As a child, peanut butter was not my favorite. As an adult, though, it’s become a staple in my diet. Peanut butter is now one of my favorite things to bake with and I can’t get enough of peanut butter desserts.
Did you know November is peanut butter month? Since it’s around the corner, I thought this week I would share five Blue Ribbon peanut butter dessert recipes that are favorites of mine and, based on the number of pinches, members’ love too.
“My husband was craving a snack and couldn’t quite pick something,” shares Beth Gordon (South Charleston, OH). “I asked him to describe for me what he wanted, he said chocolate graham cracker type bottom, creamy peanut butter middle, and chocolate on the top… so I came up with this Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Cheesecake Squares recipe.”
Oh wow, these are always a big hit. A creamy peanut butter cheesecake layer sits on a delicious chocolate crust. On top is a super chocolaty ganache frosting. These bars are very rich and it’s hard to eat just one.
Mary Ann F.’s (San Diego, CA) Easy Peanut Butter Cake & Peanut Butter Frosting is a must-make for any peanut butter lover. Moist and delicious, it may convert non-peanut butter fans.
“I made this in a pinch with ingredients I had sitting in the pantry,” explains Mary Ann. “The cake is pretty darn tasty even without the frosting.” You taste the peanut butter in every layer of the cake and icing.
Graham crackers combined with peanut butter add a slight texture to the filling of Mrs. D’s Homemade Peanut Butter Cups. They really are like our favorite peanut butter cups.
With this recipe, I usually end up with a lot more filling than chocolate because I make them in muffin tins, so I just save the filling in the fridge or freezer to make another batch,” says Mrs. D. “Or, you could spread the filling into a 9×13 pan and then spread the chocolate over the top.”
However you end up making them, you need to Pinch this recipe. These would make a lovely hostess gift for the holidays. Package in a cellophane bag with a lovely tag and you have a thoughtful gift. If your friend loves chocolate and peanut butter, they will love these too.
The only combination I love more than peanut butter and chocolate is peanut butter and jelly. Susan Bartley (Tualatin, OR) pairs these flavors together perfectly in her Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes recipe.
“Young and old alike love the marriage of peanut butter and jelly,” thinks Susan. “I use strawberry or raspberry most of the time, but really any flavor will work.”
The cupcake itself is very dense, but moist, and the perfect vessel for the jelly. Be careful the jelly oozes out… but it’s so good. Susan’s frosting is sweet, creamy and the perfect finishing touch. We used strawberry jam, but get creative and use your favorite.
Just reading the name of Rebecka Evans’ (Danville, CA) Oreo Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes we thought these would be good. Only they weren’t good … they were amazing.
“Deliciously rich, they are perfect for any holiday gathering not to mention, they are super easy to make with only six ingredients,” reveals Rebecka.
The chewy brownie cupcake with the smooth peanut butter center is perfection on top of a crunchy Oreo base. Whether added to your holiday dessert table, served at a bake sale or you make these just because it’s Friday, your family and friends are going to love these.
If peanut butter is on your list of favorite foods too, definitely try these goodies. From cookies to pies, you can check out other Blue Ribbon peanut butter dessert recipes here. Happy Pinching!