Chocolate Peanut Butter Radio Bars
Decadent chocolate cake topped with a scoop of whipped peanut butter frosting…and then coated with chocolate glaze! These Chocolate Peanut Butter Radio Bars are one heck of an awesome dessert!
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As I noted in the previous marshmallow post, radio bars are an unknown term in the dessert world. A local bakery created this concept of a piece of cake topped with a large bloop of frosting and then coated with chocolate glaze. A google search of radio bars doesn’t turn up much. It’s time we joined forces in the blogosphere and introduce radio bars to the world! Seriously. These things are amazing! (Truthfully, it’s just cake in a different form…but who doesn’t love a good slice of cake!?)
What’s in a name? That which we call a rose radio bar by any other name would smell as sweet still be freakin’ delicious. (My apologies to Billy Shakes on manipulating his words there, but it just had to be done.) Seriously though. I have no idea how the term ‘radio bar’ originated, but I’m ok with it. It’s like my Dad calling himself ‘Wild Man Dave’ back when he was a radio DJ in high school. My Dad is a great guy, but ‘wild man’ is not exactly my first choice of words. His brother? Perhaps. He did jump off the roof of their house with just an umbrella back when they were kids. Turns out Mary Poppins wasn’t real.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Radio Bars
If you love the chocolate + peanut butter combo as much as I do, then these Chocolate Peanut Butter Radio Bars need to be on your dessert menu soon! Beware: this recipe is a bit more challenging, mainly because of the time it takes. After each stage, these radio bars need a quick visit to the freezer. The cake is easier to slice into perfect squares when it’s slightly frozen. The frosting is easier to pipe when it’s slightly frozen. The glaze is easier to pour when the bars are slightly frozen. You get my point. If you break this dessert down into 3 pieces (the bars, the frosting and the glaze) then it doesn’t seem as daunting! But here’s a tip: one bite of these Chocolate Peanut Butter Radio Bars, and you’ll agree that they are worth the effort!
So I challenge you, fellow bakers and bloggers – let’s make radio bars a thing! What flavor combo of radio bar would you make? There are so many good ones out there! What about a chocolate cake topped with mint green frosting? Or a vanilla cake topped with an almond frosting? Or a…you fill in the blank! Cheers and happy baking, my friends!
Did you make a batch of these Chocolate Peanut Butter Radio Bars at home? Leave a comment. Or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog)!
Looking for more tasty chocolate + peanut butter recipes? Check out these other favorites, too:
Chocolate Peanut Butter Bread
Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
Reese’s Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Baked Chocolate Peanut Butter Donuts
Chocolate Peanut Butter Radio Bars
Ingredients
For the Chocolate Cake
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅔ cup cocoa powder
- ⅔ cup hot coffee or hot water
- ⅔ cup milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¾ cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
For the Peanut Butter Frosting
- 8 oz. cream cheese softened
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 8 oz. frozen whipped topping thawed
For the Chocolate Glaze
- 2½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ⅓ cup corn syrup
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter
Instructions
For the Chocolate Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease and flour sides of a 9”x13”baking pan; line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Set pan aside.
- Using a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder and coffee until well combined. Stir in the milk and vanilla extract; set aside.
- Using a countertop mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and both sugars together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy (~4-5 minutes).
- Add the eggs one at a time, mixing until just incorporated after each addition.
- Add half of the flour mixture to the bowl; mix on low speed until just combined.
- Add half of the liquid mixture; mix on low speed until just combined.
- Repeat with the remaining flour and liquid.
- Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake at 350°F for 36-38 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out mostly clean.
- Let cake cool in the pan for at least 30 minutes, then cover and transfer to a freezer for at least 60 minutes, or overnight.
For the Peanut Butter Frosting
- Using a handheld mixer, beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar.
- Add peanut butter; beat until well-combined.
- Add whipped topping; beat until well combined.
- Place frosting in freezer for 15-20 minutes.
For the Chocolate Glaze
- Using a medium heatproof mixing bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract; set bowl aside.
- Using a medium saucepan, add sugar, cocoa powder, corn syrup, salt and ½ cup (1 stick) of butter. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Continue cooking until mixture reaches 240°F.
- Remove saucepan from heat and slowly pour liquid into bowl with the powdered sugar, whisking constantly as you pour. Add remaining ½ cup (1 stick) of butter and stir until butter has completely melted.
- Let mixture cool until just warm to the touch.
To Assemble
- Remove the chocolate cake from the freezer and slice into 3”x3” squares.
- Using two spoons (or a large piping tip), place a large scoop of peanut butter frosting onto the center of each square. Place squares back in freezer for 30 minutes.
- Remove squares from freezer and pour warm (not hot) frosting evenly on top. (Tip: Place squares on a cooling rack set over a baking pan. That way, the pan catches any excess frosting as it’s poured.)
- Place squares back in freezer for 15 minutes, or until chocolate frosting has hardened.
- Serve chilled and store any leftovers in the refrigerator.
I am still yet to try a radio bar, but by anytime – this dessert looks absolutely divine. I need to try both this one, and your recipe from February too! I think this may be up first though – I am such a sucker for anything peanut butter!
I’m like you, Alex! A good peanut butter frosting is hard to beat. 🙂 So yes, put radio bars on your list of things to make. I promise you won’t be disappointed!!
I remember your first radio bar post and I’m totally down for making radio bars a thing! Looks incredibly rich and decadent, David and I can’t wait to try. Plus, who doesn’t LOVE chocolate and pb together?? I bet this goes lovely with a glass of red too 😉 Happy weekend, my friend 🙂
Oh, this would absolutely go well with a glass of red. I like where your brain is at, Dawn! 🙂 I hope you had a great weekend, my friend!
They look amazing David! Pinned it right away 🙂
Thank you so much, Sheenam! I truly appreciate the social love here. 🙂
Seriously, if there’s a person on earth who could resist one of these I’d like to meet him (or her). Chocolate and peanut butter were made for each other! Save me, like, five radio bars. Or maybe six. Have a great weekend, David!
I’m with ya, Kelsie! Chocolate + peanut butter go together like, well, like anything good. 🙂 I hope you had an awesome weekend, my friend…and I hope you baked up some delicious treats!!
OK, I’m and old guy, so I remember the days of radio 📻 shows. Maybe it got its name because they are the perfect size dessert to have when listening to Superman on the radio.
Great looking dessert my friend.
Oh, and your uncle jumping from the roof, I bet you dad talked him in to it. That’s what happened to me except it was pillowcase parachutes. It didn’t open.
Perhaps that’s where the name comes from. Who really knows! (Also, who really cares…they’re too good to sit around and debate the name origin. Haha!) It sounds like you and my uncle should sit down and have a chat. Pillow parachutes and umbrellas aren’t the most effective flying tools. 🙂 Thanks, Ron!
I also remember that original radio bar recipe, they looked so good, and now you’ve added peanut butter to the mix! That is what I call a winning dessert.
Hey, I couldn’t help myself with the peanut butter here! Plus, when I really enjoy a recipe, I love doing riffs off of the original…and that’s what happened with these peanut butter radio bars. Yum! Thanks, Matt!
Hi David! I don’t care what these are called, I call them delicious! I like this version better than the other one, not that there is anything wrong with the first one I just prefer the fluffy peanut butter frosting. Have a wonderful weekend!
I’m with ya, Dorothy! A good peanut butter frosting is downright hard (impossible??) to beat. These radio bars might not be a “thing,” but they are quite popular here in our house! Thanks so much, my friend!
I think you’re on to something! These radio bars do look delicious. The cake is so moist and the glaze looks amazing. You just can’t go wrong with all these flavors!
I know you’re not a huge peanut butter fan yourself, Kathy, but I suspect there are some folks in your house who would help polish these radio bars off! Am I right? 🙂
radio bars? mmm what an odd little name for them. but boy do they look fabulously wonderfully delish! i love chocolate and PB together – a match made in heaven. yum! cheers sherry
I do agree that the name is odd, but I promise the result is a good one! Chocolate and peanut butter do go so well together. 🙂 Thanks, Sherry!
Yes please! I love the chocolate and peanut butter combo. And I’m pretty sure you made these amazing radio bars with me in mind didn’t you David? Yum Yum!
Hah! How did you know that you were the inspiration between these radio bars, Neil? 🙂 Too funny, my friend!
I always love a good chocolate and peanut butter dessert, this one looks so yummy. I could probably eat it every day of the week.
Yes! Chocolate + peanut butter is such a tasty combination, Dawn. I could get behind having these each night of the week for sure. 🙂
I’ve never had a radio bar, but clearly I’m missing out! This looks amazing, David!
Well, to be fair, I think radio bars have yet to come into their own, Marissa. But we need to make them a “thing!” Are you in? 🙂
Haha! I was wondering where I heard about Radio Bars! When I read the name I was trying to figure out why it’s vaguely familiar. One thing I do know for sure, these would be devoured in our house! And that whipped peanut butter frosting – YUM!
Hah! Yup, guilty as charged here. The original version was super tasty, but I really wanted to try a peanut butter frosting version. Best.decision.ever. 🙂 Thanks, Kelly!!
Wow David. Looks amazing!
Thank you so much, Mary!! 🙂