Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

    It's finally Easter weekend! If your family is anything like mine, you love to wake up to treats on Easter morning. I made a lot of our treats this year. Reese's eggs are a definite favorite! These homemade peanut butter eggs are pretty close to the real thing! 

Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

Ingredients:

- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) of butter, softened

- 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter

- 1 cup of confectioners sugar

- 1/4 cup of graham cracker crumbs

- 1 (12 ounce) package of chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

    Mix together the butter, peanut butter, sugar, and graham cracker crumbs until completely combined. It should be crumbly, but not dry. Shape tablespoon scoops of the dough into eggs shapes and place them in the freezer for 10 minutes. Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler. Remove the peanut butter eggs from the freezer and dip them into the chocolate, let them set, and enjoy.

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

    I actually made these cookies months ago for a friend! They're really chewy and super good. I just forgot to blog them. I know it's cookie season so, here they are!

Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup of butter, softened

- 1/2 cup of sugar

- 1/2 cup of brown sugar

- 1/2 cup of peanut butter

- 1 egg

- 1 teaspoon of vanilla

- 1 and 1/2 cup of flour

- 1 teaspoon of baking soda

- 1/2 teaspoon of salt

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cream together the butter and sugars. Add the peanut butter, egg, and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix until just incorporated. Scoop the dough into 1 inch scoops and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake the cookies for about 10-12 minutes or until just set. 

Homemade Payday Bars

    Oh man! Payday. The best day of the week! There's the reason that they gave the name to these bars of peanuty goodness. This homemade version of peanuts and nougat is a little less dense. Which, I like. They're not so hard. Super easy, super tasty!

Homemade Payday Bars

Ingredients:

- 1 bag (10 ounce) of peanut butter chips

- 1 can (14 ounce) of sweetened condensed milk

- 3 tablespoons of butter

- 2 cups of mini marshmallows

- 3 cups of dry roasted peanuts, salted and divided

    Butter the bottom and side of a 9x13 baking dish. If you want your bars to be a little thicker, use a 7x11 baking dish. Then, cover the bottom of the pan with half of the peanuts. In a medium sized heavy bottomed pot, melt the peanut butter chips and butter over medium heat. Add in the sweetened condensed milk and then the marshmallows. Stir until completely melted and combined. Pour the mixture over the peanuts in the baking dish and top with the remaining peanuts. Chill unti they are set, slice, and enjoy.

     

Peanut Butter Bars

    Every other month our church youth group has a soup and sandwich luncheon fundraiser. I usually make something to help out. The adults bring the goods and the kids run the show with serving and clean up. This time around, I made two soups and a dessert! My Creamy Sausage and Cabbage Soup is definitely my fave. I tried my hand at a Lentil soup as well but, that didn't come out as good as I had hoped. I'll have to try that one again. I joke around and call these peanut butter bars Lunch Lady Bars lol! I remember when I was really little having something like these come on my school lunch tray! They're close to my Peanut Butter Bonbons! They're so easy that you make them in the microwave! You have to try these!

Peanut Butter Bars

Ingredients:

- 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs

- 2 cups of confectioners sugar

- 1 cup of creamy peanut butter

- 1 cup of butter

For the frosting:

- 1 and 1/2 cup of chocolate chips (I like milk chocolate)

- 1/4 cup of peanut butter

    To start with the bottom layer, place the cups of butter and peanut butter into a microwave safe bowl. Warm them in the microwave for a minute. Remove and stir until creamy. You may have to pop them back in there for another few seconds. Mix the graham cracker crumbs and the confectioners sugar into the melted butter mixture. Spread it all into the bottom of a greased 9x13 pan and pop it into the refrigerator. In a separate microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips and peanut butter for 30 seconds. Remove from the microwave, mix well, and repeat until the mixture is smooth. Take the pan out of the fridge and evenly spread the chocolate mixture on top. Pop the whole thing back in the fridge for about 30 minutes, slice, and serve.

Church Luncheon success! 

Peanut Butter Cookie Lasagna

    Oh. My. Gosh. Nutter Butter goodness! A few friends of mine from my Gainesville days got together over the weekend for a little cookout. Frankie and I got some food together and made the trip up there for the day. My friend Shannon sent me this recipe and asked if I could make it! Of course I could and I did! Yum-o!!

Peanut Butter Cookie Lasagna

Ingredients:

- 1 package of Nutter Butter cookies, chopped into fourths

- 1 cup of peanut butter, melted

- 1 package of vanilla instant pudding mix

- 2 cups of cold milk

- 10 Reeses cups, chopped

- 1 (8 ounce) tub of cool whip

    Prepare pudding as directed and set aside. In a casserole dish (I used an 11x8 because 8x8 didn't seem large enough) place half of the chopped cookies. Drizzle the cookies with the melted peanut butter and top with half of the Reeses, pudding, and cool whip. Then, spread the rest of the cookies on top of cool whip layer, drizzle peanut butter, spread the rest of the pudding, and then the rest of the cool whip. Top with the rest of the Reeses and drizzle the rest of the peanut butter. Let refrigerate for a few hours. It's probably a good idea to do it a day ahead to let the cookies soften.

Peanut Butter Blondies

Is it a peanut butter cookie? Is it a blondie? It's both! 

Peanut Butter Blondies

Ingredients:

- 1 stick of butter, melted

- 1 cup of brown sugar, packed

- 1 egg

- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

- 2/3 cup of creamy peanut butter

- a pinch of salt

- 1 cup of flour

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare an 8x8 baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the egg, vanilla, and peanut butter. Mix well. Mix in the flour and salt until combined. Pour and spread batter evenly into prepared baking pan and bake for 20-25 minutes (until toothpick is inserted and comes out clean). 

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Energy Bites

    I was looking for a snack that I can take to work every day. I think I've pulled my resources and created something pretty healthy and dangerously easy on the taste buds. Flaxseed is full of fiber and is believed to reduce the risks of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes! Chia seeds are also packed full of fiber and protein! The word chia actually derives from the Mayan "chiabaan", which means "strengthening"! Besides the super healthy stuff, I've thrown in some coconut and chocolate chips to mix it up a bit. Yummy!

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Energy Bites

Ingredients:

- 1 and 1/2 cup of quick oats

- 1/2 cup of toasted coconut flakes

- 1/2 cup of milled flaxseed

- 1/4 cup of chia seeds

- 1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips

- 1/2 cup of peanut butter

- 1/3 cup of honey

    In a medium sized bowl, spoon mix together the oats, coconut, flaxseed, chia seeds, and mini chocolate chips. Once combined, add the peanut butter and honey. Mix well and roll into bite sized balls. One or two of these little bites are probably a serving size, so repress the want to eat the whole batch lol. 

Soft Serve Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

    So, I kind of want to eat this for breakfast everyday. Earlier this week, I sliced up some bananas and put them in the freezer with every intention of making my ice cream creation that night. Needless to say, it got really cold this week! Record lows for Florida and we were in deep freeze for 11 hours on Thursday night! That doesn't happen all the time. So, three days later. I'm loving that the sun is shining and it's in the 70's today! Despite the weather, this is a great snack for the kids after school or even a healthy breakfast.  Or, in my case, to ease a slight hangover. But most importantly, it's freaking delicious!

Soft Serve Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

Ingredients:

- 2 good sized bananas, sliced and frozen for several hours

- 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of creamy peanut butter

- 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt

- 1 tablespoon of milk

- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

    It's pretty easy. Just put all of the ingredients in a food processor and blend the crap out of it. If it's too thin for your taste, stick it in the freezer for a bit. I topped mine with mini m&m's.

I may have been singing Gwen Stefani
while it was blending.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Bars

    You can't go wrong where peanut butter and chocolate are concerned! Here's a quick and easy idea for a semi-homemade dessert!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie Bars

Ingredients:

- 1 (18 ounce) package of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough

- 3 cups of confectioners sugar

- 1 cup of peanut butter

- 2 tablespoons of butter, softened

- 1/4 cup of water

- 1 cup of milk chocolate chips

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Press cookie dough into the bottom of a 9 inch square baking pan. Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for 15 minutes. In a medium bowl, combine the confectioners sugar, peanut butter, butter, and water. Mix well, until creamy. Spoon the peanut butter mixture and smooth evenly on top of the baked cookie crust. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals, until completely melted. Pour melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter layer. Refrigerate for an hour and cut into bars.  

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats

    I may not be a human mom, but I am a doggie mommy! I have two beautiful Chihuahuas, Bruiser and Sookie. They can be a little picky when it comes to treats. So, I was hesitant when I decided to make them homemade treats. Let me just say, they went crazy for these! 

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Dog Treats

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup of oats

- 1 cup of whole wheat flour

- 1 banana, mashed

- 1/3 cup of creamy peanut butter

- 1 egg

    Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, mix together all of the ingredients. Roll out the dough, about 1/4 inch thick. Use cookie cutters to cut out cookie shapes. Place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes.

Bruiser loves them!!!!!!!

Peanut Butter Bonbons

    It's finally here!!! The twelfth and final day in my countdown! Merry Christmas Eve everyone! I hope that you are all enjoying time with family and friends. I just finished making my favorite Christmas bonbons. I got this recipe from my mom years ago. I've been making them every Christmas for years and I have to say, they rock! They're creamy AND crunchy! what???

Peanut Butter Bonbons

Ingredients:

- 2 tablespoons of softened butter

- 1/2 cup of confectioners' sugar

- 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter

- 3/4 cup of graham cracker crumbs

- 3 squares of chocolate almond bark

    Cream together the butter, sugar, and peanut butter. Mix in the graham cracker crumbs. Form into one inch balls. Melt almond bark and drizzle on top. I sprinkled toasted coconut on some of mine. These are my favorite!!!

Peanut Butter Nutella Swirl Cookies

    We are already to day number eight in my 12 days of Christmas cookies! These swirl cookies are everything that a cookie should be. Peanut butter + Nutella = happiness!

Peanut Butter Nutella Swirl Cookies

Ingredients:

- 1/2 cup of butter at room temperature

- 3/4 cup of peanut butter

- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar

- 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

- 1 egg

- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

- 1 3/4 cups of flour

- 3/4 teaspoon of baking soda

- 1/4 teaspoon of salt

- 1/2 cup of Nutella

    Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together the butter, peanut butter, and sugars until mixture is fluffy. Then, add in the egg and vanilla and beat until combined. 

    In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the peanut butter mixture until just combined. 

    Melt the Nutella in the microwave for about 20 seconds. Drizzle the Nutella over your dough mix and fold it in to create a marbled look. Cover and chill for about 15-20 minutes. Roll the dough into small balls and gently depress with a fork after placing them one inch apart on a greased baking sheet. 

    Bake them for about 8-10 minutes and allow them to cool a few minutes before removing them from the baking sheet. Beautiful!!!!!

Flourless Peanut Butter Blossoms

    Today is the fifth day in my cookie countdown to Christmas! Peanut butter kiss blossoms have always been a favorite of mine any time of the year. This recipe is super rich and chewy!

Flourless Peanut Butter Blossoms

Ingredients:

- 1 cup of creamy peanut butter

- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, plus extra for garnish

- 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar

- 1 large egg

- 1/4 teaspoon of salt

- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

- Hershey's kisses

    In a large bowl combined all ingredient except the kisses. Press dough together into a ball, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to an hour. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

    Roll dough into one inch balls and roll in granulated sugar. Place balls on a greased cookie sheet. Gently depress each ball because they will not spread very much in the oven. Bake for 7-10 minutes. When they are through baking, remove from the oven and gently press a kiss into each cookie. Allow them to cool for a few minutes before removing them from the cookie sheet, they will be very soft.