I am always looking for an excuse to try out a new recipe. When one of our neighbors, who is 5 months pregnant, mentioned a craving for “those coconut things,” I made a batch that night and sent Nick over. When I saw the recipe for these Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch Bars in a recent issue (okay, September) of Rachael Ray’s magazine, I knew just who to make them for. Even growing up, I was never a big fan of Rice Krispy Treats myself. A sticky, gooey concoction, it just never did anything for me, but I knew one of the girls in the office liked them, so these were perfect to try out for her.
Forget the Rachael Ray name for the recipe … these are Rice Krispy Treats, Version 2009. Consider it a more kicked up rendition of the treat you grew up with. With four layers of smooth chocolate and peanut butter goodness, augmented by a little crunch from the Rice Krispies, they’re bound to go quickly. The bottom later is a mixture of chocolate, peanut butter and cereal. Then just peanut butter. Then just cereal. Then a chocolate, peanut butter, cereal layer again. Goodness with every bite.
The recipe suggests cutting these into 16 bars, but I cut them smaller than that. They’re rich, very rich, so I think smaller bites are more guilt-free appropriate.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch Rice Krispy Treats, Version 2009
Recipe courtesy of Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine, September 2008
MAKES 16 PIECES
Prep Time: 25 min (plus chilling)
Cook Time: 10 min
2 sticks (8 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
6 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped
One 16-ounce jar creamy peanut butter
3 cups crispy rice cereal
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with parchment paper. In a medium saucepan, melt half of the chocolate and 1 tablespoon butter over low heat. Remove from the heat; stir in 1 cup peanut butter, then 2 cups rice cereal. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan; refrigerate until set, about 15 minutes. Wash out the saucepan.
2. In the saucepan, combine the remaining 2 sticks butter and the salt; melt over medium heat, stirring. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining peanut butter and the confectioners’ sugar. Spread half of the peanut butter mixture over the cereal layer. Top with the remaining 1 cup cereal.
3. In a small bowl, microwave the remaining chocolate at medium power until melted, 1 1/2 minutes. Stir into the remaining peanut butter mixture. Spread evenly on the cereal-topped peanut butter layer; refrigerate until set, about 45 minutes. Cut into 16 pieces.
Ooh, these look delicious – how much chocolate do you use?
Saras last blog post..Penne with kale and walnuts
LOL, yeah, that would help, huh? 6 oz – added. Thanks for catching that, Sara.
This is a great recipe to make rice krispy.
Selbas last blog post..Es Podeng
That looks absolutely decadent. I am emailing it to myself right now. Wow!
chefdrucks last blog post..A Vision of Twins
I just made rice krispy treats!….but the plain ol’ boring ones :) These put mine to shame, but they look AMAZING!
sharons last blog post..Man Food Mondays: Shrimp, Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
too easy… now that’s going to be a problem!
MsGourmets last blog post..Tower of Power!
holy shizzle these look great!
doggybloggys last blog post..googly eyes
Wow… good thing I didn’t make those, they’d be gone before I could share them! As RR would say: Yum-O!
OH man – those look amazing! So decadent!
Emilys last blog post..Chai Snickerdoodles
Those look fabulous! Oh my gosh. I’ll skip the chocolate parts and go straight for the peanut butter…
Blond Ducks last blog post..Confessions of the Blond Duck
Wow…these are amazing! They look wonderful.
claires last blog post..Disappearing Cookies
Those look amazing. Will definitely need to try this recipe.
these sound and look so so good :) And your lil one who got into the markers? Adorable!
Jos last blog post..Fresh Black Italian Winter Truffles, anyone?
Those treats look really good!
Kevins last blog post..Steak Tenderloin in a Mushroom and Blue Cheese Sauce
These look awesome. My children would gobble them up. I like the new name!!
Donnas last blog post..Homemade Pierogies & Cabbage Kielbasa
i haven’t had rice krispy treats in ages and this looks definitely more refined :) chocolate & peanut butter? i’m in.
kickpleats last blog post..baked apples and a little begging…