peanut butter dutch bars
Rooted in the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of Shoofly Pie, these bars have a honey graham crust with sweetness and crunch. The filling blends molasses with creamy peanut butter, creating a rich, nutty twist on the shoofly base. A crumb topping of flour, light brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon delivers warmth and balance, while a medley of chopped nuts adds texture and depth. The result is a layered bite: buttery crust, gooey filling, and spiced crunch.
prep time
25 Min
cook time
30 Min
method
Bake
yield
24 serving(s)
Ingredients
- 2 cups honey graham cracker crumbs
- 1 stick salted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup molasses (not blackstrap)
- 3/4 cup hot water
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1 cup all‑purpose flour
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 4 tablespoons salted butter, cold, cut into cubes
- 4 ounces mixed nuts chopped (peanuts, almonds, cashews, walnuts, brazil nuts, pecans, hazelnuts, and pistachios)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
How To Make peanut butter dutch bars
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Step 1Prep pan: Grease a 9x13 baking pan with butter or nonstick spray.
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Step 2Make crust: Combine graham crumbs with 1 stick melted butter until evenly moistened; press firmly and evenly into the pan.
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Step 3Heat oven: Preheat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) while you prepare the filling and topping.
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Step 4Mix molasses base: In a bowl, stir 3/4 cup molasses into 3/4 cup hot water; add 1/2 tsp baking soda (mixture will foam slightly).
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Step 5Add peanut butter: Whisk in 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter until smooth
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Step 6Add egg: Whisk in 1 beaten egg; mix just to combine without over‑aerating.
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Step 7Add nuts: Add 2 oz chopped nuts to the base mixture.
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Step 8Pour filling: Pour the molasses–peanut butter mixture evenly over the prepared crust.
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Step 9Build topping base: In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup flour, 2/3 cup light brown sugar, and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
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Step 10Cut in butter: Add 4 Tbsp cold cubed butter; cut in with a pastry cutter or fingertips until coarse crumbs form.
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Step 11Add nuts: Fold in 2 oz chopped mixed nuts (toast first for extra flavor if desired).
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Step 12Top the filling: Sprinkle the crumb‑nut mixture evenly over the filling, reaching all corners.
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Step 13Bake: Bake 35–40 minutes, until topping is golden and set; the filling should be set but slightly gooey beneath.
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Step 14Cool: Cool in the pan on a rack for at least 1 hour to firm up for clean slicing.
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Step 15Finish (optional): Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with melted dark chocolate.
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Step 16Slice and serve: cut into ~24 bars. Serve plain or with a dollop of whipped cream
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Step 17Tip: Place in fridge overnight for best results when slicing bars.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
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