Ooey Gooey Bars: Fluffernutter & a Lil Retro

In case you hadn't guessed from this post, I love me some fluffernutter. In all forms. I mean, let's all get serious for a second. Unless you have a peanut allergy(and poor Blakey, this always makes me think how hard that is for my friend trying to make sure he's safe) how can you not love this. like I believe people should throw down in line to get to anything that combines marshmallows and peanut butter. 

Anyways, we had the party this past weekend and I had been wanting to make some ooey gooey bars for everyone and I was skimming over ideas and remembered I had seen a peanut butter one once before and then decided to make it my favorite way. You're welcome. In advance.

Here's all you will need to make this treat a reality, super simple and fast!

Ingredients:

Cake:

1 box chocolate cake mix

8 tbsp butter, melted

1 egg

Center:

1 pkge of minature marshmallows

1 pkge of mini reeses cups

Filling:

1 8 oz pkge of cream cheese, softened

2 eggs

8 tbsp butter, melted

16 oz powdered sugar

3 tbsp peanut butter

3 tbsp marshmallow fluff

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine the cake mix, egg, and butter and mix well with an electric mixer.  Pat the mixture into the bottom of a lightly greased 13 by 9-inch baking pan.

 Sprinkle on the marshmallows and reese's, there's no rhyme or reason. Do it as you want. As much or as little of either.

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add the eggs and butter and beat together.  melt the pb & fluff in the microwave for 10 seconds and add to filling, beat until incorporated.

Next, add the powdered sugar and mix well.  Spread over cake batter and bake for 40 to 50 minutes.  Make sure not to over bake as the center should be a little gooey.

Go getcha some!

and just a teaser from the party....

Fluffernutter Cheesecake Dip

so simple. so good. and it made me slightly nostalgic for my childhood. Can I tell you something? I only ate one cold sandwich growing up(actually room temp, but let's not muse over details) and it wasn't a PB & J, nope, it was the delectable treat known as a fluffernutter. Oh, be still my heart. Goodness in a little girls life. So I've tried adapting the treat to a few of my favorite things, so far I've made whoopie pies, ooey gooey bars and then finally, this super simple dip.

Ingredients
4-6 oz cream cheese(softened)
2 tbsp peanut butter(melted)
2 tbsp marshmallow fluff(melted)
1 packet cheesecake pudding
1 cup heavy whipping cream
(or cool whip & milk to make pudding, I'll give those directions also)

place pb & fluff in a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 5-10 seconds(be sure to watch carefully, there's nothing more gagifying than burned pb.trust me) then add to softened cream cheese and beat on low for roughly a minute, till the mixture is fluffy. Add half the packet of pudding and 2 tbsp of whipping cream. Beat to fully incorporate and then add remainder of whipping cream and beat till stiff peaks form. Place in fridge for at least an hour or until ready to serve. if you wanted to use cool whip, mix the pudding packet with 1 cup cold milk and after it sets up, mix with cool whip, then whisk together w/the cream cheese, pb and fluff.

These are great with graham crackers or apples and pretzels w/salt gives it a nice twist. I also use this as an "instant cheesecake" and pour mixture over pre made crust and put in fridge for 2 hours. It's also quite tasty rolled up in crescent rolls and baked for 10 minutes, maybe add some mini reese's. The ideas are endless.