Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- 1. Preheat your oven to 350° F and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by lining it with parchment paper. This will help prevent the bars from sticking and make for easy removal once they’re baked.
- 2. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt together the 1 1/2 sticks of salted butter and 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter. Heat in intervals of 30 seconds, stirring in between until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Once melted, remove from the microwave and let cool slightly.
- 3. To the melted mixture, stir in the 3/4 cup of light brown sugar, 1/4 cup of granulated sugar, 2 large eggs (at room temperature), and 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract. Mix well until fully combined, ensuring that the sugars are dissolved and everything is creamy and homogenous.
- 4. Next, add the 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt. Gently fold in these dry ingredients until just combined—be careful not to over-mix, as this can lead to tough bars.
- 5. Press or spread the dough evenly into the prepared baking dish, making sure to cover the bottom completely. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the center is just set. You can check by inserting a toothpick; it should come out with a few moist crumbs, not wet batter.
- 6. Once baked, remove the bars from the oven and dollop tablespoon-size spoonfuls of the remaining 1/2 cup of peanut butter on top. Using a spatula, lightly spread the peanut butter into an even layer over the warm bars. Let cool completely in the baking dish.
- 7. While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting. In a mixing bowl, combine 1 stick of salted butter, 2 cups of powdered sugar, 1/2 cup of cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup of warmed milk. Beat with a mixer until smooth, adding more powdered sugar if you desire a thicker frosting, or more milk for a drizzle.
- 8. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled bars and allow it to set for about an hour. This will enable the frosting to firm up a bit, making cutting easier.
- 9. For the spider web decoration, melt the marshmallows in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time until smooth. Once melted, let them cool slightly, then use your hands to stretch and pull the melted marshmallow over the bars, creating a web effect. This is where the fun begins, and the messier it is, the better!
- 10. To create the spiders, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Melt the melted chocolate and pour it into a piping bag or a ziplock bag with a corner snipped off. Pipe two small dots of chocolate on the parchment for spider bodies, place one Whopper on each dot, and create 2-3 legs on either side of the bodies with chocolate. Add candy eyes on top and freeze for 15 minutes to set.
- 11. Once set, gently remove the spiders from the parchment and place them on top of the bars. Slice into squares and enjoy your festive Black Widow Peanut Butter Bars!
Notes
These bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. For longer storage, you can freeze them individually wrapped for up to three months. Get creative with your toppings to make each batch unique!