Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Candies

 

1/2

cup creamy peanut butter

1/4

cup butter or margarine, softened

1/4

cup chopped peanuts

1/2

teaspoon vanilla

2

cups powdered sugar

1

bag (12 oz) semisweet chocolate chips (2 cups)

4

teaspoons shortening

1/2

cup powdered sugar

2

tablespoons creamy peanut butter

About 1 tablespoon milk

• 1 Line 8- or 9-inch square pan with foil, leaving 1 inch of foil overhanging at 2 opposite sides of pan; grease foil with butter.
• 2 In medium bowl, mix 1/2 cup peanut butter, the butter, peanuts and vanilla. Stir in 2 cups powdered sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until stiff dough forms. If dough is crumbly, work in additional 1 tablespoon peanut butter. Pat mixture in pan. Cover; refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm.
• 3 Use foil to lift candy from pan; remove foil. Cut into 8 rows by 8 rows. Line cookie sheet with waxed paper. In 1-quart heavy saucepan, melt chocolate chips and shortening over low heat, stirring constantly. Dip 1 peanut butter square at a time into chocolate mixture. Place on cookie sheet. Refrigerate uncovered about 30 minutes or until firm.
• 4 In small bowl, mix 1/2 cup powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons peanut butter. Beat in milk with wire whisk until smooth. If necessary, stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until thin enough to drizzle.
• 5 Drizzle icing over tops of chocolate-covered squares. Refrigerate uncovered about 30 minutes or until firm. Store candies loosely covered in refrigerator.