This one’s for all you peanut butter lovers out there! An ooey gooey bar that includes loads of marshmallow creme, chocolate peanut butter cup candies, and a yummy peanut butter cookie dough that sandwiches it all in!
The kids and I have been going, going, going all summer long. Our days are filled with so much fun (swimming, tennis lessons, the beach, playing with friends) and some chores (the not-so-fun). It makes me laugh every night as my husband and I put them to bed and they’re trying to tell us, “I’m not tired!”, and the moment their little heads hit those pillows, they’re out like a light. 🙂
Though it can be exhausting, it makes my heart so happy have the kids home full time for a few months. I think I may cry when they have to go back to school.
But I also think I’ll be quite a bit more productive when I don’t have four constant (very cute) little excuses to play and be distracted from the house work and other things that need to get done. We are making memories to last a lifetime, though.
One of my favorite summer (well really year-round) past times, growing up, was making desserts for my family. From a young age, I enjoyed being in the kitchen. I watched my mom at work there. She showed me some techniques and taught me how to follow a recipe and then I soon was confident enough to try them on my own. She was very good about not hovering and being super patient with me while I figured things out. Yet she was always right there if I had questions. I know this is a huge part of why I love to bake so much.
I admit that I need to work on the patience part with my own children, but we are frequently in the kitchen all together. The kids sit on the counter and help measure and stir. An all too common scene is my four-year-old and almost two-year old fighting over who gets to stir first and for the longest. But, we’re making memories and I’m surprised at how much even the young ones pick up when it comes to cooking and baking. My four-year-old pretty much knows our Whole Wheat Pancake recipe by heart, (maybe because we make it a few times a week), and my toddler will call out “Flour!” at just the right time in the process. 🙂
I really hope my children are gaining the same love of making food that I have, and I hope that I am playing the right part in that.
One thing I know for sure is that these Peanut Butter Mallow Bars will not last long when you make them! The kids helped me unwrap the chocolate peanut butter cup candies and sprinkle them on. They probably ate more than they sprinkled, but I can’t say I blame them. 🙂
Peanut Butter Mallow Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup crunchy peanut butter
- 3/4 c. packed brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 4 Tbsp. butter softened
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 c. all-purpose flour
- 7 oz. container marshmallow creme
- 1 heaping cup mini chocolate peanut butter cup candies sliced in half if you'd like
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line an 8x8" pan with foil so the foil hangs over the sides about an inch. No need to grease foil.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together peanut butter, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla and butter. Add in baking powder and flour and mix until combined.
- Separate dough into two equal portions. Grab one portion and press on the bottom of the pan. Bake for ten minutes, then remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Sprinkle peanut butter cup candies over the baked dough, then spread marshmallow creme over the top of the candies. I found it easiest to quickly heat the marshmallow creme in the microwave (just a few seconds), then plop it in the middle of the pan and carefully spread outward from there.
- Take the dough that you set aside and grab small portions, flatten them out in your hands, then place them on top of the marshmallow creme, piecing them together, until all the dough is gone. Place the pan back in the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until sides start to turn a slight golden brown. Let cool, slice and serve.
Notes
So many layers of complete deliciousness! This is a perfect treat to call the kiddos in for and let them mix and spread, sprinkle and then partake.
I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!
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