Friday, February 18, 2011

PEANUT BUTTER, CHOCOLATE & COFFEE COOKIES BARS

pB Cookie Picnik collage 2 bis
Some people adore peanut butter, others are not too enthusiastic about it and another category of people dislike it totally. If you know me well it is no mystery to you that I am one of those foodies who is gaga about this devilishly luscious, creamy, slightly sweet and rich condiment. As a matter of fact I am bananas about peanuts in general...

One can make so many yummy things and be very creative with peanut butter. From desserts, pastries, sauces to savory dishes you have the choice. There are no
limits when it comes to baking or cooking with it. Just have a look on the net and you'll see that there is an incredible quantity of peanut butter-based recipes on offer. It is impossible not to find one that suits you.

As a child I did my first experiments with peanut butter in England while on holidays at my grandparents. They always had a jar of that gloppy stuff in their pantry. We ate it generally in the morning with "plastic bread" toasts. My grandmother who loves overripe bananas (eeewww, nasty and so sickly!) made sandwiches with peanut butter and slices of that disgustingly blackened fruit. Apart from salted butter it was the only spread I liked to use as ultra-bitter store bought marmalade (no matter it's quality) was never my thing - the homemade version is much better and more refined as well as flavorful.

At home peanut butter was something we bought very seldom and once again it was solely used to accompany bread or crackers. We never ate baked goods made with it, what a pity! Anyway, in opposition to the vast majority of American kids who are fed on PB & Jam sandwiches and adore this snack I have to say that this combination was never my favorite. As a matter of fact I find it really icky. It repulses me quite violently and gives me the shivers, brrrr! On the contrary, I personally find that the association between peanut butter and honey (especially white honey) or peanut butter and Nutella is heavenly and so harmonious as if they were meant to mingle together (that implies only me, of course)!

Peanut butter far from being a contemporary staple. Although we might think that Americ
ans are at the origin of it considering the fact that they consume tons of this goody and since it is impossible to imagine this nation without it, they are just the ones who started commercialising this precious ingredient before anybody else.

Already in 950 B.C. the ancient Incas used peanuts (which originate from South America) to make a paste-like mixture. Early explorers brought plants to Africa, peanuts to Spain (trade) and finally imported them into the American Colonies where they were exchanged against other merchandise. As you can see the USA was not the first country to benefit from that fabulous legume (yes, it's not a nut!). The first commercial peanut crop was grown in North carolina around 1818 and in the early 1840's in Virginia.

It is only in 1890 that an unknown doctor "invented" peanut butter for health benefits and in 1903 that Dr. Ambrose Staub of Saint-Louis (Missouri) patented a peanut butter making machine. By 1914, many companies were producing that speciality, but it became a far more refined produce when in 1928, Joseph L. Rosenfield (the father of Skippy PB) created a churning process that made peanut butter even smoother.

The only time I am thankful for the "discovery" (very debatable though) of the Americas is in a foodie-oriented way. Had the "white bearded men" not set their foot on North or South American soil we might never have been able to develop so many wonderful desserts or dishes made with chocolate (xocolātl), peanuts (cacahuatl) in our treats, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, pumpkins, corn, passionfruits, avocados, pecans, cashews, mango, etc. I can't imagine a life without all these glorious and healthy fruits and vegetables.

Coming back to our much venerated peanut butter I have to admit that I am so obssessed by it and addicted to it's smoothiness as well as gorgeously nutty flavor that I had to eradicate it from my cupboards in order to come clean with my dependence. I ate far too much peanut butter and even gobbled it out of the pot. Now, although my passion for it has not died I can have an open jar next to me and not even reach for it or be tempted by it's contents...

So when I bought my first pot of this delightful substance after a few months of abstinence I knew that I was going to celebrate this event by baking something decadent with it. After flipping through my newly received "The King Arthur Flour's Cookie Companion" cookbook I found what I was looking for: "Peanut Butter Smoothies". As the original recipe was not immoral enough for me I decided to top each slice with additional coffee frosting.

Needless to point out that those infamous blondie-like cookie bars were incredibly soft, visciously gooey and dangerously calorific (the sweetness alone could kill a horse or make an elephant sleep/weak). My "Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips Cookie Bars With Coffee Frosting" are down-right delectable and guaranteed to send you to the heaven's above with a sugar coma and an overdose of pleasure!

PB Cookie Picnik collage 3 bis
~ Peanut Butter Chocolate Chips Cookie Bars With Coffee Frosting ~
Recipe adapted from "The King Arthur Flour's Cookie Companion" cookbook.

Makes 12 slices.

Ingredients For The "Bars":
6 Tbs (90g) Unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 Cup (143g) Natural smooth peanut butter
1 Cup (210g) Crystallized sugar

1/4 Cup (60g) Light brown sugar, packed
2 Big eggs

1 Tsp Natural vanilla extract
1 Cup (128g) Unbleached white flour
1/3 Tsp Sea salt
1 Tsp Baking powder
1 Cup (180g) Chocolate chips (bittersweet)

Ingredients For The "Coffee Frosting":
1 Tbs Instant coffee powder
1 Tbs Hot water
3/4 Cup (90g) Powder sugar, sieved
2-4 Tbs Double cream (35% fat)


Method For The "Bars":
1. Preheat the oven to 180° C (350° F).
2. Butter a 20 x 20cm (8 x 8 inches) brownie pan.
3. Mix together the flour, salt and baking powder. Set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and peanut butter together until smooth and
homogenous.

PB Cookie 3 bis
5. Whisk in the sugars until the mixture is light and smooth.
6. Add the eggs, one at a time, whisk well and scrape down the bowl after each addition.
7. Stir in the vanilla.
8. Add the the flour mixture and stir well until combined.
9. Incorporate the chocolate chips.
10. Spread the batter into the prepared pan.
11. Bake for about 30-32 minutes until the edges pull away slightly from the pan.
12. Cool completely before cutting and frosting.

Method
For The "Coffee Frosting":
13. Meanwhile, in a small bowl dissolve the coffee in the hot water.
14. Add the powder sugar and enough cream (in order to get a spreadable mixture). Mix well.

Remarks:
You can replace the bitterwseet chocolate chips by dark, semi-sweet chocolate chips or peanut butter chips.
You can ommit the frosting if you find that those bars are rich enough without it.

Serving suggestions:
Serve for afternoon tea or as an in-between sweet treat with some whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a cup of tea or coffee.

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PB Cookie Picnik collage 5 bis
~ Barres Au Beurre De Cacahuète, Chocolat Et Glaçage Au Café ~
Recette adaptée du livre "The King Arthur Flour's Cookie Companion".

Pour 12 tranches.

Ingrédients Pour Les "Barres":
90g de Beurre non-salé, à température ambiante
143g de Beurre de cacahuète (sans morceaux)
210g de Sucre cristallisé
60g de Sucre brun clair
2 Gros Oeufs

1 CC d'Extrait de vanille pure
128g de Farine blanche
1/3 CC de Sel de mer fin
1 CC de Poudre à lever
180g de Pépites de chocolat (à 60% de cacao)
Ingrédients Pour le "Glaçage Au Café":
1 CS de Café instantané
1 CS d'Eau chaude

90g de Sucre en poudre, tamisé
2-4 CS de Crème double (35% de mat. grasses)

Méthode Pour Les "Barres":
1. Préchauffer le four à 180° C.
2. Beurrer un moule à brownie de 20 x 20cm.
3. Mélanger ensemble la farine, le sel et la poudre à lever. Mettre de côté.

PB Cookie Picnik collage 4 bis
4. Dans un bol moyen, battre le beurre et le beurre de cacahuète en pommade (le mélange doit être homogène).
5. Ajouter les sucres et battre jusqu'à ce que le mélange soit léger.
6. Ajouter les oeufs, un à un et bien mélanger (nettoyer les bords à l'aide d'une langue de chat après chaque ajout).
7. Incorporer la vanille.
8. Puis incorporer le mélange farine/sel/poudre afin d'obtenir une pâte homogène.
9. Ajouter les pépites de chocolat et bien mélanger.
10. Etaler la pâte dans le moule.
11. Cuire pendant 30-32 minutes, jusqu'à ce que les bords se détachent légèrement du moule.
12. Laisser refroidir complètement avant d'étaler le glaçage.

Méthode Pour le "Glaçage Au Café":
13. Pendant ce temps, dans un petit bol, dissoudre le café instantané dans l'eau chaude.
14. Ajouter le sucre, assez de crème (afin d'obtenir un glaçage étalable) et mélanger.


Remarques:
Vous pouvez remplacer les pépites de chocolat à 60% par des pépites au chocolat au lait ou des pépites de beurre de cacahuète.
Si vous pensez que ces barres sont assez assez riches comme ça, alors il vous est possible d'omettre le glaçage.

Idées de présentation:
Servir pour votre quatre heures ou comme snack et accompagner avec de la crème fouettée, une boule de glace vanille ainsi qu'avec du thé ou du café.

PB Cookie Picnik collage 1 bis

111 comments:

  1. Moi qui adore le duo beurre d'arachides et chocolat!! Menoum ma chère Rosa:) Images très invitantes !!

    Bo week~end à toi XX

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  2. Mmmh, je me serais bien laissé tentée mais je n'ai que du peanut butter avec des morceaux. Oui, il me faut une excuse de merde pour ne pas succomber à ce dessert qui m'a l'air juste abominable pour mon régime mais délicieux pour mes papilles :D Et toujours de très belles photos :)

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  3. I love peanut butter too.
    This cookie is simply irresistible!! Yummyyyyyyyy

    Have a great weekend !

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  4. Lovely and decadent! I am in the "adore" category. Thank you for such a lovely take on peanut butter.

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  5. The little she devil on my left shoulder is whispering to take a second piece of your treat. Of course, she says it's to make sure it wards off depression ;o)

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

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  6. LOVe it myself, I have to try it with honey now with tour ecommendation. I am also a honey lover.

    This treat is not only pretty but that darn icing has me swooning!

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  7. Superbement gourmandes ces barres !
    La gourmandise absolue !
    Bisous et bon WE.

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  8. fantastica....ça me plait vraiment beaucoup :-) biz ^^

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  9. Cookies looks too good to resist:)...love peanut butter.

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  10. Rosa, these are so outrageously decadent that I immediately had to share the recipe with one of my bestest friends on chat. We are currently both swooning. :-)

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  11. ça a l'air drôlement bon, et puis le glaçage au café, est fait pour moi :)

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  12. Le genre de desserts régressifs super appréciés en hiver ! Mais où trouver du beurre de cacahuètes naturel ici en Suisse?
    Bon week-end Rosa !

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  13. I only indulged in peanut butter in my later years...it wasn't something I was mad about or really desired. I do like it's subtle use in desserts, cookies etc...and I have to say this is some creation. Just one slice thanks!

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  14. These sound absolutely DIVINE! I have never tried peanut butter with coffee before. Thanks very much for sharing some of the history of peanut butter - very interesting!

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  15. I only recently discovered the wonderful chocolate and coffee combo in a dessert. To add PB will no doubts be "devilishly decadent"!

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  16. Wow. I would kill for one of these bars right now.
    I'm gaga for peanut butter too : D

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  17. je n'aime pas le café et pourtant ça m'a l'air si bon.... Faut que j'essaie quand même... bisous ma princesse

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  18. J'aime tellement ça . Tu ne peux même pas imaginer. A essayer sans tarder. Bon week-end.

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  19. Howdy Rosa! Hope you're well. These bars look incredibly good. My mouth is watering. As always, your photos look magnificient. Thank you again for sharin. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.
    Blessings, Kristy

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  20. You had me at peanut butter. But coffee frosting? Oh, I am totally sold now. ;)

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  21. I am one of those people who adore peanutbutter!!!!

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  22. I can't image that there are people who don't like peanut butter. I just try and avoid buying it because I know I would eat it by the spoonfuls. The bars look very tempting.

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  23. Danke für die interessante Geschichte um die Erdnussbutter. Von einem Risotto her habe ich auch noch einen beinahe vergessenen Topf voll davon.

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  24. Je ne suis pas plus qu'il faut beurre de peanut dans le sucré, mais j'avoue que tes belles photos me mettent l'eau à la bouche :)
    J'aime beaucoup aussi "natural antidepressant", c'est tellement vrai!
    Bonne journée Rosa :)

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  25. That bars of yours sounds so flavorful, with ginger and peanut butter combo making it even more irresistible.

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  26. Tes barres sont gourmandissimes... A proposer à mes têtes brunes quand elles vont arriver pendant les vacances; Bises. Bon week-end.

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  27. oh my, that looks so delicious! I eat peanut butter very seldom, but when I see those bars I have to go and buy some pronto!

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  28. Goodness but those look and sound amazing. I am drooling all over my keyboard.:)

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  29. Looking at this makes me crave for some peanut butter! Time to dig the fridge for food!

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  30. Delicious cookie bars and gorgeous photos, Rosa! These would anti-depress me better than anything else.

    Nisrine

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  31. My dear Rosa, mon amie, these bars look absolutely delicious and Im droolling!!! huggs gloria

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  32. I'm a big fan of peanut butter too, and I love the flavor with coffee. Great idea to add the frosting!

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  33. tu ne serais pas un peu ...tres gourmande !
    en tous cas photos superbes !!!pierre

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  34. J'adore ces barres ma chère Rosa, elles ont l'air délicieuses!

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  35. Une ode a la gourmandise! Voilà ce que ces biscuits représentent pour moi!

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  36. Rien qu'en regardant les photos, j'ai déjà repris le kilo que je n'ai toujours pas perdu ...
    Tentatrice, va !
    Bon WE
    verO

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  37. Hmm - this combination of flavors could not be more delicious. Love these!

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  38. You can't go wrong with the combo of peanut butter and chocolate! Look gorgeous!

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  39. Ta photo de crème au beurre de cacahuète est particulièrement gourmande.

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  40. Excellent. I love peanut butter and have been looking for a bar recipe. I think this is it! Thanks for the post. Lovely photos,as always.

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  41. Yummy! I'd love this with my afternoon tea today!

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  42. This looks like an amazing cookie. The frosting really kicks it up a notch!

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  43. Oh,Rosa! It's always a delight to visit your site! Beautiful photos and the food! So glad to your be your friend. You bless me so.

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  44. Mmm I think you've combined 3 of my favorite flavors. This is a sweet treat worth indulging in for sure :).

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  45. c'est un supplice de voir ces photos sans pouvoir y goûter !!!

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  46. Peanut butter cookies look perfect!!

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  47. OMG, Rosa, just send these to me by the crate (pretty please? lol) They look amazing! You know me and peanut butter plus chocolate! It's almost scary lol

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  48. Rosa, you've outdone yourself with that first photo of the frosting! (Did you eat that little spoonful of it??)

    A fabulous recipe....family would love it. Of course, coffee is so fabulous with chocolate to begin with. The ginger is a surprising ingredient too.

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  49. i'm having a hard time typing because my tongue is stuck to the computer screen. i can't resist trying to taste your fabulous recipe...

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  50. C'est l'antistress absolu : et je veux bien devenir totalement décadente pour ce type de douceur
    Bises

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  51. No - can't share your enthusiasm for the stuff - except in a satay sauce. Love the way you make it look so pretty though.

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  52. J'aime nettement moins le beurre de cacahuètes que toi, mais il faut dire que je n'ai pas eu de grand-mères pour me le faire découvrir. J'ai tout de même tendance à le préférer en sauce salée mais tes barres m'attirent tout de même énormément.

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  53. Peanut butter is a staple in our home with many uses!

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  54. Le beurre de cacahuète, le produit que je ne préfère pas acheter sans quoi je le fini dans la journée ;)...
    Pas de doute ces barrres sont idéal pour satisfaire mon bec sucré !

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  55. I love the classic combo of peanut & chocolate...I'll eat a box of these!

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  56. Esta receta la tengo que probar!!!
    Me encantan tus fotografias!!
    Como, donde aprendiste????
    Un abrazo,
    Mglòria

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  57. oooh... a glass of tea with this would be perfect. This looks fantastic!

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  58. Sinfully, delectable! Especially with those photos. My girls and husband aren't usually peanut butter eaters. Nutella yes, peanut butter no. Perhaps this recipe will change their minds. I'm sold!

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  59. What a perfect marriage... coffee/ pb... and of course, your photography looks beautiful.. is that a cherry blossom there?

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  60. Wonderful, wonderful cookie bars!! Love it, Rosa.

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  61. Oh thank goodness you love PB. I eat it multiple times a day. It gets smeared into oatmeal, stuffed french toast, yogurt parfaits - everywhere! These dessert bars look amazing & it would be very hard to stop eating them ;) xo

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  62. Delicious cookie bars. Lovely pictures.

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  63. My husband loves all that has to do with coffee flavouring stuff hahahaha looks like he is going to like these!

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  64. Sara voglio augurarti una buona settimana e grazie per questa dolce ricetta, ciao

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  65. Creamy, crunchy and such a delicious classic cookie bar.
    Have a great week ♥

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  66. BARBARA: No. I decided to be a reasonable girl and put the PB back in the pot! ;-P

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  67. This delicious post suddenly brings back my old memory of peanut butter.. when I was in primary school, my classmate came to school one day with his breakfast box filled with peanut butter sandwiches and shared with me. Craved so much for that same peanut butter filling, I tried very hard to experiment anything to resemble the taste, rememberred grounding peanuts and mixed with granulated sugar. But of course nothing could come any closer to the taste of bottled peanut butter, but back then I didn't know it cause I was just a kid :-)

    These peanut butter cookie bars look extremely creamy and delicious!

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  68. Tu veux ma mort Rosa. Tes photos sont insoutenables. Terrible ce glacage au café.
    Bonne journée

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  69. I'm not a fan of peanut butter, but with your recipe I could certainly give it a try!!

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  70. Luscious Peanut Butter Bars garnished with a serving of history. It certainly doesn't get any better than that, Rosa! Oh wait! doused with a rich coffee frosting, holy goodness!!!

    Thanks for sharing...

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  71. Rosa that picture with the spoonful of peanutbutter is just lovely. The photography as usual, amazing :)

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  72. O I love peanutbutter too and your photos just make me drool! I love the idea of those peanut butter chocolate cookies... Perfect combination!

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  73. Peanut butter and chocolate sound like a great combo, even though I probably would put away the cofee because I don't drink coffee. But I am sure coffee lovers would love these...!!

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  74. Can't wait to try these. They look & sound divine!

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  75. Rosa, the bars look awesome, and I love the frosting...coffee...yummie! The photos are great as always. Have a great week ahead :-)

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  76. Awesome recipe,its looking so inviting and gorgeous. I wud luv try it asap...thanks for sharing wonderful posts !

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  77. These look like pure bliss, Rosa...I'm wishing I had one right now!

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  78. PB & chocolate is always a terrific combination and with the addition of coffee, these bars sound just amazing!

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  79. That looks wonderful Rosa! I love PB but with sweet things, not so much with savoury things (unless it is satay) :)

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  80. Definitely devilishly decadent... this has my name written all over it Rosa. YUM!!

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  81. I totally agree with the last picture's caption: peanut butter is an antidepressant!
    These bars look fantastic and must taste heavenly!

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  82. Oui un peu, beaucoup, très gourmande... quelle recette ! bises et à très bientôt ! je viens à Genève le 2 mars, peut être un coucou !

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  83. These bars look delicious and healthy too!

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  84. AGNÈS MARIE: Merci! C'est toi Agnès du blog "Les Bonheurs De Senga"? Bises.

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  85. wow, superbe barre gourmande! On adore, et la photos donne vraiment envie! Giorgia & Cyril

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  86. this looks beautiful Rosa! i love how rich and decadent this looks:) thanks for sharing this.

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  87. Rosa these look soooo good! My Hubbys two favorite things are coffee and peanut butter!! He would love these so much : )

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  88. C'est une pure gourmandise !
    Très bonne soirée,
    Doria

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  89. chocolate+peanut butter+coffee....there is everything to love about this. :)

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  90. (Réponse à ton commentaire) Je peux t'en ramener si tu veux. Il existe en tout petit paquet (jai vu ça en cherchant des infos). Je ne crois pas qu'il y en ait en suisse mais j'ai lu qu'on en trouvais en amérique du nord. Je rentre fin mai dans le Pays de Gex.. donc si tu veux goûté, ce serait avec plaisir !

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  91. These looks wonderful Rosa. Beautiful presentation and photographs.
    I always enjoy reading your posts!
    Blessings,
    Catherine

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  92. Quelle gourmandise cette barre!
    Oh la la un régal!!

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  93. Ta jolie recette gourmande me rappelle de bons souvenirs aux USA. C'est seulement là que je mangeais du peanut butter matin et soir sur des tartines. Et j'avoue que de temps en temps ce petit goût particulier sur les papilles me manque...

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  94. These are quite possibly the 3 most extraordinarily delightful flavors to combine of all time! These are beautiful and I must have a taste :)

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  95. Those look really sinful..I could grab a few anytime!:)


    US Masala

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  96. outstanding! you've managed to improve upon one of the finest combinations in all of dessert land! the coffee frosting = love. :)

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  97. Those bars looks decadently delightful but you know what's really tempting me - the beautiful yellow forsythia picture that's making me think spring is just around the corner.

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  98. my daughter loves peanut butter, and I have never paired coffee with peanut butter. Sounds like an awesome kind of cookie. I just love the way it looks - crunchy creamy gooey all at the same time.

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  99. yummy-yums indeed is a good name for your blog; you have irresistible recipes and photos!

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  100. The coffee frosting sounds lovely. Would never think of that with peanut butter, but why not!

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  101. rhooo superbes barres gourmandes !!!
    pour moi le café c'est top en patisserie !!

    bises et bon weekend gourmand

    virginie

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  102. A quelques minutes de passer à table, c'est encore plus tentant!
    J'en ai le ventre qui se met à chanter... ;-)
    Bon dimanche
    Bises

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  103. Did I miss these bars?? I wonder how. They combine all my favorite flavors. Decadence at it's peak love it!

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  104. Love your blog and photographs
    Decadent Indulgence with those choco peanut cookie bars!!!Irresistable

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