How’s that for a title?  There’s a lot to be said for the peanut butter and chocolate combo.  The pairing of the two is simple and magical, a marriage like no other.  The flavors are truly meant to be.

These bars are nothing fancy.  This recipe is just barely a recipe.  They call for a short list of ingredients, most of which you probably have on hand, and don’t require turning on the oven.  It’s definitely easier to drive to the store and pick up a king-sized package of Reese’s Peanut Butter cups to satisfy your craving.  But, like many things, homemade is usually better. 

For me, these bars are nostalgic.  I can remember my family first making them when I was in elementary school, after we obtained the recipe from a classmate’s mom.  I remember the index card with the blue ink, covered with kitchen stains, and eventually the new index card on which I re-wrote the recipe, in my 5th grade handwriting. 

My brothers and I would impatiently wait for the bars to cool, opening the door to the refrigerator every five minutes or so, eventually deeming them cool enough, and slicing the melty chocolate bars into messy, uneven pieces with a butter knife.  They quickly because a staple treat in our house, and they were a starting point in my foray into “baking.”  I haven’t made them in years, but when I stumbled upon a similar recipe recently, I knew I had to make them for Lloyd. 

And me. 

And anyone who loves chocolate and peanut butter. 

So, basically…….. everyone. 

While I’m sure this recipe isn’t precisely the same, the ingredients are nearly identical.  They taste just like I remember them, and they are just as easy to whip up.

Peanut Butter Bars

Serving vary, depending on size of bars

Recipe adapted from Kraft Recipes

Ingredients

• 1/2 C butter or margarine, melted
• 2 C powdered sugar
• 1-1/2 C graham cracker crumbs
• 1 C creamy peanut butter
• 2 C semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Line a 13×9 pan with wax paper. 
2. Mix the melted butter, sugar, graham cracker crumbs, and peanut butter until well combined.  Press mixture into prepared pan. 
3. Melt chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds or so, until smooth.  Spread over peanut butter later.
4. Refrigerate at least one hour before cutting and serving.