Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Amish Reese's Peanut Butter Bars with chocolate cake, peanut butter, and chocolate frosting is a rich and indulgent dessert that is sure to please fans of both chocolate and peanut butter.
This dessert combines the flavor of Reese's peanut butter cups with a moist chocolate cake, a creamy peanut butter filling, and a rich chocolate frosting to create a decadent and satisfying treat.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar Recipe (Reese's Cake)
Cakes are usually baked in a 9x13" (or equivalent size) pan, and that makes a nice thick layer of cake. But for this recipe, we have a moist chocolate cake that is baked in a larger pan to create a thin layer of cake on the bottom.
Then it gets a very thin layer of peanut butter and a chocolate frosting on the top. So it's technically a thin cake. But since it's made to eat with your hands, we call it bars.
And you can call them cookie bars, cake bars, or whatever you like to call dessert bars that you hold in your hands to eat. They make a great dessert on the go since you don't need utensils to eat them.
Homemade Buttermilk
I love using buttermilk in baked goods. It helps to create a soft and light, yet moist texture.
However, buttermilk is not something that I keep on hand. So what if I want to make these bars, and I don't have any buttermilk in my refrigerator?
No problem. I can make buttermilk with ingredients that I already have on hand since adding lemon juice or vinegar to milk makes homemade buttermilk.
I recommend using whole milk, although 2% will also work. Unfortunately, 1% or skim milk does not work.
Since we only need 1/2 cup of buttermilk for this recipe, you can add 1 Tbsp. of vinegar to a half-cup measuring cup and fill it will milk. Let it rest for at least five minutes.
It will curdle and thicken, producing buttermilk.
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Amish Peanut Butter Bars in 10x15" Pan
To make these bars, we bake the chocolate cake in a 10x15" jelly roll pan.
My jelly roll pan dimensions are more like 10 3/4 x 16 3/4". So they are not all exactly the typical 10x15 inches. But as long as it's close to that size, it will work.
The point is, we're not using a regular 9x13" cake pan, and neither are we using a 13x18" half-sheet cake pan. You want the size in between that's typically known as a 10x15" jelly roll pan.
It allows you to have a nice thin (but not too thin) layer of cake on the bottom.
Spreading Peanut Butter Over the Cake
Peanut butter gets spread over the top of the cooled cake. And you will have to spread it carefully, or it will pull the top off of the cake and you'll end up with cake crumbs all through the peanut butter.
I recommend using a nice and creamy brand of peanut butter. And I have found the cheaper generic brands to be a little stiff. So I'm going to suggest that you buy a better brand such as Jif, Skippy, or Peter Pan.
Here I used Peter Pan, and it spread fine. But I think Jif is known to be one of the creamiest spreadable brands.
These peanut butter cake bars are seriously addicting, especially if you love the flavors of chocolate cake with peanut butter. And if you enjoy this Amish recipe for peanut butter bars, I would love it if you left a star rating and comment below.
More Recipes for Amish Dessert Bars
Chocolate Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Bars
Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
Amish Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Recipe
Ingredients
Bottom Cake Layer:
- 1 c. softened butter (2 sticks)
- 1 c. water
- 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- 1 1/2 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. buttermilk or sour cream
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 2 c. all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Middle Layer:
- 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 c. creamy peanut butter (1 lb. container)
Frosting:
- 1/2 c. softened butter (1 stick)
- 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- pinch salt
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 c. milk
- 2 1/2 - 3 c. powdered sugar
Instructions
Cake - Bottom Layer:
- Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Beat eggs well. Add the sugar and beat well again.2 large eggs (room temperature), 1 1/2 c. sugar
- Add the buttermilk and vanilla and mix.1/2 c. buttermilk or sour cream, 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- In a saucepan, melt the butter, water, and cocoa. Then add this mixture to the egg mixture.1 c. softened butter (2 sticks), 1 c. water, 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix to combine. The batter will be runny.2 c. all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. salt
- Pour into a greased and lightly floured 10x15" baking pan (jelly roll pan) and bake for 20 - 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs.
- Cool completely.
Middle Layer:
- Carefully spread the peanut butter over the top of the cooled cake.1 1/2 - 1 3/4 c. creamy peanut butter (1 lb. container)
Frosting:
- Beat the butter until creamed. Add the cocoa and salt and mix.1/2 c. softened butter (1 stick), 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder, pinch salt
- Add the remaining ingredients, mix, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then mix on high speed for at least 2 minutes.1 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/4 c. milk, 2 1/2 - 3 c. powdered sugar
- Spread the frosting over the top and chill before cutting into squares.
- Can store at room temperature or refrigerate. These bars can also be frozen to keep them fresh for later.
Marilyn
Hello. I just discovered your post. I read your pot piecreceipe and its just like my Moms friend, who ws also Amish. She was such a wonderful lady and a amazing cook.
Thru thevyesrs her Miley is all hone as is my Mom..she made a. Cole flaw that DIDNT have mayo based dressing. It was more of a sweet and dour type. Would you happen to know if it?? I remember it was cooked in the stove, and its had mustard seeds , sugar, and always used ACV with the mother.. She made her own, as did my Mom .I use BRAGGS brand. If you knew of this recipe. would you please share??
Thank you..
Anna
This is the closest thing I have: In a saucepan, bring to a boil 2/3 c. vinegar, 2/3 c. sugar, 2 tsp. celery seeds, 1 tsp. salt, & 1/4 tsp. pepper. Remove from heat and add 2/3 c. oil. It's enough for a big head of shredded cabbage with a bit of carrot, onion, and peppers. Marinate for 2 hrs. before serving.
I'm sure you could add mustard seed as well.
Kimberly
These sound delicious! I was wondering if you’ve ever made these bars with a chocolate cake mix? My husband has to eat gluten free, so using a GF cake mix would allow him to eat them too. Thanks for all the great recipes!
Anna
I have not tried that. But I see no reason that you couldn't do that since the bottom layer is simply cake. It gets baked in a bigger pan to create a thinner layer. So I would definitely try it.