Buckeye Bars

O-H! If you live in Columbus, I hope you gave an I-O reply! As an Ohio native, I attended my first Ohio State football game at an early age. Both of my parents are OSU alums, and even though I will not be attending the large university next year, I will always have a place in my heart for the OSU buckeyes.

Ohio State athletics and the famous horseshoe stadium play a large role in the  Columbus community. In addition to being a buckeye fan, you know you are from Columbus if:

1. The four seasons are: winter, still winter, almost winter, and construction.
2. You measure distance in minutes.
3. You design your Halloween costume to fit over a winter coat.
4. Classes are canceled because of snow.
5. You know how to pronounce Scioto and Olentangy.
6. It is not unusual to see for a street called East North Broadway.
7. You like your pizza cut in squares.
8. You live in the suburbs, but can be in a cornfield within a few minutes.
9. You own a Buckeye necklace (see photo below!).
10. When driving, you slow down on 670 to smell the Wonderbread factory.

Columbus natives also enjoy chocolate peanut butter buckeye desserts. If you are a fan of the chocolate peanut butter combo, you will love these Buckeye Bars!

Buckeye Bars
printable recipe

CRUST:

1 ½ cups butter (melted)

3 ½ cups flour

2/3 cup confectioners’ sugar

2/3 cup finely chopped peanuts

¼ tsp. salt

PEANUT BUTTER FILLING:

4 ounces cream cheese

2/3 cup smooth peanut butter

6 tbsp. sugar

1 egg

¼ cup milk

BROWNIE:

1 cup flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

½ cup butter (softened)

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate (melted)

½ cup peanut butter chips

GARNISH:

¾ cup peanut butter chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Melt unsweetened chocolate in double boiler over medium heat until completely melted (5-10 minutes). Remove from heat and allow to cool 5-10 minutes.

Combine all of the crust ingredients. Press crust into 12 x 18 inch jelly roll pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes.

Combine peanut butter and cream cheese and beat until combined. Beat in sugar, egg, and milk.

To prepare brownies, cream butter and melted chocolate in medium bowl. Add sugar and cream until well combined. Add eggs and vanilla extract.

Add baking powder, salt, and flour and stir until just combined. Stir in peanut butter chips.

Spread most of the brownie batter over cooled crust. Drop peanut butter filling by the spoonful on top of brownie batter. Drop remaining brownie batter on top. Run a knife through the batter to create a swirl design.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Immediately sprinkle remaining peanut butter chips on brownies when out of oven.

Allow to cool and cut into squares.

Yields 54 2-inch brownies.

Recipe from the Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook

Go Bucks and Enjoy!