Peanut Butter Sesame Bars
These Peanut Butter Sesame Bars feature a crisp graham cracker and sesame snap crust, a creamy peanut butter filling, and a tahini-swirled chocolate top sprinkled with peanuts, chocolate chunks, and sesame seeds.
Equipment
- 1 8x8 pan
Ingredients
Sesame Graham Cracker Crust
- 1⅓ cups graham cracker crumbs
- 4 (30g) packs sesame snaps crushed
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted
Sesame Peanut Filling
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup smooth peanut butter **
- ⅓ cup toasted sesame seeds
- 1 cup icing sugar sifted
- ½ tsp kosher salt
Chocolate Tahini Topping
- 1 tbsp tahini heaping
- 1 tbsp water
- ½ tsp honey
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- ¼ cup dry roasted peanuts
- ¼ cup dark chocolate chunks
- 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a greased 8x8 pan with parchment paper to fashion a sling. *** Set the pan aside.
- In a large bowl whisk to combine the graham cracker crumbs, sesame snaps, and salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir until the mixture resembles wet sand.1⅓ cups graham cracker crumbs, 4 (30g) packs sesame snaps, ¼ tsp kosher salt, ½ cup unsalted butter
- Pour the mixture into the center of your prepared pan. Using a 1/2 cup measure, press the mixture into the base and up the sides of the pan. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool slightly.
For the Filling
- Place the butter, peanut butter, sesame seeds, salt, and icing sugar in a bowl. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the crust and smooth the surface with an offset spatula. Set aside.½ cup unsalted butter, ½ cup smooth peanut butter **, ⅓ cup toasted sesame seeds, ½ tsp kosher salt, 1 cup icing sugar
For the Topping
- In a small bowl, whisk to combine the tahini, honey, and water. Set aside.1 tbsp tahini, 1 tbsp water, ½ tsp honey
- Place the chocolate chips in the microwave and heat them in 30-second bursts. Once the chocolate has melted, pour it on top of the peanut butter filling. Smooth the surface with an offset spatula.1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Spoon the tahini mixture on top of the chocolate and, using a toothpick, create a series of swirls. Sprinkle the chocolate with peanuts, chocolate chunks, and sesame seeds. Transfer the bars to the fridge and chill for 2 hours before slicing and serving.¼ cup dry roasted peanuts, ¼ cup dark chocolate chunks, 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
Notes
** Don't use natural peanut butter for this recipe. The oil will cause the filling to separate.
*** Here is a great tutorial for creating a sling out of parchment paper.