Peanut Butter Squares

Peanut Butter Squares are a twist on the classic Peanut Butter Ball recipe.  These are less time-consuming for sure but are prepared with the smooth peanut butter lover in mind. It’s the same great taste but without the crunch of the rice cereal! Christmas cookie boxes are nothing without these delicious confections!

A Newfoundland traditional sweet treat is the peanut butter ball.  It’s not something you see only at Christmas time, but it’s most definitely on most Christmas dessert tables.  When I was growing up, my mother would make peanut butter balls any time she felt like it, not just at Christmastime. I never got to have peanut butter balls too often in my early adult life, because both my daughter and my ex-wife could not stand to be near the smell of peanut butter.  Now that my daughter is older and living on her own, I can make peanut butter recipes just as often as my mom did! That is why I’m making these Peanut Butter Squares, which just might be better – and easier! – than any peanut butter ball you’ve ever tasted!

I know that peanut butter balls are not a lot of work to make, but I was never a fan of melting chocolate and rolling each ball into it.  It’s time-consuming and messy.  These squares, however, are fast and easy, and there’s no need at all for a double boiler.  Oh, and there’s one other difference; these squares don’t use Rice Krispies cereal; they are smooth and creamy and void of any crunch other than the salted peanuts on the top!

I’m going to tell you all about this recipe and how you can make it in your home this holiday season, but first, I want to tell you about what you can expect from Lord Byron’s Kitchen this Christmas. I know we’re getting closer to the big day, so it’s time to get to the bars and squares recipes! Before I get into today’s recipe, let me make mention of the previous holiday confection countdowns that I just finished up this year.

Back in October, I kicked off the holiday season with a holiday recipe series called Lord Byron’s 12 Holiday Trifle Series and followed that up with a second series called Lord Byron’s 12 Holiday Breads and Loaves. My third series this year is the second volume of my 12 Bars and Squares of Christmas! You can find the first bars and squares series here! Before we get to a list of ingredients and instructions for today’s recipe, let me tell you about this series and more!

LORD BYRON’S 12 BARS AND SQUARES OF CHRISTMAS – Volume 2

Another holiday series, Lord Byron? Yes – why not!? Welcome, Dear Reader, to the third of my annual holiday recipe series for this season! This one is called Lord Byron’s 12 Bars and Squares of Christmas – Volume 2! I will try to keep the recipes in this series quick and easy, just like in previous years. Even if a recipe looks complex, I promise you that it is not! My goal, as always, is to share recipes with you that are not too complex to whip up as a holiday treat for your family.

Like every other holiday series I’ve shared over the years, this series will share a new recipe every day for the next 24 days – even on Saturday and Sunday! You might be asking yourself, how many Christmas recipes could one possibly have or need? Well, I say you can never have too much of a good thing. And, I love having lots of choices. Who wants to prepare the same holiday recipes year after year?

SUBSCRIBE NOW SO THAT YOU NEVER MISS OUT ON NEW RECIPES!

So, welcome, Dear Reader, to Lord Byron’s 12 Bars and Squares of Christmas series! Even though this is the third series for this holiday season, you can always look back at previous years if you just cannot wait until the next recipe is published. Also, some of my favourite recipe collections from previous years are my 75 Homemade Gifts from Your Kitchen, my 50 Make Ahead Freezer Friendly Christmas Recipes, and my 30 No-Bake Christmas Recipes post.

You really don’t want to miss one of these recipes, so if you have not yet subscribed to Lord Byron’s Kitchen, I encourage you to do so. That way, a new recipe will be emailed to you every day. You won’t have to bother to come looking for it! Like in previous holiday recipe countdowns, I like to mix up the recipes in the series so that there is something for everyone. Are you ready!!??

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE

The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.

• Peanut Butter – I have not tested this recipe with natural peanut butter and to be frank, I don’t think natural peanut butter will work without some adjustments.
• Butter – Your butter must be softened!
• Vanilla Extract
• Powdered Sugar – Otherwise known as confectioner’s sugar or icing sugar.
• Chocolate Chips – I’m using half milk chocolate and half semi-sweet for just the right balance.
• Vegetable Oil
• Salted Peanuts
• Sprinkles

HOW TO MAKE PEANUT BUTTER SQUARES

Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside. In a mixing bowl, beat together the peanut butter and butter until well combined. Add the vanilla extract and beat to incorporate. Next, beat in the confectioner’s sugar one cup at a time. The dough should be slightly crumbly. If you notice that it’s getting too crumbly before the last confectioner’s sugar is combined, hold back and add 1/4 cup at a time. Depending on the consistency of your peanut butter and how packed the confectioner’s sugar might be, your dough could take more or less of it. Likewise, if the dough is too wet after the addition of the 3rd cup, add 1/4 cup more at a time until the dough is slightly crumbly.

Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and really press it in. It’s a good idea to use a small rolling pin or even a drinking glass to firmly roll the dough out into the pan to get it flat and even. Set aside. Next, measure semi-sweet and milk chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl along with 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil. In increments of 30 seconds at half power, melt the chocolate, stirring well between each increment. Once the chocolate is fully melted and silky smooth, pour it over the peanut butter layer and smooth it out with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Sprinkle over the chopped peanuts and candy sprinkles. Refrigerate the pan for 20 minutes before cutting into squares. Transfer the bars to a food-safe container with a lid and keep refrigerated.

NO-BAKE RECIPES

I used to think that the term no-bake meant that a recipe was more of an assembly-type recipe. Something like a salad, for example. It sounds simple enough, right? Toss the lettuce and any other veggies you want into a bowl. Top it with cheese, croutons, avocado, hard-boiled egg, etc. Add some dressing and you’re all done! But, no-bake actually just means no baking. There still might be some stove-top cooking needed – or even a microwave, for that matter. To prepare these Peanut Butter Squares, you will need to use your microwave!

Some other no-bake-type holiday recipes you might enjoy are these Rudolph’s Red Nose Cookies. Hairy Moose Droppings are delicious and always quite the conversation starter! Just like these Caramel Peanut Slices were a favourite of my mom’s so were these Marshmallow Coconut Balls and so were these Christmas Crunch Cookies. You can find many more no-bake cookie recipes here at Lord Byron’s Kitchen by using the search field at the top of this page.

LET’S TALK PEANUT BUTTER!

Before you are tempted to send me an email or a comment knocking my choice of peanut butter that is not natural and organic, hear me out! This recipe will not work with natural peanut butter. I repeat, this recipe will not work with natural peanut butter. There, I said it. Now, if you go ahead and make this recipe using natural peanut butter and it comes out a big, wet mess, you cannot blame me.

John.e uses only natural peanut butter, but I do not. I do not like it at all. Yes, it’s healthier and better for me, but I’d rather not eat it at all if I have to choose the natural stuff. I grew up on Kraft or Jiffy peanut butter and it’s the only peanut butter I ever use.

For these squares, you have the choice of smooth peanut butter or crunchy. But, you do not have a choice between all-natural and sugar-laden, mass-produced stuff. The squares will not hold together properly. Mostly, it certainly will not taste right. If you are completely against using non-natural peanut butter, as harsh as it may sound, this recipe is most certainly not for you.

STORING, PACKAGING, & FREEZING

Most no-bake confections are made without the need to freeze them for long periods of time, but they can be frozen. For this recipe, I have tested whether or not they can be frozen, and they certainly can! Once they are completely firm, pile them into a clean, food-safe container. The container must be freezer-friendly! You’ll want to ensure a very tight-fitting lid too. I use these quite often when freezing baked goods. I like to place a sheet of plastic wrap over the top of the container before pushing the lid on. This helps to create a better seal. The goal is to keep all of that freshness locked in!  You can freeze these for up to three months.

If you plan to give previously frozen bars or squares as a gift, I would lay them out on a wire cooling rack to thaw completely. Once thawed, pile into cellophane bags and tie with a ribbon, or stack in a cookie tin/box.

QUESTIONS?

If I have not answered all of your questions in the text above, don’t hesitate to reach out to me! You can contact me by sending me a message in the comments section further down the page. I will try my best to answer as soon as possible! You might reach me even faster by following me on Facebook and sending me a private message. Scroll down below the recipe card to find my Follow Me on Social Media box and never miss another recipe!

Finally, as I stated previously, every day I will be posting a new recipe. If you miss one, don’t fret. You can find my entire collection of Christmas Recipes right here! There are over 200 Christmas recipes and counting. There’s something for everyone! Cheers!