No-Bake PB Squares

PURE SUGAR RUSH! I've also heard this recipe called Buckeye Bars. It should be eaten sparingly, since you can hardly put more sugar in it.

8 Tbs. (1 stick) butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1 & 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup peanut butter
chocolate chips

Melt butter; add sugar, crumbs, and peanut butter. Spread evenly in greased 9x13 pan. Melt chips, spread over top, let cool. Cut into small cubes.

Death By Chocolate

This one is from my husband. He LOVES this, and it is very simple to make, which makes me happy. It is really a trifle rather than a cake. It doesn't actually fit my idea of DBC, but it's really good. We have had many many many birthdays with this dessert. We have made lots of alterations to this recipe over the years. It's easy to do because it is so simple. Once I could not find Heath Bits anywhere, I ended up substituting a bag of ... I don't remember what they were called. They were Heath Bits, but they were made into little chocolate covered balls. This was considered "good but not an upgrade" by the birthday boy in question. I have used chocolate whipped topping before. That was adored by the boy who says there is no such thing as too much chocolate. Not worth the extra expense IMO. One year we completely transformed it to fit the strawberry lemonade theme of daughter's bday party. That was a long while ago, and I can't remember exactly what we changed about it. It had strawberries in it. And I think I found strawberry flavored whipped topping. It probably still had brownies in it, though I remember it being more white colored than usual, so we might have done something else. Anyhow, crumbled cake or brownie, whipped topping, and some kind of fruit or "goodie", you've got yourself a trifle. Er, I mean DBC.

1 (9x13) pan of Brownies, cooked and cooled
8 servings (2 sm. boxes) instant chocolate pudding
4 cups milk
1 large tub (12 oz.) whipped topping
1 (8 oz.) pkg. Heath Bits

Prepare instant pudding according to package directions, using 4 cups milk. Put in fridge to set, 5 minutes. Crumble 1/2 of brownies in bottom of clear glass dessert bowl. Carefully spoon 1/2 prepared pudding over crumbled brownies. Be sure to seal to edge of bowl. Spoon 1/2 whipped topping over pudding layer, sealing to edge. Sprinkle half Heath bits over whipped topping. Crumble remaining brownies over Heath bits, follow with a layer each of the remaining pudding, then whipped cream. Top off with remaining Heath bits. Take a picture before serving, it's only pretty in the bowl!

Hershey's Brownies

1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350. In medium saucepan melt butter. Remove from heat. Mix in sugar and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Set aside. Sift together dry ingredients, except nuts. Add egg mixture, beat until smooth. Stir in nuts, if desired. Pour into greased 9x9 pan. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, approx. 30 minutes.

Double this recipe for 9x13 pan, increase bake time to approx. 40 minutes.

Substitute butterscotch, peanut butter, mint, or chocolate chips for nuts, if desired.