Peanut Cake Bars

Yield: about 3 dozen

Ingredients

Bars

• 1 (18.25 ounce) box chocolate cake mix*
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg

Topping

• 3 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1 (10 ounce) package peanut butter chips
• 2/3 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups crisp rice cereal
• 2 cups salted peanuts

Instructions

Bars

1. In a bowl, combine dry cake mix, water, butter and egg until blended. Press into a greased 15 x 10 inch baking pan.
2. Bake at 350 degrees F for 13 to 16 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean.
3. Sprinkle with marshmallows.
4. Bake for 2 minutes longer.
5. Cool.

Topping

1. In a saucepan, combine peanut butter chips, corn syrup, butter and vanilla extract. Cook over low heat until melted; stir until smooth.
2. Remove from the heat; stir in cereal and peanuts.
3. Spoon over marshmallows.
4. Cool before cutting.

Notes

* 18.25 ounce boxes of cake mix have been replaced by 16.5 ounce and 15.25 ounce boxes. To compensate for the volume loss in a 16 ounce box, whisk 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour into the dry cake mix before proceeding with the recipe. To compensate for the volume loss in a 15.25 ounce box, add 1/2 cup + 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon baking powder.