Peanut Butter Pie

I’ve tried a few different Peanut Butter Pies over the past few months and this one is, by far, the best. The fun part is that you can really do whatever you want with it. You can add different types of candy or drizzle with some type of syrup. It’s a sponge for any sweet (or salty if you’re adventurous) ingredient you want to add!

 

It is also really easy to make this pie on the lighter side. I have tried it with fat free cream cheese before and you really can’t even tell the difference.

 

 

If you want to make this recipe even easier than it already is, you can buy a ready made graham cracker crust at the store. But this crust recipe is so irresistible, I had to make the time for it.

Makes 8 – 12 servings

Graham Cracker Crust
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
pinch of salt

 

 

Preheat the oven to 325° F and spray a springform pan with cooking spray (If you don’t have a springform pan, no worries. A regular tart pan will work just fine). Mix the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, cinnamon and salt with the butter until all the butter is incorporated. Press the crust down into the bottom of the pan. Place in the oven for about 15 minutes.

 

 

Let the crust cool for at least 10 minutes before pouring the peanut butter filling in.

 

 

Peanut Butter Filling
8 ounces softened Philadelphia Cream Cheese
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup chocolate chips
14 Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, chopped up

 

 

Mix the cream cheese, peanut butter, brown sugar and heavy cream with a mixer until smooth. Add 1/2 cup of the chocolate chips and 1/2 of the chopped up Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and mix until well combined. Pour the batter onto the crust and sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips and Reese’s on top. Place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe adapted slightly from: Picky Palate

 

 

Book Of Doing

Recently, I have been inspired to start doing things that would normally be out of my comfort zone and begin to find the things that I truly love to do. So, I bought this really great book called The Book of Doing by Allison Arden.

I am going to start doing the things in this book and I am going to blog about my progress. But my activities won't be limited to the ones in the book. I am going to attempt other things that aren't in it as well. I think this will be a fun activity to help me (and hopefully all of you) find new things that we love. You should all join in!

I will, of course, be taking suggestions from all of you to aide in my activity choices.

Can't wait to see how this goes :)

Peanut Butter Bacon Blondies

I’ve always wanted to try bacon in baking but I was always a little scared. Then I thought, well, I get maple syrup on my bacon when I have it with pancakes, so I already know I liked the sweet with the salty. Let me tell you, it was honestly one of the best desserts I’ve ever had. The sweet bacon is a great contrast and tastes fantastic. I promise this recipe won’t disappoint.

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (2 sticks), melted
2 cups brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsps vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
2 cups all purpose flower
6 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter and the brown sugar until the mixture is smooth. Add in the eggs and vanilla.

In another bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and the mix it into the sugar/butter bowl. Add in the bacon.

Spread the batter into a 9×13 pan and bake for about 30-35 minutes or until the knife comes out clean when stuck into the center.

While that’s baking, you can make the peanut butter icing. Here is the recipe for that:

Peanut Butter Icing

1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 – 2 cups powdered sugar (start with 1 cup and taste it, if it’s not sweet enough add more)
1 tsp vanilla
2 – 3 tbsps milk
6 slices of bacon, fried and crumbled

Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and peanut butter. Add the sugar in gradually. Add in the vanilla. Add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time until the icing is the consistency that you want.

When the blondies are completely cooled, top them with the icing and then the crumbled bacon. Then, cut into bars and enjoy!
Recipe from: How Sweet It Is

Chubby Hubby Truffles

Since I love Chubby Hubby ice cream so much, I wanted to do a little something in honor of this amazing ice cream flavor. My first thought was some sort of turtle cheesecake but then I stumbled upon these little gems. They are peanut butter and pretzel bites dipped in chocolate just like the ice cream. AND even better, they don’t require any baking. I recommend making a few batches because they are going to be flying off the plate!

 

Here's what you'll need:

 

 

1 1/2 cups pretzel pieces

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1 Tbs unsalted butter, room temperature
2 Tbs light brown sugar
pinch of salt
3 Tbs powdered sugar
1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
1 Tbs vegetable shortening

 

How to make them:

 

Put the pretzel pieces in a baggie and smash the up into little pieces (rolling over them with a rolling pin works really well).

 

In a medium-sized bowl mix the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar and salt until smooth. Then add the pretzel pieces and mix them in thoroughly. Add the powdered sugar and mix until everything is combined.

 

Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper (if you are like me and hate parchment paper, just use foil). Take a small scooper (or just your hands) and mold the batter into little balls and place on the baking sheet until there is no batter left. Place into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

 

When you are ready to dip the truffles, place the chocolate chips and vegetable shortening into a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 seconds intervals at 50% power stirring after each interval until the chocolate sauce is smooth and creamy.

 

One at a time, dip the truffles into the chocolate and use a spoon or fork to roll it around until it is completely covered. Place the truffle back onto the baking sheet. Repeat this for all truffles. Place the baking sheet back into the refrigerator for another 30 minutes.

If you want, you can add a little peanut butter drizzle on top.

 

Recipe from: Brown Eyed Baker

 

 

 

S'mores Bars

Who needs a campfire for amazing s’mores? And what can be better than making them into a brownie? Nothing? OK, maybe world peace or Ryan Gosling’s abs, but let’s just say these brownies are really good! AND they are easy to make which you really can’t beat. They are great for a group of kids who want to get their sugar fix (I made them for my 15 year old sister’s birthday party and they were a huge hit). How can you resist these gooey bars of pure happiness?

Here’s what you’ll need:
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 tsp of cinnamon
pinch of salt
1 brownie mix box
3 1/2 cups mini marshmallows

Here’s what to do:

Preheat the oven to 325° F and the line an 8×8 inch pan (I used an 8×10 casserole dish) with foil and spray it with Pam.

Mix the melted butter with the graham cracker crumbs until all the butter is incorporated. Press the crust down into the bottom of the pan. Place the crust into the oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

While the crust is cooking, prepare the brownie mix as it says on the box. When the crust is done, pull it out and pour the brownie mix on top. Put it back in the oven and cook it for as long as it says on the box (I cooked mine for about 40 minutes). You’ll know it’s done when you put a knife through the center and it comes out clean.

Next, switch your oven settings to broil. Place the marshmallows on top of the brownie. The marshmallows will melt, so it is ok if there is still some brownie showing. Put the pan into the broiler for about 1 minute or until the marshmallows are golden brown (mine burnt a little, but I like them like that). Make sure to check them after about 45 seconds because they could easily burn if you leave the in for too long.

Leave the brownies to cool for a little while and the dig in!!   Recipe From: Lovin' From the Oven