Monday, February 7, 2011

The Proof is in the .... Peanut Butter Bars

My daughter (who is married to the boy-next-door) lives with her in-laws, who also happen to be our next door neighbors.

The three of us (daughter, S, and I) wanted to bring dinner into a neighbor who is very ill. S and daughter made pulled pork and salad, I made Peanut Butter Bars and rolls.

Since we are next-door-neighbors we decided to make enough for 3 families and then we would all share dinner.

That's how they ended up with my peanut butter bars.

Which they LOVED!

S asked for the recipe, which I shared.

But when she made peanut butter bars the next week her results were flatter and not as good as when I make the recipe. Sometimes that happens when trying a neighbor's recipe. Her's were flatter, not as tasty, not as tender, and didn't quite taste the same.

Daughter and I went through the list of things that could have been different.... but couldn't come up with anything.

Thinking .....  pondering .... what could be different?

Duck Eggs!! I use duck eggs when I bake! 

Duck eggs make cookies, bread, anything baked lighter, fluffier, and more bakery-like.

Here's my recipe for peanut butter bars.

3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup butter (melted or very soft)
2 duck eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups flour
3/4 cup regular oatmeal
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2/4 teaspoon salt

Cream sugars and butter together until very smooth.
Add peanut butter and mix.
Add eggs and vanilla, mix well
Add flour, oatmeal, baking soda, and salt.

Pat into a jelly-roll pan lined with parchment paper and bake at 350˚F for 15-20 minutes.

Melt about 1/2-3/4 cup peanut butter in a microwave safe container. Pour it on the warm peanut butter bars after they come out of the oven. Spread evenly over the surface. It will be really thin!

Frosting:
melt 1/4 cup butter in a microwave safe bowl
Add 1/4 cup milk
3-4 Tablespoons cocoa powder
4 cups of powdered sgar
1 Tablespoon of vanilla

Blend well and spread over the top of the peanut butter bars.

2 comments:

Tonia said...

Ihave heard duck eggs are excellent to bake with.. I would like to have a couple of ducks to try it!.. but I Have yet to get ducks....

TJ said...

We love our ducks! They are a bit messier than the chickens, but they lay like crazy! And we love watching them waddle through the pasture in a big group!

We never have to get them out of the rafters in the barn, either :)