Chocolate Caramel Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Treats Recipe 435

Steps:

• Butter a 9- bX 13-inch pan and butter the pot and utensils you will be using to melt the marshmallows. Add 3 tablespoons of butter and the marshmallows in a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until melted. When completely melted and smooth, stir in the vanilla. Turn off heat and stir in cereal until completely coated; the mixture will be sticky. Pour into buttered pan. Coat your hands with butter and press mixture into the pan firmly. Place in the refrigerator to chill. In another saucepan, place caramels and water over low heat, stirring often as caramels melt until smooth. Add 1 cup of the peanut butter to the caramel and stir until completely mixed. Pour onto the chilled Rice Krispies mixture and spread to the edges. Place pan back in the refrigerator. Over low heat, melt the chocolate in a saucepan, stirring frequently and being careful not to scorch the chocolate. When melted, add in the remaining 1/2 cup of peanut butter, stirring until smooth. Pour chocolate mixture over caramel layer, spreading to the edges in an even layer. Place dessert in the refrigerator and allow to set up for approximately 1 hour or until chocolate is firm to the touch. Cut into squares or rectangles once it is firm. Bars are easiest to cut when cold but are best eaten at room temperature or only slightly chilled.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the chocolate crust: Combine cookie crumbs, granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Stir in butter. Press mixture into bottom and 2 1/2 inches up sides of 9-inch springform pan. Bake until dry and firm, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool.
• Make the caramel sauce: Heat granulated sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming, until medium amber, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and carefully add heavy cream (mixture will bubble and steam). Return to heat, and bring to a boil, making sure caramel that seized up when cream was added melts. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in creme fraiche. Refrigerate until cool but still pourable, about 45 minutes. Fold in peanuts.
• Meanwhile, make the peanut butter mousse: Beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy. Beat in 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add peanut butter and vanilla, and beat until combined. Whisk heavy cream in a separate bowl until medium-stiff peaks form. Fold one-third of the whipped cream into peanut butter mixture. Fold in remaining whipped cream in 2 additions.
• Assemble the tart: Pour caramel sauce into cooled chocolate crust. Gently spread peanut butter mousse over caramel in an even layer, making sure they don't blend together. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Make the chocolate ganache: Place chocolate in a small heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Pour cream over chocolate, and let stand for 1 minute. Whisk to combine. (Use immediately.)
• Remove tart from refrigerator, and pour in ganache to cover surface. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Steps:

• Microwave butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 45 sec. or until melted. Add marshmallows; toss to evenly coat. Microwave 1-1/2 min. or until marshmallows are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 45 sec. Add cereal; mix well. Press onto bottom of foil-lined 13x9-inch pan sprayed with cooking spray.
• Microwave caramels and milk in medium microwaveable bowl 2 to 2-1/2 min. or until caramels are completely melted, stirring after each minute; pour over cereal mixture. Spread to completely cover cereal mixture. Sprinkle with nuts; press lightly into caramel with back of spoon to secure.
• Place chocolates in small microwaveable bowl. Microwave 1 min. or until chocolates are completely melted, stirring every 30 sec.; drizzle over nuts. Cool before cutting to serve.