May 25

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars

The merry month of May has taken me prisoner once again. December might have its crazy moments, but May has it beat. We have been riding the highs of graduation and the low stressful sinking feelings that science exams bring. As mom, I am ready for summer!

Bring on the simple, no frills, bake-ahead, relaxed sort of cooking that summer allows. This peanut butter bar recipe I share today is such a recipe, and perfect for Memorial Day and all busy holidays. Plus, these bars just happen to be on the post-graduation dinner menu at my house this weekend. We will load up the sideboard with bars and goodies to grab, and this recipe will be there, front and center.

For my girls, peanut butter bars at graduation dinner is a no-brainer. It was one of their first favorite Cake Mix Doctor recipes, and through the years we have tweaked it to make it simpler to prepare and without the fussy coconut and nuts of the first version – more kid friendly.

And because I have my cake mix now with no artificial ingredients and more flour than you find in the big brands, I have wanted to try the bars with my yellow mix. The result? Fantastic and no cake-mix taste. If you don’t have my mix and want to bake these with another cake mix, see the note at the end of the recipe. You will slightly reduce the butter and peanut butter for the smaller mixes. Happy Memorial Day and bring on summer baking!

Here is the recipe.