Chocolate Peanut Butter Gooey Cake Bars

If you need something to make your Monday better, look no further than these bars! 

Nathan and I helped with Bethlehem Revisited the last three days and I loved it as much as I did last year! 

(Bethlehem Revisited is a reenactment of the story of Jesus' birth.  There are a dozen different "stations" you go through, where you listen to different Bible characters and stories leading up to and after Jesus' birth.  We decided it really should be called Bethlehem, brr, and Beyond.  You are in a group with a  guide and you get to walk all through this farm, basically, with forests and barns, and a marketplace! :)  That's where I helped out.)

Last year's temperatures were really nice, like never below freezing.  This year, well, we got to stand outside for five hours in 20 degree weather.  Everyone had so many layers on!  Nathan let me borrow a pair of his over the knee wool socks.  Totally stylish and totally warm.  I fell in love with Hot Hands and fires, even though the smoke was pretty bad.  Poor Mom driving us home!  Honestly, Bethlehem Revisited is so much fun because of all the social time.  You get to hang out and talk with all these people!  And in the marketplace, you get to eat the warm cinnamon bread this kind lady makes every year (you're technically supposed to be selling it:) and you also get to yell at people, trying to sell your stuff.  It is super fun.

Guys, I am done with chapped faces.   Why is this necessary in order to have fun outside?  Why is it inevitable?  It is painful!  Putting lotion on that night and then the next morning - so much fun.  And I am done with being sick.  I went home after the last night of Bethlehem Revisited and just lay on the floor and was like, "Ok, whatever stomach, you don't want me to move?  Fine."  I offended my stomach sometime throughout the night and it decided to argue with me -  a lot.  I'm good now though!

Guys, I am NOT done with gooey bars!  And I'll never be done with chocolate and peanut butter.  The bars let both of those flavors shine and are rich and decadent to a "T."  They should be a necessity.  There is nothing painful about them (unless you count cardio ... pfft.)  You press a cake layer that, starts with a box mix, into a 9x13 pan and then sprinkle chocolate chips, peanuts, and peanut butter over the top.  This is really easy and the bars are thick and fudgy.  There is also bites of crunchy peanuts and smooth chocolate chips to balance out the rich smoothness of the peanut butter.

When you are spreading the second layer of cake mixture on top, I recommend dividing it into about 1/4 cup pieces of dough and flattening them out in your hand before putting them on top of the first layer of peanuts and chocolate chips.  This way, the second layer of cake mixture is more even.

Same with the peanut butter.  I recommend heating it up in the microwave for 15or more seconds, until runny.  Then, drop tablespoon amounts over the chocolate chips and peanut butter before spreading it out, so that it spreads more evenly. 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Gooey Cake Bars
Recipe Source: Kraft
Yield: 36 servings

1 box (double layer) fudge cake mix
1 box (3.9 oz.)  chocolate pudding mix
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup milk
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup dry roasted peanuts (I used party peanuts)
1 cup peanut butter

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix cake mix, pudding mix, butter and milk together until combined.  Mixture will be thick.  Spread 1/2 of cake mixture into a greased 9x13 pan.  Spread out until the thickness is even.  Sprinkle 1/2 cup chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup peanuts over first cake mix layer.  Spread 1/2 cup peanut butter over peanuts and chocolate chips.  Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.  Bake for 15-20 minutes.  Let cool for one hour and then refrigerate for four hours before serving.

Notes:
When you are spreading the second layer of cake mixture on top, I recommend dividing it into about 1/4 cup pieces of dough and flattening them out in your hand before putting them on top of the first layer of peanuts and chocolate chips.  This way, the second layer of cake mixture is more even.

Same with the peanut butter.  I recommend heating it up in the microwave for 15or more seconds, until runny.  Then, drop tablespoon amounts over the chocolate chips and peanut butter before spreading it out, so that it spreads more evenly.

Related Recipes:

Mint n' Oreo Chocolate Chip Chess Squares

Double Fudge Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

Buckeye Hand Pies

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake