The Big Debate: Milk Chocolate, Peanut & Banana Bars

This is a recipe from Pichet Ong i found in The Sweet Spot, his interpretation of a Reese Peanut butter cups. For me, it was screaming for banana.. So heck! I added a brulee banana on top. There aren’t enough bruleed bananas in this world anyway. You’ll get that too if you vote for me.
Don’t listen to politicians, listen to your stomach instead. Vote Zen!

Milk Chocolate, Peanut & Banana Bars
(makes 8 servings)

Peanut chocolate base:

  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 cup peanuts, toasted and chopped
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Chocolate filling:

  • 4 ounces milk chocolate, chopped
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons cream cheese, at room temp’
  • 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon fleur de sel, or other mild sea salt
  • 1 banana, for brulee
  • 1 tablespoon sugar, for brulee

  • To make the chocolate base: Grease a 9 by 4-inch loaf pan and set aside. Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Put the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl and set over the saucepan. Turn off the heat. Stir the chocolate until melted, then add the peanuts, salt and oil and stir well. Pour into the loaf pan in an even layer. Freeze uncovered, until hard.
  • Make the filling: Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Put the chocolate in a heat-proof bowl and set over the saucepan. Stir the chocolate until melted then set aside.
  • Whisk the cream in another bowl until medium peaks form.
  • Put the cream cheese, peanut butter, and vanilla extract in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Beat until fluffy, about 7 minutes. Scrap down the sides and add the melted chocolate. Once the chocolate is incorporated, gently fold the whipped cream.

  • Spread the filling evenly on the frozen peanut chocolate base. Freeze until hard, about 2 hours.
  • Tap the bottom to unmold. Spread peanut butter on top. Make a brulee banana by slicing a banana, sprinkling it with sugar and ‘brulee’ the top with a torch. Place on top of the peanut butter and sprinkle with fleur de sel and chopped peanuts.
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  • Emiline

    I’d vote for you!
    Wait, weren’t you born in France?!

    These look great. I’m a huge fan of chocolate, peanut butter and banana together. I think it’s a combo that a lot of people haven’t tried.

  • Manggy

    Yeah, unfortunately you have to be a natural-born American to be eligible… Which is too bad, because I’m pretty sure everyone will be savoring this one all the way to the voting booths! I’m a huge fan of ALL three components! (To say nothing of my political affiliations… Ha ha ha)

  • Clumbsy Cookie

    Funny, I just came from Sweet and Saucy and she has made the same dessert! Is she your vice? Cause I was going to aply, my glasses are almost like Palin’s…
    Anyway my stomach is defenetly sreaming Zen! Zen! Zen! Oh well, maybe I’m just hungry…
    I think your banana brulée is just perfect there and makes it so worth it voting for you!
    Now, how much chocolate are we talking about?

  • Dhanggit

    You are my man Zenman!! he ehehe! dont worry if you are eligible enough to run in France for any position i’ll definitely vote for you…we need more people like you in this world: with lots of humour and gifted to make delicious creations like this! This choco banana bar is heaven!

  • Darius T. Williams

    Um, you’re like my god – did you know that. I’ll vote for you…as long as I get fee peanut chocolate bars!

    -DTW
    http://www.everydaycookin.blogspot.com

  • §pinzer

    you're a GENIUS REALLY! *bows*

    ..

    now gimme some of them peanut & banana bars and you'll my vote!

  • Colloquial Cook

    :-)) écroulée de rire! Si tu cherches un colistier pour goûter et approuver, hemhem, je veux bien me sacrifier!

  • Peter M

    Cool cartoon but the banana brule…that leaves my mouth gaping wide – me want.

  • michelle @ TNS

    you have my vote…not that it’s so hard to lure me away from either of the two main parties.

    i’ve *gotta* get teh p*ong book. everything i’ve seen out of it looks beyond amazing.

  • StickyGooeyCreamyChewy

    Be still my heart! You’ve got my vote! Those bars look incredible!

  • Heather

    Man, I thought bruleed banana was my secret sauce!

    I’d vote for you, M. Zen.

  • My Sweet & Saucy

    How funny…I just posted about this dessert too! It is quite tasty and I love your addition of bruleed bananas…it gives it a fantastic look!

  • Adam

    Yo I’d totally vote for you dude. Anyone that gives away chocolate or peanuts get my vote… I hope the representives are reading this, they will find the secret to an American’s stomach :)

  • Hillary

    Um, after those bruleed bananas, you have my vote! There definitely AREN’T enough bruleed bananas in this world! I was craving something JUST like this the other day.

  • Elle

    I love you. That is all.

  • heather lauren

    Nobu in NYC makes something very similar.

  • We Are Never Full

    i’m sure the zen-man has as much experience helping this economy than obama or mccain!

    but who can think of how this country is in the shitter when one looks at the picture of that fabu desert. you have no idea what the combo of chocolate, peanut and banana does for me. it’s my fave.

  • Jordan

    Dear god, that looks amazing. You should probably come make it for me. And while you’re over here already, you should probably just marry me, too.

  • Gloria (Canela)

    I need a dosis please of humor chef Zen!! I need laugh a bite!! This is …..yummmmy!!!! I love chocolate but with pleausre will vote by you!!! Love Chef Zen!! Is the man !!!!!!!!! Gloria

  • Andrea

    Well, you have my vote, that’s for sure! I’ll be expecting my beautiful bar in the mail!

  • Julie

    The bananas puzzle me, but the brulee makes it all okay…

    I’d vote for you, mon chou, but my heart belongs to Barack. Maybe next election?

  • Angel

    I VOTE FOR ZEN CHEF!!!

  • Megan.

    chocolate, peanut butter, and banana are the best combination ever. and those bananas look absolutely delicious!

  • Cakebrain

    Well, I’d vote for you Zen (I’m behind anyone who has chocolate)but I’m Canadian and am not eligible. However, we’ve got a big federal election coming up next month. You probably haven’t heard of that ’cause apparently Canadian politics isn’t so exciting…so much so that Canadians have “electile dysfunction”.

  • Ann

    You’ll always be the president of food in my book! I WANT those banana bars!

  • T.W. Barritt at Culinary Types

    That’s the best political deal I’ve heard all year. I’m in! You’ve got my vote!

  • AzAzura

    you’re gorgeous,i love you … err i mean the Milk chocolate , peanut and banana bar

  • Uncle Dee

    pack these and sell them in convenience stores. i’ll boycott the mars bars.

  • Cynthia

    There aren’t enough bruleed bananas in this world anyway. – it’s statment like these increase my fondness of you :)

  • white on rice couple

    I’ve got my button maker ready and waiting for your picture! I’ll make tens, hundreds, thousands and even millions to send them out to all bloggers if it means getting you that much closer to the presidency!

    How cool would that be if there was a private chef as prez?!!

    Geez, those banana bars look so good. I just had a big glass of wine with cheese and bread. Now a dessert like yours will be the perfect finish.

  • The Caked Crusader

    If only I had a vote…..sigh!

  • foodhuntress79

    I’d vote for Pichet Ong – independent party- Zen already has too many fans. (Peace, Zen Chef!)

  • dirtykitchensecrets

    How divine!

  • glamah16

    I would vote for whatever you ran fo. Theworld need more bruleed banannas.

  • cook eat FRET

    i would vote for you any day for anything. because you are WONDERFUL and can cook your ass off to boot…

    love you
    mean it

  • daphne

    That will hit the right spot in me. It looks amazing! Can’t u send some to me?

  • Big Boys Oven

    this is so awesome delicious!

  • TavoLini

    chocolate. peanut butter. torches. You have successfully incorporated three of my favorites!

  • Chicopea

    brilliant! ok, u can’t possibly be this adorable and top it off with choco-ban. c’mon zen, lets be fair here! And have you watched the Palin skits from saturday night live? Tina Fey is my hero!

  • Anali

    You’ve got my vote ZC! Sure constitutionally you need to be American born to be President, but cutting up the Constitution into shreds sure hasn’t stopped our current president from many of his actions…. All we need is a little Amendment. But I digress, we’re talking about chocolate here! Yum! ; )

  • chicky*bits

    Wow, how did I miss this?? The caramelized bananas are just glorious.

    America would be so lucky!!

  • anudivya

    First time on your blog… lovely recipes and impeccable presentations. And you are a private chef! Bet you have happy clients…

  • Emi Reiner

    I’m not able to see your photos on these older posts. 

  • Anonymous

    They were deleted from the old server by mistake. I’m in the process of re-shooting them.