Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars I

Ingredients

• Servings: 3
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3/4 cup chopped, unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
• 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Recipe

• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c).
• to make pastry: cream together 2/3 cup butter and brown sugar. stir in the flour, baking powder, salt, and baking soda until well blended.
• separate the eggs and beat in the yolks. add in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and mix well.
• press mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. bake for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
• to make the topping: in a medium bowl, mix together the powdered sugar, chopped peanuts, peanut butter, egg whites, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. melt 1/4 cup of butter or margarine and stir into mixture.
• turn off oven and remove pan. let cool for about 2 minutes. spread topping over pastry. sprinkle chocolate chips over topping and return to warm oven for 2 or 3 minutes. spread chocolate over topping, like a frosting. let cool before cutting.