Dreamy Chocolate Peanut Bars

From the Pillsbury 7th Grand National contest-winners cookbook: "Peanut butter and chocolate layers on a butterscotch cookie base--a rich, candy-like bar cookie." Mrs. Ernest P. Fletcher won for this recipe. It is indeed dreamy, a heavenly combination of semi-sweet chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and buttery deliciousness!

• Ready In: 40 mins
• Yields: 3 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄3 cups flour
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄3 cup shortening or 1⁄3 cup butter or 1⁄3 cup margarine, melted
• 1  cup brown sugar, firmly packed
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 2  eggs
• 1⁄4 cup peanuts, chopped (optional)
• 1⁄2 cup peanut butter
• 1  tablespoon  cream
• 1  cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1  tablespoon shortening

Directions

1. Stir together flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Blend brown sugar into melted shortening. Cool slightly.
3. Add to brown sugar/shortening mix: vanilla, eggs (one at a time), beating well after each egg. Add the dry ingredients all at once; blend well.
4. Spread into well-greased 9x9 or 11x7-inch pan.
5. Bake in moderate oven (375 F) 15 to 18 minutes until it springs back when touched lightly in the center. Cool slightly (about 5 minutes).
6. Spread with Peanut Butter Topping, then with Chocolate Topping (see below). If desired, sprinkle with chopped peanuts. Cool; cut into bars or squares.
7. Peanut Butter Topping: Heat peanut butter with cream in microwave on low heat, stirring til smooth and blended. Do not overheat.
8. Chocolate Topping: Melt chocolate chips with shortening in microwave on very low heat, stirring just until melted. Do not overheat.