Bert Swope
No matter which peanut butter variety you prefer, these recipes will make holiday food prep easy! Explore both sweet and salty options – some that are even gluten-free!
Peanuts contain high concentrations of oleic acid, an omega-6 fat proven to lower bad cholesterol and blood pressure levels. Include them as part of a heart-healthy diet for maximum benefits.
Buckeyes
Peanut butter and chocolate make an irresistibly delicious duo, and these Chocolate Dipped Buckeyes make a fun treat you can whip up quickly. While most peanut butter candy recipes require baking, this one involves rolling soft peanut butter mixture into balls before dipping them in chocolate. These treats should last at room temperature for several days, in the fridge for weeks and (when wrapped tightly) even longer in the freezer!
Use high-quality creamy peanut butter for optimal results, and avoid natural varieties without stabilizers; they tend to separate easily. Jif or Skippy brands contain added oil that keeps peanut butter from crumbling too easily.
Before rolling the peanut butter mixture into balls, I recommend freezing it for 30 minutes to make it easier and prevent melting too quickly when dipped in hot chocolate. This also prevents too many of them from melting too soon!
Fudge
Make this creamy peanut butter fudge in just minutes using just four ingredients! Give as a gift, or enjoy as an afternoon snack.
Bring sugar, milk, and salt to a boil over medium-low heat in a saucepan; whisking constantly, bring to 234-236degF (113-113degC). Remove from the heat; stir in butter, peanut butter, and vanilla extract until the mixture becomes creamy and smooth before pouring it into an 8″ square pan lined with parchment paper; chill until set.
Optional Add-Ins: As an extra touch, garnish with broken pretzels, mini chocolate chips, or M&M candies before the fudge sets up.
This quick and simple peanut butter fudge comes together quickly with only four ingredients! No candy thermometer or stove is required; once set, cut into small squares to serve or give as gifts to all the peanut butter fans in your life. Plus, this recipe doubles easily!
Rice Krispie Treats
These fun and tasty treats will delight kids of all ages. Make it extra tasty by topping with chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanuts or flaky sea salt for variety!
When making peanut butter Rice Krispie treats, melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. When it has fully melted and turned golden brown, add marshmallows until melted, stirring in Rice Krispies until evenly mixed. Pour this mixture into a 9 by 13-inch pan lined with parchment paper and lightly coated with nonstick spray; use a wooden spoon or spatula sprayed with nonstick spray to press into place in dish.
Switch out Dandies marshmallows for classic vanilla or vegan versions for dairy and gluten-free treats that you can customize further by layering with melted chocolate for extra variety.
No-Bake Cookies
Cookies are one of the greatest treats around, and these no-bake ones come together quickly. A dash of vanilla adds great flavor, while the chewiness from oats keeps these bites deliciously chewy. Plus, this recipe can easily be customized – try switching out peanut butter for another creamy nut butter such as almond or cashew butter; adding dried cherries or flaky sea salt as extra garnishments!
Pre-measure your ingredients for this recipe to ensure success, as the journey’s end can move quickly. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and prepare a medium cookie scoop in preparation.
Once the sugar, milk, and cocoa has boiled for one minute, remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, oats, vanilla extract and spoonfuls of peanut butter onto your baking sheet to cool and harden before storing in an airtight container at room temperature or freezing them until later use.
Stuffed Dates
Dates have a caramel-like, chewy texture that makes them the ideal vehicle for creamy peanut butter and dark chocolate fillings, creating an irresistibly tasty treat that’s packed with fiber + antioxidants and healthy fats from the peanut butter. When made into these stuffed dates snacks or desserts they become sweetly satisfying yet virtually impossible to stop eating – not to mention they contain plenty of healthy fats from peanut butter too.
To prepare the dates, slice them lengthwise without cutting all the way through. Remove and pat each date down until a crevice forms that can be filled with peanut butter (I used natural peanut butter without added sugar or salt); any type of nut butter would work; alternatively, tahini or sunflower seed butter are great choices too!
To complete this recipe, melt chocolate chips over boiling water (double boiler method) or microwave. Dip each stuffed date in the chocolate before finishing off with coarse sea salt to serve.
Energy Bites
Peanut butter energy bites are a quick and delicious snack option to give kids during school breaks or between meals. Plus, this no-bake recipe makes life simpler! This snack also makes a nutritious treat for busy adults looking for an energy boost between meals!
This recipe uses an assortment of whole grains and nutritious ingredients, such as oats, honey, powdered sugar and chocolate chips, for optimal taste and texture. Add extra nutritional value by including ground flax seed, chia seeds or wheat germ to increase its nutritional value further.
To create protein balls, either use a food processor or rubber spatula to combine dry ingredients before hand-forming into bites. For an indulgent treat, dark chocolate chunks and/or shredded coconut may be added for an added dimension. For an nut free energy bite option, swap out peanut butter with sunflower seed butter; alternatively press mixture into baking dish before chilling to form energy bars.
Chocolate Truffles
These truffles make an easy treat to prepare in advance for holiday parties and are easy to transport. Plus, they make the perfect addition to a charcuterie board or dessert tray at any holiday party! You can easily incorporate other festive flavors, like Irish cream liqueur and espresso powder, into this recipe to give them different flavors.
For an easy ganache recipe, cut chocolate into small pieces and place in a heatproof bowl. Pour hot heavy cream over it, and let sit for 3-4 minutes. Whisk the mixture until smooth if necessary or microwave briefly to speed up melting time if necessary.
Once your ganache is set, use a cookie scoop to form truffles and then roll each in unsweetened cocoa powder. Refrigerate until firm before dipping each truffle in melted dark chocolate coating using either a toothpick (or you could also use a spoon), before returning them back onto their respective cookie sheet and refrigerating for at least an hour before refining further.
Granola Bars
Store-bought granola bars may be convenient, but their ingredients tend to contain long lists and refined sugars that you have little control over. By making your own homemade granola bars at home, you control what goes into each bite – creating something deliciously sweet yet filling at snack time!
The ideal granola bar recipes combine nutritious and delectable ingredients into delectable treats. These peanut butter granola bars feature nutritious brown sugar balanced by kosher salt to balance their sweetness, old-fashioned rolled oats for chewy texture, while crunchy puffed rice cereal adds crunch.
Make this granola more unique by customizing its ingredients with raisins, cranberries, dried apricots, chocolate chips or any of your own favorite mix-ins, such as raisins, cranberries or dried apricots; try switching up your nuts for different ingredients like seeds such as pepitas or sunflower seeds; or even try swapping out nuts altogether in favor of something like shredded coconut instead – the key here is making sure the mixture blends evenly so your bars will remain intact when baking!
Peanut Butter Muddy Buddies
Muddy Buddies, more commonly referred to as puppy chow, are an easy and delicious treat that are ideal for holidays or as quick snacks in between meals. This recipe provides step-by-step guidance while adding different flavor variations as needed.
Choose either rice or corn Chex cereal and any flavor of creamy peanut butter (not natural varieties with oil separation). For optimal texture and taste, pick a no-stir brand.
Pour the cereal into a large bowl. Melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter together in the microwave before stirring in vanilla extract until completely mixed in. Pour this mixture over the cereal and toss until well coated – for added fun add trail mix for an extra bit. Transfer into a bag filled with powdered sugar for easier handling – shake vigorously to coat!
