Reese's peanut butter cups and Reese's pieces turn these chocolate cake mix bars into a peanut butter lover's dream dessert. Make these Reese's Gooey Cake Bars for after dinner, and watch everyone go nuts for them.
Remember a few weeks ago when I admitted HERE that I was struggling remembering any kind of 9th grade science?
Well, it's gets worse people. Now I can't even do 4th grade math. Seriously! My brain has decided to go bye bye when it comes to scholastic anything.
Last night our youngest was working on a math sheet after dinner. All of a sudden I hear him yelling out for me to come make sure he is doing it right. That should have been my first clue to run as far away as possible. Math is not (and never was) my strongest subject. But...I headed into the dining room to see what all the yelling was about.
He showed me a math problem, and asked if he did it right. Clue number two to turn tail and run. Do I listen? Nope! I looked it over and promptly told him, he did it wrong. Then I tried to explain why I got a different answer from him. He starts arguing with me that his teacher told him to do it this particular way. Clue number three...if the teacher told him one way, I should just run and not even try to answer a math problem. Still not paying attention to the clues...
Again, I try to reason with the 4th grader. At this time my husband comes in to see what all the commotion is about. He looks the problem over and immediately tells me how wrong I am. Apparently I really have lost all concept of math. Maybe if it was just adding and subtracting, but no they had to go and add some parentheses and multiplying and dividing to said problem.
Next time I need to see the clues and back away as fast as possible from all math questions. It never ends well for me!
Now I have a fun math story problem for everyone:
Mom has 1 bag of Reese's peanut butter cups and 1 bag of mini Reese's pieces. She adds some of each to 1 cake mix, 1 egg, and 1 stick of butter. The bars take 30 minutes to bake, and 3 hours to cool and set. How many bars does mom share with the family that ridicules her math skills? The answer? 0!!!! Laughing family members get none, and mom eats all of them to get over her math shame.
Ok, fine I did share these gooey bars with my family. They devoured these bars as soon as I gave the okay to eat them.
There is just something magical about sweetened condensed milk and a cake mix. It bakes up so gooey and delicious!
Adding peanut butter cups to the middle was just the thing these chocolate bars needed. Make sure you freeze the peanut butter cups first though. The first time I made them, they kind of melted into the bars. Still just as good to eat, but not quite as impressive when you cut into them. Freezing the peanut butter cups helps them not melt into the dough.
Now who wants to buy a some bags of candy and work on math problems with me?
I got it when math involves baking!
Recipe
Reese’s Gooey Cake Bars
Reese's peanut butter cups and Reese's pieces give these gooey cake bars an extreme hit of peanut butter goodness.
Ingredients
- 1 chocolate cake mix
- 1 egg
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 16 regular sized peanut butter cups, frozen and unwrapped
- ½ cup sweetened condensed milk
- ½ cup mini Reese's Pieces
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8x8 pan with nonstick spray.
- Combine the cake mix, egg, butter, and vanilla in a mixing bowl. Beat until a soft dough forms.
- Press half the dough into the prepared pan.
- Arrange the frozen peanut butter cups over the top of the dough. You may need to trim the edges of a few.
- Press the rest of the dough over the tops of the peanut butter cups evenly.
- Drizzle the sweetened condensed milk over the top of the dough. Sprinkle with the Reese's Pieces. Bake at for 30-35 minutes. They will look very gooey and undone.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting into 16 squares. Store in a sealed container on the counter.
Notes
*The recipe says use an 8x8x2 pan...that means make sure the sides of your pan are 2 inches high, so the mixture does not bubble over!!!!
**Make sure you freeze your peanut butter cups at least a few hours before you start to make these bars.
***Make sure you also let these bars set completely before cutting into them. They will appear very gooey and undone, but do not worry. They will set up. I usually make them the night before and let them set up overnight before cutting.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 210Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 148mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 17gProtein: 4g
Other ways to enjoy Reese's that are kid approved in our house:
Marshmallow Reese's Blonde Brownies
Brenda @ SweetSimpleStuff
Math is Math ... I don't understand how it changes!!! I am far past the "helping kids" thing ... thankful that I made it out alive 😉 You were very nice to share with the family!
Jocelyn Brubaker
I don't understand either!! I think it's the way they teach it that changes...which just confuses the parents!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie
Love this! I made a peanut butter chocolate gooey cake bar once but not with Reese's. Ultimate combination.
Jocelyn Brubaker
It sure is!! Thanks Erin!!
Beth @ bethcakes
I'm so bad at math. I don't even really like talking about it, haha. I really enjoy stuffing things inside of cakes and cupcakes, and these Reese's Gooey Cake Bars are blowing my mind! And the topping, omg! Who needs math when you can eat this cake!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Exactly my thoughts! 😉 Thanks Beth!!
Ashton
These look incredible! And you are basically a genius for figuring out to freeze the Reese's. And that kind of brilliance cancels out the need to know pretty much anything else 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you so much Ashton!! 😉
Liz @ Life Made Sweet
LOL! I can’t even do simply additions in my head anymore I hear your pain but these bars will totally mae everything all better!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Liz!!
Melanie @ Carmel Moments
Whoa, girl! You really know how to bake. These look to die for!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Melanie!!
Tahnycooks
My husband was away for work and my 10 year old had math homework and we had to FaceTime daddy to do the homework with him cuz, mommy was stumped! Max is in 4th grade. :/
These cake bars could only taste awesome! They look perfect! Chocolate/pnut combo never is bad in anyway shape or form!
Jocelyn Brubaker
That would definitely be me if my hubby went away!! Lol! Thanks Tahny!!
Megan - The Emotional Baker
You are hilarious! I love these bars. I bet bites with peanut butter cup are amazing!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Megan!!
Mandy's Recipe Box
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/160511174192747144/
Reeses Pieces. That's all I needed to hear. Here's how I see math when I try to help my 11 year old daughter.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, that is TOTALLY me when it comes to math!! Love it!
Teresa
Oh, my my! Looks lovely as always!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Teresa!!
Marcie
Reese's is a nice change of flavors from all the fall recipes I've been seeing. It doesn't get much better than chocolate and peanut butter, and these bars look so gooey and delicious!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Marcie!!
Tieghan
I would never even attempt math homework these days. My brain is just not in that thinking mode anymore. LOL!
Love these gooey cake bars! Anything with chocolate, sweetened condensed milk and the gooey is always a winner in my brain!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks Tieghan!!
Trish - Mom On Timeout
I'm pretty sure I just landed in Reese's heaven Jocelyn! These bars look fabulous - pinned! Now as far as math homework goes - you've got me worried! Reece is in 2nd grade now and I can honestly say I'm not looking forward to the coming years 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Enjoy the early school years of easier math now, girl! 😉 And thank you so much!!
Nancy P.@thebittersideofsweet
You make me laugh so much when you talk about your math stories with your kids because I have the same problem! On the other hand if I solve your word problem does that mean I get one of these bars? 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
I'm glad I'm not alone!! 😉 and, YES!! Hehe
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
Oh my gosh!! You're killin' me with these. I wish I could have one!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha, thanks girl!!
Stephanie @ PlainChicken
I am DYING! I could eat the entire pan myself. Those are all my favorite flavors!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Stephanie!!
Meghan @ The Tasty Fork
Oh gosh, I can't even imagine that Math situation you're in! I always hated math. Schools really should give parents cheat sheets on all homework so you still have some dignity when trying to help out your kids. I'd so much rather just eat a couple of those bars and hide in the basement when questions start flying.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Cheat sheets for parents would be a fab idea!! 😉 Thanks Meghan!!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
Rarely do I see actual cake bars like this - with brownies, sure. But not as often with cake and they look fab! I mean, Reeses and chocolate and PB and layering it all up...cannot be bad 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Averie!!
Karly
So, can you even imagine what it's like for me trying to teach math to my kids? People have this idea that homeschool parents must be sooooo smart. No. We just throw books and computers at our kids and cross our fingers that they figure things out. 😉
LOVE these bars. Like, seriously. LOVE THEM.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Haha!! I don't envy that part of your life!
Kentucky Lady 717
LOL.....my daughter & her husband, both college graduates with degrees and they sometimes struggle helping their daughter do 6th.grade math, etc.....they say it's like learning all over...and I said well just don't ask me to help her....she is doing work that I did in the 8th. grade.....
This dessert looks wonderful.....and I do want to make it.....
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks!! The saying "if you don't use it, you lose it" is so true! And crazy how kids are being taught things sooner and sooner!
Lauren
Hi! I do not have the 8x8x2 pan, but I have a 13x9. Would I have to double the recipe for it to come out right? Also, I share your pain with the math! 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yes, you would have to double the recipe for a 13x9 pan. I'm glad someone else knows the pain that is math 😉
Nicholas
I used the same pan and found that two boxes of cake mix dough did not cover the top of the peanut butter cups completely. This recipe is vague at best. I do a lot of baking and drizzling one cup of condensed milk basically coved the entire pan. I don't know how this is gonna turn out time will tell. But I was not impressed by the directions.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Well, I sure hope if you used 2 boxes of cake mix and 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk that you used a 9x13 pan. What exactly do you find vague about the recipe? I have had plenty of people make and love this recipe...so, I'm thinking the recipe must make sense.
Lacey
Do you follow the cake mix ingredients too.... Its not really forming a dough
Jocelyn
No, you just add the butter and egg to the dry cake mix. If your butter was melted it will be really sticky so you might need to refrigerate the dough a bit to set it up. I hope that helps!