Golden Peanut Butter Bars

2 cups flour
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup cold butter or margarine
1 cup chopped peanuts
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Combine flour, sugar and beaten egg, cut in batter until crumbly.

Stir in peanuts.

Reserving 2 cup crumb mixture, press remaining mixture on bottom of 13x9 inch baking pan.

Bake 15 minutes or until lightly browned.

Meanwhile, with mixer, beat sweetened condensed milk with peanut butter and vanilla.

Spread over prepared crust; top with reserved crumb mixture.

Bake 25 minutes longer or until lightly browned around edges.

Cool. Cut in bars. Store covered at room temperature.

The recipe for these bars comes from "The Cookie Bible" which is a nice cook book with a variety of cookie and bar recipes. The book has photos of just about every recipe, which is always appreciated. There is even a kids cookie section with lots of fun recipes to make with or for your kiddos. I've made probably five or so cookies from this book, which even has the classic Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe -- makes me really miss Friends :)

These bars were just okay for us, I mainly made them for my husband who was asking for something sweet. He liked them but didn't love them. Even the kids weren't crazy for these, I got one handed back after a few bites were taken, "I'm all done with this bar," said my three year old. They were more crunchy chewy than soft and gooey. I would not make these again unless someone specifically requested them, and I doubt that will happen. Too many other delicious bar recipes out there to try. They were very easy to make though so that is a plus, I'd say give them a try if you are a real peanut lover, not peanut butter because you don't really get the 'peanut butter' flavor from these, even though it's in there.