pan.

3. Combine 2 tbsp of the butter and half of the corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 60-90 seconds or until melted, stirring every 30 seconds. Stir in peanut butter morsels; mix until melted (mixture will be stiff). Spread peanut butter mixture over crust using an offset spatula.

4. For ganache, place remaining butter and corn syrup in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH 60-90 seconds or until melted. Stir in chocolate morsels; mix until smooth. Spread ganache evenly over peanut butter mixture. Sprinkle with peanuts and reserved pretzels. Place in freezer 5-10 minutes or until ganache is set. Cut into 24 squares; cut squares in half.

Yield: 24 servings

Download a printable recipe.