Chocolate Peanut Squares Tested Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Squares Recipe

Chocolate Peanut Squares are a delicious combination of peanut butter, cocoa powder, miniature marshmallows, rice cereal, and peanuts. Although they may look like a bar or square, their taste and texture is that of a candy bar. And a good one at that.

These Chocolate Peanut Squares are very easy to make and would be perfect around the holidays since there is no baking involved. You need only one pot and while making candy usually involves a candy thermometer, it is not needed here. Just bring the peanut butter, corn syrup, honey, cocoa powder, and sugar to a boil; add the marshmallows and stir until everything is nicely melted and smooth. Then remove from heat, add the peanuts and rice cereal and you're done. Spread this mixture into your pan and just wait until they cool before covering them with melted chocolate. It is the corn syrup and melted marshmallows that give these squares their lovely chewy texture, and adding rice cereal and peanuts produces that crunch we all love in candy bars. I usually store these in the refrigerator as my favorite way to eat a chocolate candy bar is cold. As with most things chocolate, these do benefit from sitting overnight in the fridge so the flavors have time to mingle. This recipe comes from one of my favorite Canadian Cookbooks, Jane Rodmell's Best Summer Weekends Cookbook.

Chocolate Peanut Squares: Butter or lightly spray with a non stick vegetable spray, an 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) square pan. Set aside.

Place the peanut butter, corn syrup, honey, cocoa powder, and light brown sugar in a large saucepan. Place over medium high heat and bring this mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, add the marshmallows, and stir constantly until mixture is melted and smooth.

Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, rice cereal, and peanuts. Press this mixture into the prepared pan and allow to set.

Topping: In a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, melt the chocolate and butter. Spread over the squares and refrigerate until chocolate has set. Cut into squares with a sharp knife.

Serve cold or at room temperature.

Makes about 24 squares. Preparation time 45 minutes.

Adapted From:

Rodmell, Jane. Best Summer Weekends Cookbook. Cottage Life Books. Toronto: 2004.

Chocolate Peanut Squares:

1/2 cup (120 grams) smooth peanut butter

1/3 cup (80 ml) light corn syrup

1/3 cup (80 ml) honey

1/2 cup (45 grams) cocoa powder, unsweetened or Dutch-processed

1/4 cup (55 grams) light brown sugar

3 cups (180 grams) miniature marshmallows

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 cups (80 grams) crisp rice cereal

1 cup (120 grams) peanuts

Topping:

8 ounces (230 grams) semi sweet chocolate, chopped

1 tablespoon (14 grams) unsalted butter