NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER CUP BARS

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I buy the already crushed ones because they need to be VERY fine)

3 1/4 cups powdered sugar

1 cup salted butter, melted

1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter

1 (12 oz) package semi-sweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Line a 9x13 pan with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray. Mix the graham crackers and powdered sugar together in a medium size mixing bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat in the peanut butter and melted butter until completely combined. Press evenly into prepared pan.

Freeze for 20 minutes. In the meantime, place the chocolate chips in a small glass bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium high heat just until it comes to a boil. Pour the hot cream over chocolate chips. Cover the bowl with a glass plate and let sit 5 minutes.

Remove peanut butter bars from freezer. Whisk the chocolate mixture until it is smooth and shiny, adding in vanilla extract while whisking. Spread chocolate ganache mixture evenly over peanut butter bars. Refrigerate until chocolate is set.

Lift foil from pan and use a pizza cutter to easily cut the bars into small squares OR you can use a cookie cutter of your choice to cut them out. Let sit at room temperature for thirty minutes or so before eating (the peanut butter part gets nice and soft if you let them sit out for a while). 

Recipe Source: The Taste Tester, adapted from Heat Oven to 350