Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Fair Trade Peanut Butter Bars: A Recipe for Awesome

Some friends who gave up commodities chocolate and switched to fair trade were talking about how much they missed Reese's cups.

So, for day 5 of my 29 day giving challenge, I'd like to offer all you fair-traders a sweet alternative: my family recipe for peanut butter bars with chocolate. We can only trace this recipe back to a staff newsletter (Faultless Caster's Top Drawer) from the early 80s.

Brace yourself, this confection is anything but healthy.

Peanut Butter Bars
Grease 9"x13" pan.

Cream together:
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 c. peanut butter

Add and blend:
1-1/2 to 2 c. crushed graham crackers
(throw them in a baggie and let your kid pulverize them with a rolling pin for family participation)
1 lb. powdered sugar

When fully blended, press into pan.

Melt and spread evenly over peanut butter mixture:
12 oz. of deliciously child-slavery-free Fair Trade chocolate chips

Cool in refrigerator until firm. Cut into bars before chocolate gets too solid to cut.

Do not eat entire pan in one sitting.

How does Fair Trade chocolate limit child exploitation?

7 comments:

Mimi-n-Moe's Mom said...

i cannot WAIT to make these! :) who cares about being on a diet?!

Sunjo said...

Just for those of us on the other side of the pond, how much butter is in a stick? I'd like to try it, but I'd also like to get it right.

adrienne said...

Good thinking, sunjo!

I had to look the conversions up.

1 stick of US butter = 8 US Tablespoons = 0.5 cup = 113.4 grams = 6.4 UK Tablespoons

With two sticks, it's quite a bit of butter.

Chief Family Officer said...

These sound delicious - I am definitely making them. Thanks for sharing the recipe! You've reminded me that it's time to order some more fair-trade chocolate chips. :)

Michael Phillips said...

Hee, I've got an interview over at the local co-op. I may have a few new recipes along these lines soon.

*chuckles* If you aren't afraid of a little parifin, you could make buckeyes with a similar ingredient list.

adrienne said...

Michael!

Good luck on the interview. If you want good co-op recipes, stop by my friend's Seasonal Eating blog. It's all great ideas for local crops grown at our CSA.

Michael Phillips said...

Hum, apparently the difference between regular chocolate and dipping chocolate is the amount of cocoa butter. I know that there are fair trade white chocolates available. When the cash flow becomes sufficient, I will experiment with this until I get a decent chocolate shell mix and can make buckeyes again without adding parafin.