University Star

Peanut. Butter. Bars. Whenever these words are uttered at The University Star office, my coworkers stop what they're doing and start asking me if I have any. They're kinda famous to the students journalists here.

I remember the first time I made peanut butter bars was when I'd just been promoted to assistant web editor in fall of 2009. I found a recipe on Foodgawker and adapted it to be a bit more thick and less sweet, and brought them to an editorial board meeting.

Ingredients:
3 cups chunky peanut butter
3 cups crushed graham crackers
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 stick butter (salted or unsalted)
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

13x9 glass baking dish or metal pan

Melt the butter and mix with the peanut butter, graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar in a large bowl.

Spread the mixture into a 13x9 glass baking dish or metal pan. Make sure the mix is packed into the pan tight, otherwise the bars may crumble when finished.

Pour 6 ounces of the chocolate chips into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir. Pour the remaining 6 ounces of chocolate chips in to microwave and stir until smooth. It may take more than two 30-second sessions of microwaving for your chips to melt, just be sure to keep it at 30 seconds, otherwise the chocolate may burn/scorch.

Pour the chocolate over the peanut butter bar mixture and spread with a knife or the back of a spoon.

Refrigerate for at least one hour. Cut up into small bars or squares and keep them refrigerated until they're ready to be served.