Kelseys Peanut Butter Bars Food

CRUNCHY PEANUT CARAMEL NOUGAT CANDY BAR

Steps:

• Spray a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and line with parchment paper, leaving 2 inches of overhang on each side.
• For the nougat: Combine the peanut butter, vanilla and marshmallow cream in a large mixing bowl and reserve. Combine the sugar, cream and butter in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir with a heatproof spatula until the sugar dissolves. Fit the saucepan with a candy thermometer and continue monitoring until the mixture starts to turn a light amber color and the temperature reaches 250 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Once your nougat hits 250 degrees F, remove from the heat and add to the marshmallow mixture. Mix together to completely combine, but don't overwork. The mixture should be light and fluffy. Turn out the nougat into the prepared pan and spread evenly with a rubber spatula coated in nonstick spray. Place in the refrigerator to cool and get going on your next layer, the caramel.
• For the caramel filling: Add the sugar, cream and corn syrup to a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Carefully stir to combine with a heatproof spatula until the sugar dissolves and bring the mixture to a boil. Stop stirring and boil until the mixture begins to turn an amber color and reaches 250 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, carefully, as it will foam up. (Adding the butter at the end will stop the cooking and keeps your caramel soft and chewy.) Keep stirring until it's all dissolved, and then stir in the peanuts. As tempting as it may be, never stick your finger in hot caramel to taste, sugar burns and hurts!
• Pour the caramel over the nougat and spread evenly with the spatula. Place in the refrigerator until the caramel is completely cool, 15 minutes.
• Transfer the candy to a cutting board. Cut lengthwise into thirds and then across in nine 1-inch rectangles, using a sharp knife that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. You can mark the caramel nougat with your knife as a guide before cutting out your bars.
• For the chocolate: Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted and is smooth, 8 to10 minutes. Dip each candy piece and completely cover with chocolate on all sides, using two forks, allowing the excess to drip off. Place on a wire cooling rack for the excess to drip off while you dip all of the bars. Once the bars are dipped, transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and allow the chocolate to set in the fridge at least 20 minutes.

SUNNY'S EASY PB&J SWIRL BARS

Steps:

• Make the crust. Spray an 8-inch square metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line with parchment paper, allowing the parchment to overhang the edges of the pan. Spray again and set aside.
• In a food processor, pulse the crackers, brown sugar and butter until combined and it resembles wet sand. Remove and press into the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate for an hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Make the PB layer: In a stand mixer or with a hand-held mixer, beat the peanut butter, brown sugar and butter in a bowl until smooth. Remove the pan from the refrigerator and spread the peanut butter mixture evenly over the bottom layer.
• Add the jelly swirl. Drop about 9 dollops of the jam around the pan. Use a skewer or butter knife and drag it through the jam and peanut butter to make swirls.
• Bake until set, about 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely, then remove from the pan and cut into bars the size of your choosing.

KELSEY'S PEANUT BUTTER BARS

Steps:

• Combine flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
• Cream together peanut butter and butter. Add sugar, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla. Mix until well combined.
• Stir in dry ingredients.
• Pour into a greased 9x13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely.
• ICING:.
• Combine all icing ingredients and mix until smooth. Spread over cooled bars.