Thursday, September 8, 2011

Layered Triple Peanut Butter Krispie Treats with Peanut Butter Fudge and Peanut Butter Ganache


Years ago the words "back to school" sent butterflies to my stomach.  My little boy was off for hours without me and I wondered how he would make it, or rather, how I would make it.  Then came the years where I couldn't wait to get the kids out of the house so I could have some semblance of peace back in my day.  These days, however, I'm somewhere in between those two extremes, I guess I've found balance.

On one hand, this was one of the best summers we've had, we traveled, we swam, we went to bonfires at the beach, we "hung out".  I truly enjoyed having the kids home with me as we did daily chores and shopping, and after a few years of being embarrassed to be with me, they actually seemed not to mind so much.  On the other hand, I haven't been in my house alone for over two months and my schedule has been everyone's but mine.

Sad as it was to see that first day creep into our lives, I blew a kiss (covertly, so no one else would see), wished them both good luck and somehow I was able to get over any guilty feelings of looking forward to my morning coffee and the rest of the day.  With my husband out of town, the pups and I were truly alone with 7 hours stretching out in front of us and all to ourselves.  Where is a somewhat sad somewhat elated mom to turn?  The kitchen, of course.

PB Fudge studded with TJ's Mini PB cups
Still feeling ever so slightly guilty at the pure pleasure I felt to be alone, I thumbed through my stack of recipes as I enjoyed a leisurely coffee out on the patio searching for something that would make them smile after their first day back to reality.  Nothing caught my eye, however my son's request for plain ole Krispie Treats kept nagging at the back of my mind.

He loves peanut butter, and if plain Peanut Butter Treats are good, wouldn't a layer of Peanut Butter Fudge in the middle be even better?  The pantry held a mostly full box of Trader Joe's mini Peanut Butter Cups, which seemed to be ready to dive into the Peanut Butter Fudge kicking the whole thing up another notch.  Not being able to leave well enough alone (and with a lot of time on my hands), the tops of the treats seemed somewhat plain.  Ganache... a nice rich Peanut Butter Ganache would indeed put these guys over the top.


And over the top they were.  A layered triple dose of peanut butter treats topped with the peanut buttery ganache was enough to bring cheers of elation from the kids as they arrived home.  Grabbing a piece off of the prepared plate, my tired teenager sat himself down at the table, closed his eyes and sighed.  My boy is a man of few words and the "Mom... wow... you really are the best," made me smile while the next sigh followed by the comment "These things just might be the best thing I've ever had in my life!"  truly had my heart swelling.

As much as I enjoyed my day with the pups (our two Maltese boys), having the kids back home returned our house to its proper balance, and all was good.  The Layered Triple Peanut Butter Krispie Treats were a hit, and so was I.

Triple Peanut Butter Treats with Layers.... Yes, please!


Layered Triple Peanut Butter Krispie Treats
Liv Life
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1st Layer - Krispe Treat Layer
3 cups Rice Krispies
1/2 bag (10.5-oz) miniature marshmallows
2 Tbs unsalted butter
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter (optional, but good!) 

2nd Layer - Peanut Butter Fudge adapted from Alton Brown with TJ's mini PB Cups
1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2  to 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1 container Trader Joe's (or other brand) mini Peanut Butter cups

3rd Layer - Krispie Treat Layer
3 cups Rice Krispies

1/2 bag (10.5-oz) miniature marshmallows
2 Tbs unsalted butter

4th Layer - Peanut Butter Ganache
Generous 1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups chocolate, chopped

Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray, or alternatively grease pan with butter.
Measure cereal into a large mixing bowl, set aside. Melt the marshmallows and butter (along with peanut butter if using) together in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the cereal mixture, quickly stirring well to evenly coat the cereal. Pour the cereal mixture into the prepared pan and press evenly into the pan.  Set aside while preparing Peanut Butter Fudge Layer.

From Alton Brown:  Combine the butter and peanut butter in a 4-quart microwave-safe bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Microwave for 2 minutes on high. Stir and microwave on high for 2 more minutes. (Use caution when removing this mixture from the microwave, it will be very hot.) Add the vanilla and powdered sugar to the peanut butter mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon.

Alternatively, prepare fudge on the stove, melting butter and peanut butter over medium heat.  Add the vanilla and powdered sugar to the peanut butter mixture and stir to combine with a wooden spoon. If mixture is very thin, add a little extra powdered sugar.

Spread the fudge over the 1st layer of Krispie treats and scatter the mini peanut butter cups over the top, pushing cups into the fudge.  Refrigerate until cool and firm enough to handle second layer of treats, about 1 hour. 

After fudge is somewhat firm, prepare second layer of krispies.  Measure cereal into a large mixing bowl, set aside. Melt the marshmallows and butter together in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Pour the melted marshmallow mixture over the cereal mixture, quickly stirring well to evenly coat the cereal. Drop the cereal mixture in "dollops" over the prepared fudge, pressing the cereal together and slightly into the fudge.

To prepare the ganache, melt the peanut butter and chocolate either in a microwave, stirring often, or over a double boiler on the stove, also stirring often, over low heat.  When the chocolate and peanut butter are fully melted, cool slightly and then pour over the krispie treats, smoothing with the back of a wooden spoon.  Give the pan a shake to evenly distribute the melted chocolate mixture.

Allow to cool (for those of us who are impatient - myself included - place treats in the fridge for about 1/2 of an hour until the ganache is set).

Getting the treats out of the pan and still looking pretty is always a bit challenging for me.  I usually cut about a 1 1/2 inch slice from the top of the pan (shorter side) and pull that out.  (usually I end up eating that before the rest of the treats are fully cut) With the gap left from that slice I can usually get a spatula under the remaining block of treats and using the spatula and my hands I can work the block out onto a cutting board.  I then use a warm, dry and clean knife to cut one slice of the treats, cleaning the knife off after each cut and continuing until all the treats are cut into the desired shapes.

Enjoy!  My son has asked nearly every day since we made these treats if today was the day I would "treat" him again.  Perhaps...

 

54 comments:

  1. Kim this will be in my kitchen. Soon.

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  2. Wow, those are incredible. Dudette just came running up the steps and I had to scroll fast to get the picture off the screen. If she'd seen this, she'd have been begging for them. We don't have a Trader Joe's so I don't know where I'd get those adorable mini peanut butter cups. They really make that middle layer.

    I guess it's the fact that Dudette had two years of preschool because I did the happy dance at having the house child-free (well, kinda....Hubby was still here) on the first day she went to kindergarten. :)

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  3. I jusr saw this link on Twitter. I don't know what to say in mid-awe, other than..If I don't make these soon..I think I might die. WOW, just, wow.

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  4. Seven hours of solitude in the house, how wonderful! What an amazing treat to come home to at the end of a school day. You had me at peanut butter fudge!!!

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  5. A-MAZING! These look so good! I think they would be good for adults as well as the kids :)

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  6. I don't think I can get to the store fast enough to get the stuff to make these! I might just have to lick the screen on my way there!

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  7. I never knew there was a way to make peanut butter Rice Krispie treats any better, but you've done it!!! These look AMAZING! I need to make these soon~

    PS...and thanks for the hint about cutting beautiful squares...yours are perfect :)

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  8. I never thought of rice krispies as being sinful until now! These are downright dreamy!

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  9. all I need is your free 7 hours to ate the whole pan! I really can't trust myself with these bars close by!

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  10. This sounds so good! I haven't had a rice krispie treat in so long, and never one with peanut butter. This post has given me such a craving.

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  11. I could truly gain a lot of weight eating these!!! I would keep them all to myself and not share. OMG - these look SO GOOD!

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  12. Amazing is right. These are absolutely over the top :) What a great treat to come home to!

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  13. Great use of those mini PB cups from TJ! This looks so good!

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  14. These look so yummy! Wow, I so need to try this dessert! :)

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  15. Oh Kim, these are dangerous. DANGEROUS!

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  16. I will have to make these for my bride-to-be's birthday. She loves chocolate and peanut butter. These bars are the supreme chocolate peanut bitter combo!

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  17. Great googly-moogly! These are SOOOO awesome. I would have a hard time not eating that entire pan. I am in love with peanut butter and then put it in rice krispie treat form?! Holy cow, I would be in heaven!

    Have a great weekend Kim!! :-D Say "hi" to Liv for me

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  18. yummi......this looks water-mouthing- thanks for saharing

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  19. Wow! This is a Rice Krispies treat I can get behind. I love all the layers and additions. Yum!

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  20. These look insanely good! I made some krispies a while back with reeses, but you have taken it to a whole new level! Brilliant!!

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  21. Oh my gosh. I'm drooling. You're kids are the luckiest on the block!!

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  22. Wow! Looks wonderful! Mouthwatering. Will have to try this.

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  23. I love the cross section shot which show all the delicious layers of your wonderful creation!

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  24. Wow - those looks AMAZING! What a delicious (and decadent) treat! I'm drooling all over my computer

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  25. Over the top, indeed! And extremely peanut buttery delicious! I would love to have 1 or 2 or 8 of these :) Buzzed

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  26. I will so go back to school if it scores me one of these babies! Look at those mini reeses! How cute!

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  27. Wow, this looks amazing! Reminds me of the peanut butter treats my mom used to make, only with that extra layer of peanut butter. I will be attempting to make these! Maybe I'll return the favor to my mom and send her some.

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  28. Oh sweet, crunchy, peanut buttery goodness - this looks amazing!!!

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  29. Now who would ever need to buy a candy bar again? Girl these look amazing!

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  30. OMG this looks ridiculously good! My mouth is literally watering :) I love those mini TJ peanut butter cups! And anything fudge!

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  31. Ok, you can stop now, this is just too good to be true but I know it is. JUST AWESOME. BTW... thanks for stopping by my blog @ offthemenunow.blogspot.com
    I'm now following you.

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  32. Kim, you have me swelling up just reading your post, as you've hit the feeling I had on first day back at home to myself - being able to work again for myself yet feeling guilty and now bit rejected that they no longer want me to kiss them at the gate. But it's all good.

    No wonder you were an absolute hit with these gorgeous treats: my eldest has just discovered peanut butter (in France it's not as popular as in the US) and perhaps I need to make these SOON to make up for all the nagging over homework!
    Jill xo

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  33. The photos are so mouth watering, I just shared the close-up one on twitter!
    First time I hear about this amazing PB krispie recipe. I wonder where it comes from. Totally decadent...

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  34. WOW!
    Over the Top!
    Delicious!
    All words and phrases I would use to describe that decadent treat you concocted. Well done!!!!

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  35. These are the best looking rice crispy treats I've seen!

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  36. Kim, do you think it would be possible to put parchment both ways in the pan with a little excess, like handles, to make it easier to remove at the end? Just curious if you think it would affect anything negatively. Thanks for sharing, can't wait to make them!!

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  37. I think the parchment is a great idea! I have to admit I'm not very familiar with parchment... do you think yo would spray it first? My first thought is that I would, but I'm not sure that is necessary. The lifting out would sure be easier this way. Great idea!

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  38. I think all I can manage is a "wow" as well. Holy geez woman! These look amazing!!

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  39. OH MY! And I love me a good sheet of parchment--no spraying necessary.

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  40. Yum!! Love the mini buttercups!!! Delicious!

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  41. I am making these right now! They are in the fridge hardening for an hour before I do the next step. The peanut butter fudge layer was so good! Can't wait until I can eat the whole thing!

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  42. Yay!! I hope you like them as much as we did Erin!! Let me know!!

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  43. This treat will be great for the holiday. Thank you for sharing. Absolutely mouthwatering!

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  44. Parchment makes a great pan liner. Leave extra hanging over two sides of the pan and you'll find it easy to remove bars for cutting. Then place the bars with the parchment underneath on a large cutting board, use a longer firm blade knife and the cutting and clean up will be so easy! One more suggestion would be to make the top krispie layer of the bar in a separate parchment lined pan, then flip it over onto the filling - saves time on waiting for the filling to harden.

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  45. OMWord, it's my Mom's Scotcheroos on Steroids!!!! YUM!

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  46. I know what you mean...I felt when my youngest one started K- just this past month that my heart will jump out, but now I am also finding my balance.
    Your PB krispies look amazing and triple wow..this is just what I need right now:))
    Have a lovely day Kim!!!

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  47. I loved this. Absolutely beautiful. I just sent my youngest to full day kindergarten (unexpectedly, half day was canceled at last minute) and I have been struggling with how to feel about it.

    Oh yeah and the treats are getting pinned! :)

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  48. I love this, I have to do it soon:)

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  49. These bars look so perfectly cut and delicious! Love them.

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