Triple-layer Peanut Butter Brownie Bars

Total Time: 1 hr 49 mins Preparation Time: 1 hr 15 mins Cook Time: 34 mins

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 7 (1 ounce) semisweet baking chocolate squares, divided and chopped
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 8 (1 ounce) semisweet baking chocolate squares
• 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
• 1/3 cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°; line a lightly greased 13 x 9 inch pan with aluminum foil, allowing foil to extend over ends of pan; set aside.
• 2 melt 1 cup butter in a saucepan over medium heat; remove pan from heat.
• 3 add in 6 ounces chopped chocolate, and let stand 5 minutes; stir until smooth; transfer to a large mixing bowl.
• 4 add 2 cups sugar to melted chocolate mixture; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended.
• 5 add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended; add vanilla.
• 6 add flour; beat on low speed just until blended; stir in 3/4 cup peanuts.
• 7 spread batter into prepared pan; bake for 30-34 minutes (wooden pick will not test clean).
• 8 remove to a wire rack, and cool completely.
• 9 meanwhile, beat peanut butter and 1/2 cup butter in a bowl at medium speed until blended.
• 10 add powdered sugar; beat until blended.
• 11 spread over cooled brownies.
• 12 melt 8 ounces chocolate squares and remaining 1 ounce chopped chocolate in a small glass bowl according to microwave package directions; stir in corn syrup.
• 13 spoon dollops of melted chocolate over peanut butter layer; spread gently to cover peanut butter layer.
• 14 sprinkle with 1/3 cup peanuts, if desired.
• 15 cover and chill 2 hours or until set.
• 16 use foil to lift brownies out of pan; peel foil away from sides of uncut brownies; cut into bars.