Banana Granola Peanut Butter Bars

This weekend I decided to attempt a death defying stunt!  I decided to bake from scratch without a recipe and pray that we would survive the aftermath. Although my baking skills have improved I am nowhere near the realm of being what you could call a baker.

I had two bananas sitting on my counter that were pretty speckled and starting to look sad.  I could have just made some banana bread and be done with it, but I thought I would challenge myself and try something different.  One of my favorite combinations is peanut butter and bananas, (remember my Banana Chocolate Chip Espresso Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting?) and I thought I would put my creative cap on and whip something up with that combo.

My intent was for the base of these bars to be crispy/crunchy but they turned out more bready/crumbly, but still yummy.

Pre-heat oven at 375 degrees.

In a mixture cream together butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. (I skip this, oops)  Using a for mix in remaining ingredients until just combined.  It will be lumpy and thick.

Spread the mixture evenly in a buttered 9 x 13 pan.  Bake for 10 -12 minutes at 375 degrees, or until edges are browned and toothpick test comes out clean.  Remove from oven and let cool completely.

While bar base cools beat together peanut butter filling until smooth.  Stick your finger in it and taste, then remove all filling from the beater and lick beater clean.   It is very important you do this!

Once bar base has cooled completely spread peanut butter filling over base evenly.  Sprinkle with granola over top and gently push the granola into the peanut butter filling.

Refrigerate the bars for 30 minutes, cut and serve!

Here is your….well my bar, you will have to make your own.

I was pleasantly surprised with my creation, although it didn’t turn out exactly how I initially wanted it too.  The peanut butter topping is perfectly peanutty and sweet and you can taste the banana in the bar without being over powering.  There is also a lot of texture in the bar because of the granola.  They are tasty, tasty and I would make them again.    It as almost like banana bread spread with peanut butter.

Try them out and please feel free to tweak.  Although they are yummy I think they need some perfecting.

My first attempt to bake without a recipe I would consider not perfect but successful and we all survived.  Banana granola peanut butter bar for me!

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Banana Granola Peanut Butter Bars

Bar

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cup granola
• 2 bananas, mashed

Filling

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk

Pre-heat oven at 375 degrees.

In a mixture cream together butter and brown sugar, (I didn’t do this, oops) using a fork combine the remaining ingredients with the creamed butter.  Spread mixture evenly in 9 x 13 buttered pan, bake in the oven at 375 degrees for 10 – 12 minutes or until edges are browned and toothpick test comes out clean.

Let bars completely cool in pan.  In an electric mixture beat together filling ingredients until smooth. Spread evenly over cooled bar base, sprinkle with granola, gently press the granola into the peanut butter filling and refrigerate for 30 minutes to set.

Cut bars and serve.

Banana Chocolate Chip Espresso Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting

Mmmmmm....cupcake.....

Just one bite.

Obed, “These are the best cupcakes you have ever made hands down!  I love the frosting!” 

In summation they were a hit.  I took them into the office, like I do with every baked good, and they disappeared.  The cupcake itself is very moist and sweet.  The coffee powder brings out the flavor of the chocolate but it does not dominate at all in the cupcake.  I loved this peanut butter frosting!  It was a little thick at first so I thinned it out with whipping cream.  It came out sweet, peanutty and creamy.  I think I may just make this whole thing into a cake next time.

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Banana Espresso Chocolate Chip Muffins (from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking)

• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4 medium)
• 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cups whole milk
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon instant espresso
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup (6 ounces) semi sweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12 cup pan muffin with non-stick cooking spray. In a medium bowl stir together the bananas, sugars, butter, milk, and egg. Set aside.

In another medium bowl whisk together the flour, espresso, baking soda, and salt together. Make a well in the center of the flour bowl. Pour the wet ingredients into the well and stir until just combined. Fold in the chocolate.

Divide the batter among the muffin pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the muffins in the pan for 15 minutes before removing. Then finishing cooling on a wire rack.

Peanut Butter Frosting  (Bon Appetit January 2003)

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (do not use old-fashioned or freshly ground)
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 teaspoons whipping cream

Put powdered sugar and next 3 ingredients in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until mixture is smooth, adding whipping cream by teaspoonfuls.

Pipe the frosting in swirls over top of cupcakes. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings or chocolate sprinkles.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

At approximately 11: 17 pm on Friday night I had this sudden urge to bake cookies.  I don’t know why exactly I just did.  I posted it as my status on Facebook and a flurry of friends encouraged me to stay up late and bake the cookies.  However, I resisted the temptation, ignored the encouragement and forced myself to bed. 

The following morning Hubby and I got up and ran a few errands, but those stinking cookies where still in the back of my head.  Finally Saturday afternoon I just had to give into the urge and bake some stinking cookies. 

I went poking around on the Internet searching for a cookie recipe.  Remember I am not a baker so I cannot make one up.  That would be very dangerous, trust me.  I found this Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip recipe for Joy the Baker.   You should check out her site it is very cute and she has some great recipes. 

Let’s begin….

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Spicy Peanut Chicken Noodles

Last night I though I would whip up an Asian dish.  There was a time there not to long ago where I though putting peanuts or peanut butter in anything that wasn’t a dessert just plain weird and wrong.  I don’t know if my taste buds have just matured or if I was simply wrong, because now I LOVE it!  Sooooooo delicious.  This dish comes together in a snap and it a great way to make a ho-hum weekday dinner interesting.   It is also great for company because it makes a minimal mess and your guest will think you are a culinary genius.  Trust me…..YUM-EEEEE!

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Pecan Crusted Chicken and Apple Salad with PB & Maple Dressing

Pecan Encrusted Chicken with Apple Salad and PB & Maple DressingAh the weekend is finally here can I get a YIPEEEEEE! This weekend is going to be a busy weekend though because we are having company over tomorrow and we leave for a mini vacation on Monday, which I am soooooo ready for!

Yesterday I posted a recipe to use as “inspiration” and soon after I posted the recipe it gave me this idea. I noodled on it most of the day and even though I initially was thinking of giving my kitchen the day off, I just had to make it. I swear it has become like a sickness lately. I am walking around with a note book writing down ideas that are constantly popping into my head. I think I may just convert my house into a permanent soup kitchen for my friends. If your my friend I will feed you….lol.

Ok back to the salad. I was super pleased with the results! It was yummy scrumptiousness and it looks so pretty! The dressing was perfect it was sweet and tangy and went perfectly with with the chicken. Of course as usually my brain got over stimulated while making it and I wasn’t paying complete attention to my measurements, but I think this is about right.

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Peanut Butter and Turkey Burger?

Peanut Butter Turkey Burger

Yeah you read it right a Peanut Butter Turkey Burger.  I found the recipe on A Good Appetite and like she said don’t let the PB scare you, this is a gooooood burger.  If you like Asian cuisine you will like this burger, just think of an Asian dish with peanuts & ginger in it, it’s a very similar taste to that.