PEANUT CAKE BARS

By bjnelson55

A bakery favorite inspired us to create this recipe. Individual pieces of white cake are coated with a crunchy peanut coating.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients

• GLAZE:
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1-1/2 cups sugar
• 4 egg whites
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/3 cups buttermilk
• 7-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, divided
• 1 cup milk, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided
• 2 cans (12 ounces each) salted peanuts, chopped, divided

Details

Servings 20

Preparation

Step 1

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk, beating well after each addition.
Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack.

For glaze, in a shallow bowl, mix 3-3/4 cups confectioners' sugar, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Place one can of peanuts in another shallow bowl.

Cut cake into 20 bars. Coat the top and sides of each square with glaze, then roll in nuts. Place on wire racks over waxed paper; let dry completely.

Make a second batch of glaze with the remaining confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla. Coat cake squares a second time, then roll in remaining nuts. Let dry completely. Yield: 20 bars.

Nutrition Facts:
1 piece equals 562 calories, 24 g fat (6 g saturated fat), 14 mg cholesterol, 299 mg sodium, 79 g carbohydrate, 3 g fiber, 12 g protein.