This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please visit the disclosures and privacy policy page.
Aug 31, 2019

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars

These peanut butter and chocolate shortbread bars are layered with a crumbly peanut filled shortbread on the bottom, a creamy peanut butter filling in the middle, and a luscious chocolate ganache on top. 


Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars with peanut butter mousse and chocolate ganache

These peanut butter and chocolate shortbread bars are easy to make, and will probably pretty much disappear the minute you set out the platter.

Each bar is like a peanut butter cup but with a crumbly peanut-filled shortbread cookie bottom. The filling is fluffy and light, and the easy-to-make dark chocolate ganache is smooth and shiny.

These bars pack a lot of salty sweet peanut butter and chocolate flavor into each little square.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars with peanut butter mousse and ganache

Shopping list for peanut butter and chocolate shortbread bars


You probably have all of the ingredients on hand to make these bars, with possibly the exception of 5 ounces of bittersweet chocolate for the ganache and the unsalted peanuts for the shortbread crust. The rest of the ingredients include: 
  • butter
  • granulated sugar
  • salt
  • all-purpose flour
  • peanut butter
  • confectioner's sugar
  • heavy cream

You will also need: 


Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars with chopped peanuts


How to make these peanut butter and chocolate shortbread bars:


First, you make the shortbread crust. Mix melted butter, granulated sugar, salt, and flour, along with some finely chopped unsalted peanuts. 

Press the mixture into a foil-lined metal cake pan and refrigerate it before baking. Next, you bake the shortbread for about 20 minutes, and then let it cool. 

After that, you make the peanut butter filling by whipping a cup of peanut butter with some butter and confectioner's sugar. Spread it over the cooled short bread.

Finally, make the ganache. Chop the chocolate and pour some boiling heavy cream over it. Let it sit for three minutes and stir the mixture until smooth and creamy. You'll worry at first that it won't come together, but it will. 

Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter filling and let it set for several hours. 

Lift the whole thing out of the pan by using the foil as a sling, and cut into 1 1/2 inch bars with a large chef's knife. 

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars to be cut

As you can see, the crust is really crumbly. This is a good thing! You need to try these. 
Happy #PBchocSat! Thank you to Erin from The Spiffy Cookie for organizing this event, and Camilla of Culinary Adventures with Camilla for the assist! Satisfy your peanut butter and chocolate cravings by checking out all the recipes we made:

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars with peanut butter mousse



Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars


Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars
Yield: 48 bars
Author:
These peanut butter and chocolate shortbread bars are layered with a crumbly peanut filled shortbread on the bottom, a creamy peanut butter filling in the middle, and a luscious chocolate ganache on top.

ingredients:

For the Shortbread
  • 7 ounces (14 tablespoons) of butter, melted and cooled
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 9 1/2 ounces (2 cups plus 2 tablespoons) unbleached all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, finely chopped (8 pulses in a mini food processor)
For the Peanut Butter Filling
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) room temperature butter
  • 6 ounces (1 1/2 cups) confectioner's sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
For the Ganache
  • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

instructions:

How to make Peanut Butter and Chocolate Shortbread Bars

To Make the Shortbread
  1. Line a 9 inch by 13 inch straight-sided metal pan with aluminum foil. 
  2. Stir the butter, sugar, and salt together. 
  3. Stir in the flour and chopped peanuts and press the dough into the pan with your hands into an even layer. 
  4. Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes while preheating the oven to 325 degrees F. 
  5. Bake the shortbread for 20 minutes, and then decrease the oven temperature to 300 degrees F and bake for 20 minutes more. 
  6. Cool completely. 
To Make the Peanut Butter Filling
  1. Beat the peanut butter and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer for one minute. Add 1/2 of the confectioner's sugar and the vanilla, plus one tablespoon of hot water. 
  2. Beat on low until combined. Increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy, about one minute.
  3. Add the rest of the sugar and mix for another minute, until smooth. 
  4. Spread the mixture over the shortbread with an offset spatula. 
For the Ganache and Final Assembly
  1. Boil the heavy cream and pour it over the chopped chocolate. 
  2. Let the mixture sit for 3 minutes. 
  3. Stir the mixture until smooth. 
  4. Pour the mixture over the peanut butter filling and spread with an offset spatula. 
  5. Let the ganache cool for at least 3 hours. 
  6. Gently lift the whole thing out of the pan and place it on a cutting board. 
  7. Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares with a large chef's knife. 
  8. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 5 days. 
dessert, peanut butter, chocolate
Dessert
American
Created using The Recipes Generator
This recipe was adapted from Fine Cooking, Issue 82


More chocolate and peanut butter recipes:

Would you like to comment?

  1. I am already counting the days to be back in my kitchen... need to think about my first baking project once I return...

    these bars would be a huge hit in my department, I am sure...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were with mine! Can't wait to have you back in the kitchen!

      Delete
  2. Be still my heart....shortbread, pb, and chocolate. I am actually drooling here.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mmmm! The only problem is I'm not going to want to share. These are going to be a huge hit around here!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Fortunately, the recipe makes a big batch =)

      Delete
  4. Why??? Why do you make me want to run to the kitchen and make these??? They look absolutely dreamy Karen!

    ReplyDelete
  5. These look so divinely decadent- I need a few of these with my coffee.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is my kind of peanut butter to chocolate ratio for a peanut butter cup

    ReplyDelete
  7. I absolutely adore shortbread!!! Add in chocolate and peanut butter, and I'm your girl!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shortbread is definitely my favorite cookie. Thanks!

      Delete
  8. Thank you. I just made this using this recipe and it was absolutely lip-smacking.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's one of my favorites! Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete

I would love to hear from you! If you comment anonymously, be sure to leave your name in your comment.