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Gluten free peanut butter shortbread bars with a chocolate and peanut butter fudge top. Decadent.
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I've always loved baking shortbread, too, since it's one of the most basic cookie recipes you can imagine—flour, butter, sugar and salt. No eggs, no leaveners. Peanut butter shortbread isn't too different, except, well, you add peanut butter. J
ust be sure to use the no-stir kind, which is the kind that doesn't separate in the jar. No-stir almond butter would work beautifully, too. Add a layer of the simplest, smoothest fudge you can imagine, and you've got a seriously easy, gorgeously impressive dessert.
I like the shortbread layer to be as thick as possible, so I bake it in an 8-inch square pan, but if all you have is a 9-inch square pan, no worries. Just watch the baking time, as it will be done at least 5 minutes earlier. We bake the shortbread in a low (325°F) oven so that it browns evenly without becoming too crisp on the bottom. Perfect.
The crisp and buttery peanut butter shortbread layer is lovely enough, but pair it with thick, smooth chocolate peanut butter fudge (mostly chocolate, just with a couple tablespoons of peanut butter added for good measure)—the kind of fudge that is perfectly set up even at room temperature and leaves teeth marks behind? No one will ever believe how simple these bars are to make.
To make these dairy-free, too, try using the dairy-free sweetened condensed milk we made in the fudge layer, and try replacing the butter in the shortbread layer with half Earth balance buttery sticks, half Spectrum nonhydrogenated vegetable shortening. And then let us know how it goes!
Gluten Free Peanut Butter Shortbread Bars
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Shortbread Layer
- 2 cups (280 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend, (I used Better Batter; please click thru for full info on appropriate blends)
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum, (omit if your blend already contains it)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
- 10 tablespoons (140 g) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- ½ cup (128 g) smooth no-stir peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons milk or cream, at room temperature
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Layer
- 10 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips or chunks, (I used Enjoy Life chocolate chunks)
- 12 ounces sweetened condensed milk, at room temperature
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons (32 g) smooth no-stir peanut butter
Instructions
Make the shortbread layer.
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with crisscrossed sheets of unbleached parchment paper, both hanging over the sides of the pan so that you can use them to lift the bars out of the pan after baking. Set the pan aside.
- In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well. Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients, add the butter, peanut butter and milk or cream and mix until the dough comes together. It should be thick and smooth. Transfer the dough to the prepared baking dish and press into an even layer.
- Place in the center of the preheated oven and bake until evenly golden brown all over the top (about 25 minutes). Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely in the baking pan (about 20 minutes).
Make the fudge layer.
- In a medium-size, heat-safe bowl, place the chocolate chips or chunks.
- Place over a simmering pan of water, making sure the bowl doesn’t touch the water, stirring occasionally until melted and smooth (you can also melt the chocolate in the microwave on 60% power in 45 second intervals, stirring in between).
- Remove from the heat and stir in the sweetened condensed milk, salt and peanut butter until smooth.
- Pour the fudge immediately over the cooled shortbread (still in the pan) and spread into an even layer.
- Allow to set at room temperature for 10 minutes before transferring to the refrigerator to chill until completely set (about 30 minutes more).
- Take the pan out of the refrigerator and remove the bars from the pan by lifting up on the overhung parchment paper. With a sharp knife, slice into 16 equal squares.
- For the cleanest slices, wet the knife in between cuts. The fudge is stable at room temperature, so these can be served without chilling them.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Can these be made without any nut butter?
Can these be made with a stand mixer? The look so good but my arms are pretty weak!
Hi Nicole,
Is there another ingredient to boost the flavor profile in lieu of p.b. to make this a (peanut free-sigh) school-friendly treat? Or would that omission negatively impact the recipe all together? I’d love to try this but my daughters dislike almond butter, so that option is out. Thanks so much…
If you want a nut-free option, my family’s favorite is the Sneaky Chef nut-free butter made with golden peas. It is a bit pricey,$5-$6/jar, but it is the best tasting(in our opinion) of the nut-free butters, WOW butter is our second favorite, and a couple dollars cheaper. I hope this helps.
You had me at 50% “frosting.” (I know it’s technically fudge this time.) I am all about the frosting. I’m the person that WANTS the corner piece of birthday cake.
I don’t know where my parents went wrong.
Thank you for your DF note! You are a sweetheart!
My stomach literally growled while reading this. I kid thee not. I cannot WAIT to get home and try this. Thank you for being a healthy genius :)
Can we call this healthy? Awesome!!!!!
Is the 12 ounces of sweetened condensed milk by volume (as in 1 1/2 cups, which would be more than the volume in a 14 oz store-bought can) or by weight?
Fluid ounces are a volume measurement, Sarah. 12 ounces is by weight. So, it’s about 85% less than a full 14 ounce can. Hope that helps!
I posted hubby’s reaction to this one on Facebook. I see this in my recent baking future!
I saw that, Mare! :)
Shortbread is his favorite. He absolutely loves your shortbread cookies. I think this might actually top that because it has the chocolate and peanut butter too!
I used to make these all the time at Xmas and used a jelly roll pan. Glad I don’t have to convert the recipe, many thanks Nicole.
Now to find non-GMO almond butter… yes still on the non-GMO hunt, if you wish to know all Bob’s Redmill is non-GMO :)
You might see if you can get Woodstock brand where you are? (Canada is where you are, I believe? Not that I’m stalking you in the comments or anything…)
Thanks I’ll look into it :)
Can I use almond butter instead of pb?
It should work just fine, Potona.
My GF, DF, PF daughter prefers WOWbutter. It’s got that same smooth consistency you mention. If I make these, I will report back!