CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER BARS WITH HOT FUDGE SAUCE

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars with Hot Fudge Sauce image

Categories Chocolate Dessert Bake Kid-Friendly Peanut Chill Gourmet Vegetarian Pescatarian Wheat/Gluten-Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free Kosher Small Plates

Yield Makes 8 generous servings

Number Of Ingredients 24

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Ingredients

For chocolate layer
Vegetable oil for greasing pan
7 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
1 stick (1/2 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup salted dry-roasted peanuts (4 oz)
For peanut butter layer
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (not "natural")
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chilled heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
For hot fudge sauce
1/3 cup heavy cream
3 tablespoons light corn syrup
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons Dutch-process unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 1/2 oz fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Steps:

Make chocolate layer:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch square baking pan with foil, allowing 2 inches of foil to hang over 2 opposite ends of pan, and lightly brush foil (except overhang) with oil.
Melt chocolate with butter, sugar, and salt in a double boiler or a large metal bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, whisking occasionally, until smooth. Remove top of double boiler or bowl from heat and whisk in eggs and vanilla, then stir in peanuts.
Pour batter into baking pan and bake until set and edges are slightly puffed, about 15 minutes. Transfer cake in pan to a rack to cool completely.
Make peanut butter layer:
Beat cream cheese, peanut butter, confectioners sugar, and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until combined well, about 4 minutes.
Beat cream with vanilla in a bowl with cleaned beaters at medium-high speed until it just holds stiff peaks, then gently fold into peanut butter mixture until just combined.
Spread mixture evenly on top of chocolate layer and freeze, pan covered with foil, until firm, about 2 hours.
Make hot fudge sauce:
Bring cream, syrup, sugar, cocoa, salt, and chocolate to a boil in a 1-quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring until chocolate is melted. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, until thickened, about 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Stir in vanilla until incorporated. Cool sauce to warm.
To serve:
Carefully lift cake from pan by grasping overhang. Trim 1/4 inch from edges of cake and discard, then cut into 8 bars. Peel off foil and serve bars with sauce.