Crunchy Peanut Butter Bars with Frosting

INGREDIENTS

Bars

• ½ cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter, room temperature
• 1 ½ cups light brown sugar 
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons McNess Champion Madagascar Vanilla Compound
• 1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Frosting

• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
• ½ cup creamy peanut butter
• ¼ cup whole milk
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla
• 2 scant cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup roasted salted peanuts, chopped
• Sea Salt

INSTRUCTIONS

Bars

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9×13 pan with parchment paper, Grease the parchment, set aside.
• In a large bowl, microwave butter and peanut butter until melted and smooth. Add brown sugar, whisking until combined. Add eggs and vanilla, whisk until combined, scrape the sides of the bowl as needed.
• In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir with a spatula until combined. Stir just until no streaks of flour remain. DO NOT OVERMIX. The batter will be thick.
• Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and press it into an even layer. Bake for 18-20 minutes, until light golden brown.

Frosting

• Once the bars are baked, remove the bars from the oven and place the pan on a wire rack. While the bars are cooling start preparing the frosting.
• Place butter, peanut butter, and milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring the mixture to a simmer, whisking frequently, then remove from the heat. Whisk in vanilla extract and powdered sugar, whisking until smooth and combined. Pour over the warm bars and spread into an even layer. You will have to move quickly before the frosting hardens. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts and sea salt, lightly pressing the peanuts into the frosting. Allow the bars to cool and the frosting to set before cutting and serving.
• DELICIOUS! ENJOY!