Nut-Licious Peanut Butter Bars

Name: Nut-Licious Peanut Butter Bars
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 2 dozen.
Ingredients: CRUST:; 1-1/2 cups reduced-fat graham cracker crumbs (about 10 whole crackers); 1/3 cup honey; 2 tablespoons butter, melted; NUT TOPPING:; 1/4 cup chopped pecans; 1/4 cup chopped walnuts; 2 tablespoons honey; 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; FILLING:; 12 ounces fat-free cream cheese; 2/3 cup peanut butter; 3 tablespoons butter, softened; 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar; 1/2 cup honey; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; DRIZZLE:; 1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 45 min. Bake: 15 min. + chilling YIELD: 2 dozen.

My friends were astonished to find out these bars were not button-busting. We nick named them bamboozled bars! —Hannah Wolters, Culleoka, Tennessee

Ingredients

CRUST:
1-1/2 cups reduced-fat graham cracker crumbs (about 10 whole crackers)
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons butter, melted
NUT TOPPING:
1/4 cup chopped pecans
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons honey
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
FILLING:
12 ounces fat-free cream cheese
2/3 cup peanut butter
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon maple flavoring
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
DRIZZLE:
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted

Directions

1. In a small bowl, combine crust ingredients. Press onto the bottom of a 13x9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
2. Meanwhile, combine the nuts, honey and cinnamon. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment and coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 5-7 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Cool completely. Crumble mixture and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, peanut butter, butter, confectioners' sugar and honey until smooth. Beat in the egg, vanilla and maple flavoring. Combine flour and baking powder; gradually beat into cream cheese mixture. Spread over cooled crust. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until set.
4. Sprinkle nut mixture over warm filling; press in slightly. Drizzle with melted chocolate. Cool completely on a wire rack. Chill for 2 hours or until firm. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers.

Nutrition Facts

1 bar: 189 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 175mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.