Black Widow Peanut Butter Bars
Perfect for your next Halloween party...and all October long!
Servings: 24 bars
Calories: 310kcal
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Bars
- 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) salted butter
- 2 cups creamy peanut butter
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Icing
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) salted butter, at room temperature
- 2-3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup warmed milk
For decorating
- marshmallows
- whoopers
- candy eyes
- melted chocolate
- black or silver sprinkles
- small plastic spiders (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Line a 9x13 inch baking dish with parchment paper.2. In a microwave safe bowl, melt together the butter and 1/2 cup peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Stir in the brown sugar, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add the flour, baking powder, and salt.3. Press/spread the dough out into the prepared dish. Transfer to the oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, until just set in the center. Remove from the oven and dollop tablespoon size spoonfuls of the peanut butter over the bars. Lightly spread the peanut butter in an even layer. Let cool completely.4. To make the frosting. Add the butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, cocoa powder, vanilla, and 1/4 cup warm milk to the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until smooth, adding additional warm milk until the frosting becomes thicker but still drizzly. Taste, adding more sugar if needed. Spread the frosting over the bars. Let set for 1-ish hour.5. To make the web, melt the marshmallows in the microwave on 30 second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Let cool 3-5 minutes and then use your hands to stretch/pull the melted marshmallow over the bars to create a spider web. Go in as many directions as possible. It will be messy, but fun! 6. To make the spiders, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spoon the chocolate into a piping bag with a fine tip or ziplock bag with the corner snipped off. Pipe two small, 1/3 inch dots of chocolate onto the paper side by side. Place 1 whopper on each dot, then draw 2-3 legs on either side of the whoppers for the legs. Sprinkle the legs with sprinkles. Place two tiny dots on either side of 1 whopper for the eyes. Place the tray in the freezer for 15 minutes to harden, then gently peel away the spiders and place them on top of the bars. Slice and enjoy! 7. Store the bars in a cool dry place, either in the fridge or at room temp.
Nutrition
Calories: 310kcal