Pleasureful Peanut Butter Possibilities

Peanut butter is one of those treats that can go with anything from sweet treats like chocolate to healthy snacks like celery. Whether you’re looking for something healthy or indulgent, here are a few ideas for you to enjoy with your friends and family (if you can convince yourself to give these snacks away!)

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes

This recipe is a favorite for me; it’s a chance to take a standard cupcake and add in an unexpected pop of peanut butter and creamy deliciousness.

Ingredients

• 1 Box Chocolate Cake Mix
• 1 Cup Salted Butter
• 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 4 Cups Powdered Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2-3 Tablespoons Milk or Heavy Whipping Cream

Instructions

1. Make cupcakes with the chocolate cake mix as instructed on the box.
2. As your cupcakes cool, begin working on your frosting. Combine one stick of salted butter (room temperature) with powdered sugar in a mixer. Set for medium to high mix.
3. Mix in your milk and vanilla extract next. Then, add in your peanut butter. Mix until combined. Add in more milk or heavy whipping cream if you want your icing thinner for piping. If you make it too thin, add in more powdered sugar.
4. Pipe onto your cupcakes, and if you’re inclined, top your cupcake with a chocolate peanut butter snack or even crushed pretzels to compliment the flavors.

Puppy Chow

This is yet another chocolate peanut butter snack, but when I thought of my favorite peanut butter recipes, there’s no way that this one was going to stay off my list! This is a go-to snack on long car rides, camping trips, and those days where you need chocolate/peanut butter goodness.

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Semisweet or Dark Chocolate Chips
• 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
• 6 Cups Rice Chex Cereal
• 1 ½ Cups Powdered Sugar

Instructions

1. Melt your peanut butter and chocolate together in the microwave. To avoid burning your mixture, microwave for 30 seconds, stir, and then repeat the process until the two are fully blended and silky smooth.
2. Pour 3 cups of cereal into a large bowl. Pour half of your chocolate/peanut butter mix over the cereal. Then pour in 3 more cups of cereal and the rest of your chocolate mix.
3. Stir together the cereal and the melt until everything is evenly coated. If you have too much chocolate left over and sticking to the bowls, add in another ¼ cup of cereal until all the chocolate mix is coating the cereal.
4. Cool your mixture in the fridge or somewhere cool until the bowl is about room temperature.
5. Mix in your 1 ½ cups of powdered sugar until it’s all blended.
6. Allow your puppy chow to cool in the fridge or wherever it’s cool and harden fully and then enjoy!

PB & Fruit Quesadilla

Peanut butter isn’t just good for desserts! This yummy treat is an amazing mid-day snack or even a meal with fruit as the main substance of the snack and the peanut butter providing the protein.

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons Creamy Peanut Butter
• 2 Tortillas
• 1 Sliced Banana
• 4-5 Sliced Strawberries

Instructions

1. Preheat a large skillet over medium heat and spray the pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Spread peanut butter evenly over each tortilla. On one of the tortillas, line up your banana and strawberry slices. Place the other tortilla on top to create a sandwich.
3. In the hot skillet, add your quesadilla and cook for about 2 minutes on each side or until each side is golden brown.
4. Remove your quesadilla and cut into 6 triangles. Enjoy your snack!

If you want even more peanut butter inspiration, check out my recipe for peanut blossom cookies in this post, and try out this delicious peanut butter pie from my pie month recipe collection. Share your results and your favorite peanut butter recipes to inspire cooks and bakers just like you!