Loaded Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars

Ooey gooey peanut butter bars, loaded with Reese’s Puffs and Reese’s Pieces and drizzled with melted chocolate. If you like Reese’s, you will LOVE these bars!

When I first started blogging last October, I had great intentions of doing most blog-related things with my kids. I envisioned how much fun we would have cooking together, baking together, crafting together….especially crafting together….how cute my posts would be with pictures of them interspersed, and how my posts would basically write themselves because of all the funny stories I’d have to share. Well, nearly a year later, I think it is safe to say I was WRONG!

Sure, my kids have helped me with a few recipes, they’ve joined me in a few crafts, and they’ve enjoyed an activity or two….but for the most part, this blog is all mine! Turns out the kids don’t love it as much as I imagined they might. And turns out I’m okay with that! Because, turns out, when we do things together, it doesn’t always go how I had envisioned. Instead of laughter and togetherness, we usually have tears (when I tell them to stop eating all the ingredients), frustration (when they spill the glass of milk all over the photo shoot), and too much lip (my 7 year old loves to say things like “What’s more important, Mom? This {fill in the blank} or us??)

So, for the most part, I do my blogging while they do their own thing. And, for the most part, we are all okay with it. But every now and then, they want to help….! And every now and then, I say yes. I’m realizing the odds are greater when (a) they have a friend over and (b) there is candy involved. Which is exactly why these Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars had kids’ fingerprints all over them!!

The ingredients were out on the counter, they were having a “late night” with our neighbor, it was just before movie time and they were looking for a sweet treat…..and these bars came together! Just like that! Turns out I’m a lot more likely to let them nibble later in the day. Turns out it’s a lot less stressful when there’s no photo shoot involved. Turns out my 7 year old is much better at not being sassy when she has a friend over. Turns out these bars were a lot of fun to make….and DELICIOUS, too! Maybe I should start blogging with my kiddos more often…..or maybe I should just enjoy the moments when blogging with my kiddos actually turns out well.

Loaded Reese’s Peanut Butter Bars
8 c. Reese’s Puffs cereal
1 (16 oz.) bag marshmallows
2 c. Reese’s Pieces, divided
1/2 c. peanut butter 
4 Tbsp. butter
1 c. chocolate chips, melted

1. Melt peanut butter and butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add marshmallows and stir constantly until melted.
2. Add Reese’s Puffs cereal to melted marshmallow mixture and stir to combine.
3. Stir in 1 1/2 c. Reese’s Pieces and spread mixture into greased 9×13 inch pan. Press down evenly.
4. Drizzle bars with melted chocolate and sprinkle with additional 1/2 c. Reese’s Pieces. Cool in pan.

Enjoy!

Looking for more of the same? Check out these other delicious recipes!