#2882 - Chocolate Marshmallow Bars

(by Shirley McNevich)

3/4 cup softened butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/3 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 TBSP Hershey's cocoa
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
4 cups mini marshmallows
Topping: 8oz. Nestle's semi-sweet chocolate bits; 3 TBSP butter; 1 cup Jif smooth peanut butter; 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal

In a mixer add 3/4 cup butter and white sugar--beat. Add eggs and vanilla--beat. Add baking powder, salt and cocoa--beat. Slowly add flour--beat. Remove bowl from mixer--add chopped nuts--stir to mix. Spread the mixture in a greased 15 x 10 x 1 jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven--sprinkle the marshmallows all over the top. Put pan back in oven for 3 minutes. Remove from oven--use a greased tableknife to spread the hot marshmallows all over the top of the cake. Cool to room temperature. In a saucepan add chocolate bits, 3 TBSP butter and peanut butter--cook/stir over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat--add Rice Krispies--stir until mixed. Spread the Rice Krispies mixture over the top of the top of the cake. Cool completely. Cut into squares or bars.