Rich Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

Rich Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares For the Crust: 22 Chocolate Wafers, finely crushed (about 1⅔ cups crumbs) ¼ cup sugar 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened For the Peanut Butter Filling: 4 firmly packed tablespoons dark brown sugar 1 1/2 cups Confectioners' sugar 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1⅓ cups creamy peanut butter Pinch of salt For the Milk Chocolate Ganache Topping: 1-11.5 ounce bag Ghirardelli (or similar best quality) milk chocolate chips 6 tablespoons heavy cream Preheat oven to 375 degrees and spray a 9-inch square baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. For the Crust: Combine chocolate wafers, sugar and butter in bowl of food processor fitted with blade attachment and pulse until cookies are finely crushed. Press mixture firmly into prepared baking pan (I spread it with my hands first, then use the bottom of a measuring cup to even it out). Bake for 8 minutes. Set on rack to cool completely. For the Peanut Butter Filling: Combine all ingredients together in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and mix at low speed until just combined (do not whip). Set bowl in refrigerator while you prepare the rest. For the Milk Chocolate Ganache Topping: Combine milk chocolate chips and heavy cream in microwave safe bowl and cook in microwave at medium power (50%) for 1-1½ minutes. Stir until bowl no longer feels warm. Continue heating at 15-30 second intervals, stirring until smooth and melted. Do not overheat. Put it all together: Use an offset icing spatula to spread about ¼ cup of chocolate mixture evenly over cooled crust; place pan in freezer until chocolate is set, about 5-10 minutes. Spread peanut butter mixture into even layer over chocolate (if it's firm, you can use your hands; if it's soft, use a butter knife or spatula). Give chocolate ganache a quick stir to smooth any lumps, then spread evenly over top of peanut butter layer. Cover pan with plastic wrap and place in freezer for 1 hour to set, or overnight. When firm, use a sharp knife to cut into small squares. Keep refrigerated and serve cool.