Chocolate Coconut Peanut Butter Layered Bites Food

LAYERED CHOCOLATE AND PEANUT BUTTER BARS

Steps:

• HEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13 x 9-inch pan with a no-stick cooking spray. Melt chocolate chips in dry, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100% power) 1 minute. Stir. Microwave at additional, 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until chips are melted. Set aside.
• BEAT together brown sugar, peanut butter and butter in large bowl with an electric mixer, until smooth and creamy. Add egg and vanilla. Beat until well blended.
• STIR together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to peanut butter mixture. Beat just until combined. Stir in oats. Press 3/4 of dough into prepared baking pan. Spread evenly with melted chocolate. Dot chocolate layer with remaining dough.
• BAKE 24 to 26 minutes. Cool. Cut into 24 bars.

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE BITES

Steps:

• For the peanut butter filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, butter and vanilla. Mix on medium-low speed until creamy. Shape into 1-inch balls and set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• For the chocolate coating: In a heat-proof glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water, add the coconut oil and chocolate chips; melt together, stirring, until smooth and silky. Dip the peanut butter balls in the chocolate and place back on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Let cool until completely set, then refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 24 hours.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BITES

Steps:

• LINE 9-inch pie plate with foil.
• COMBINE peanut butter, 2 tablespoons shortening, graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. Mix well. Mixture will be stiff.
• MELT chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons shortening in small saucepan over very low heat, stirring constantly or microwave in microwave-safe bowl for 30 seconds. Stir and repeat until smooth. Pour half the melted chocolate mixture into prepared pie plate. Spread chocolate about 1/2-inch up sides. Place in freezer for 10 minutes or until set.
• REMOVE from freezer. Spread peanut butter mixture over chilled chocolate layer. Pour remaining melted chocolate over peanut butter layer, spreading to edges. Place in freezer or refrigerator until set. Cut into bite-size pieces. Store in refrigerator.

PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE-COCONUT LAYER CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter two 9-inch round cake pans, and line the bottom of each with a round piece of parchment. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda onto a piece of parchment or into a large bowl.
• Beat the butter, brown sugar, peanut butter and granulated sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until the mixture is light and creamy, about 5 minutes. Scrape down the side of the bowl as needed. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Continue beating until the mixture is light and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low, and add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until just combined.
• Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Let the cakes cool in the pans for a few minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely. Invert each onto a cooling rack, and remove the parchment. (The cakes can be stored at room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, for 1 day.)
• For the filling: Spread the coconut out on a baking sheet, and bake at 350 degrees F until golden and toasted, about 8 minutes.
• Put the chocolate and butter in a medium bowl, microwave for 1 minute, stir until smooth and pour into a large bowl. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla and salt, and mix with an electric mixer on low speed until combined. Continue to mix on low speed, adding the sugar a cup at a time and alternating with additions of the milk. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and mix until smooth. (If not being used immediately, the filling can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days; let it come to room temperature and mix on medium-high until smooth.)
• To assemble: Slice each cake in half, for a total of 4 rounds. Spread the peanut butter on 3 of the rounds, dividing evenly. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of toasted coconut on each of the 3 rounds. Put 1 round, peanut butter-and-coconut-side up, on a cake stand or serving platter, and spread about 1/2 cup of the chocolate filling on top, leaving about a 1/2-inch border all around. Repeat with 2 more layers of cake and filling. Place the last cake round (without the peanut butter and coconut) on top.
• For the frosting: Put the remaining 1 1/2 cups of the filling in a large bowl, add the cream and beat with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until medium peaks form. Frost the cake and sprinkle the top with the remaining toasted coconut. Refrigerate the cake until it sets up (this makes it possible to cut neat slices), at least 4 hours up to overnight. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE-COCONUT-PEANUT BUTTER LAYERED BITES

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the bottom position of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a 9-inch square baking dish with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. Coat the foil with cooking spray.
• For the peanut butter cookie layer: Beat the peanut butter, sugar and salt with an electric mixer on medium-high in a medium bowl until smooth. Beat the eggs in one at a time and then the vanilla. Adjust the speed to medium-low, add the flour and beat until incorporated. Press the batter into an even layer in the bottom of the prepared baking dish; set aside.
• For the macaroon layer: Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until frothy. Toss the coconut, sugar and salt together with your hands in another large bowl; add the egg whites, and stir until the coconut mixture is coated. Scatter the coconut mixture in an even layer on top of the peanut butter cookie layer (there shouldn't be any peeking through).
• Bake until the center doesn't jiggle when shaken and the coconut is golden brown, 55 minutes to 1 hour. Transfer to a rack, and let cool completely.
• For the ganache layer: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Combine the cream, butter and salt in a small saucepan, and heat over medium heat until steaming. Pour the hot cream mixture over the chocolate, and let sit for 5 minutes; stir until smooth.
• Pour the ganache over the coconut. Cover loosely, and refrigerate until the chocolate is set up, about 30 minutes.
• Lift the bar mixture out of the pan, and peel off the foil. Trim to make neat edges, and cut into very small squares, about the size of fudge.