Muddy Buddy Truffles

 

Every year for at least 15 years I've hosted a cookie RECIPE exchange at my work.  I've talked about it in the past, but the gist is that you bring two cookies and a recipe attached for each person.  We've had 25 people and 10 people.  You never know how wants to bake, and what they want to bake.  I always find a few new recipes this way regardless of the number, and this year was no exception, including the one I brought.  

These muddy buddy truffles taste exactly like you would expect them too.  The crunch of the chex and the pb, powdered sugar, and chocolate give them the delicious taste of a muddy buddy, but I thought they were easier to make (I can never shake my muddy buddies evenly).

The original recipe says they make 12, but I got more like 18 out of a batch.  It also said to wait for the chocolate to dry before rolling them in powdered sugar (double rolling), but mine got a little too hard b/c the powdered sugar didn't fully stick.  I think I'll try to roll when it's ALMOST dry next time, but that didn't impact the taste, it was just powdery!  

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

If you have a sweet tooth, this is the pie for you. It also doesn't hurt that it's super simple to throw together.  I took it this week for Easter and nobody complained.  It will for sure stay on the rotation.  

Peanut Butter Pie

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Ingredients:  Premade Oreo Pie Crust 1 c. creamy peanut butter, 1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese (softened), 1/1 4 c. powdered sugar, 1 8 oz container cool whip (thawed), 1/2 c. mini chocolate chips.  

Instructions:  Use a beater to combine the peanut butter and cream cheese.  Once it's well combined, add the powdered sugar.  Last, add the cool whip.  Pour into your pie shell.  Top with mini chocolate chips and chill for at least an hour before serving.  

No Bake Monster Bites

I needed something sweet....I use that term "needed" very loosely, but the struggle was real in the moment.  I didn't want to invest a lot of time, but I wanted something homemade.
These little monster bites are so easy to put together and they really are tasty without a ton of different ingredients.  I recommend chilling for an hour or so before eating, but they are really delicious straight from the spoon as well.  Whether they chill are not often depends on my craving.  I like to half the recipe (half makes about 10).
So, for my future self when I'm craving something quick, easy, and tasty and forget everything I ever knew in my pursuit of hunger quenching desserts-self, make these again.

No Bake Monster Bites

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Ingredients:
1 1/4 c. quick oats, 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1/4 c. honey, 1/3 c. mini M&Ms, 1/3 c. mini chocolate chips
Instructions:  
Mix, Roll, Chill for about an hour (until the peanut butter is more firm).

Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bar

This dessert is the trifecta of all I love.  Peanut butter.  Chocolate.  Oatmeal.  I hope they serve this in heaven.  In the meantime-I'll eat it down here on earth and thanking the inventor of these little goodies, whoever you are!  A friend passed this along to me, some friend-as if I needed this recipe.

Peanut Butter Bars

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Cookie Ingredients: 1 c butter (softened), 1 c. sugar, 2 c. brown sugar, 1 1/2 c peanut butter, 3 eggs, 2 t. vanilla, 1 1/2 t. baking soda, 1/2 t. salt, 3 c. flour, 3 c. quick oats
Frosting Ingredients: 4 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 c. cocoa powder, 1/3 c. butter (softened), 1/3 c. boiling water, 1 t. vanilla, 3/4 c. peanut butter
Instructions:
1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease 9x11 cake pan.
2.  Beat butter and sugar for 2 minutes (until fluffy).  Add peanut butter, vanilla, and egg.
3.  In a second bowl mix the flour, baking soda, and salt and slowly add it to the peanut butter mix.  Beat until combined.
4.  Add oats and stir.  Press dough into pan and bake for 12 minutes (center will be puffy).
5.  Whisk powdered sugar and cocoa.  Add soft butter, boiling water, and vanilla.  Beat until glossy.
6.  When cookie is done baking, Heat 3/4 c. peanut butter just until warm and drizzle it over the cookie.  Spread.
7.  Spread frosting over peanut butter.  Let cool and cut into squares.

Reese's Bars

Last year one of my coworkers (Taylor) brought this dessert to a lunch.  It was a hit, and the better news is-she was willing to share the recipe.  It's a really sweet bar, easy to throw together, and includes peanut butter-which pretty much covers my requirements for a dessert.  I served them at a family dinner-and if there is a pickier panel that my extended family-I've never met them.  So....if you like dessert, or have a hard-to-please family-try this out.

Reese's Bars

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Ingredients:1 white cake mix, 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1/4 c. oil, 1 egg, 1 c. peanut butter chips, 1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips, 1 c. Reese's peanut butter cup minis (or chop up one cup of regular size cups), 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
Instructions:  
1.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Mix cake mix, peanut butter, oil, and egg.
3.  Press cake mix into the bottom of a 9x13 greased pan.
4.  Top crust with peanut butter chips, chocolate chips, and mini peanut butter cups.
5.  Pour sweetened condensed milk over everything.
6.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.
7.  Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

 Two things I love-chocolate and peanut butter....especially when put together in once sentence because they were put together in one recipe.  I found this recipe for super easy chocolate pb bars on girlwhoate and I knew it was right up my alley.  There were really easy to put together and super delicious.
Ingredients:  1 (18.25) pkg yellow cake mix, 1/2 c. butter (melted), 1 c. peanut butter, 2 eggs, 1 (12 oz) pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used regular milk chocolate b/c I'm a rebel) 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condenses milk, 2 T. butter, 2 t. vanilla, 1 c. coconut (optional and I skipped this more b/c I didn't want to buy it and less about taste-I'm sure it's great).
Instructions:
1.  Heat over to 325.
2.  Mix cake mix, 1/2 c. melted butter, peanut butter, and eggs in a large bowl.  Set aside 1 1/2 c. of the mix for the topping and press the rest into the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan.

 3.  Over medium heat melt together chocolate chips, condensed milk, and 2 T. butter.  Remove from heat when it is melted and stir in vanilla and coconut.  Pour over the peanut butter mix.

 4.  Crumble peanut butter mix over chocolate mix.

5.  Bake for 25 minutes.  Cool completely and cut into bars.  

Dipped Peanut Butter Filled Apple

I stumbled upon this idea for diping apple slices via pinterest.  The original site is here.  I changed it up a bit based on my culinary preference (ha....I just wanted to use a big word).  Basically, I think adding peanut butter to any and every fruit should probably be added to the constitution.  Which is probably why my name won't be written on too many ballots this election year, but.....let's get to the point of this post.  Dessert.
I love dipped apples, I've made them every which way from mini to stuffed, but this one was a fun one.  I will say, if given the choice, I don't like to use baking chips.  They are made to melt at a higher degree so they maintain their shape in cookies etc, melting chocolates would have been ideal, but I was actually just working with what I had....apple, pb, sprinkles, sticks, and chocolate chips.

 The original post left the innards and the stem on, which was cute, but I decided to carve out the center and fill it with peanut butter so the whole thing was edible, well, almost....unless you are into nawing on popsicles sticks, and if you are....there is a show for someone like you. 

 Ta da.  One medium apple only makes about three of these.  If you aren't eating them right away, I'd run the apple through some sprite or 7-up to keep it from browning before dipping...then letting it dry a little.  If you do using the baking chocolate, add a teaspoon or so of oil to help not look so lumpy.  But....oh my, these were good.

Peanut Butter Yogurt Fruit Dip

I saw this recipe floating around pinterest a few months ago, so I had to try it out.  It's relatively good for you in moderation...kind of...., and it really was delicious. And....VERY easy, which is what tipped the scales in it's favor!  But who's worried about scales right now? 

Peanut Butter and Yogurt Fruit Dip

1/2 c. strawberry yogurt, 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1/4 c. powdered sugar.  Mix, and serve with bananas and strawberries.

Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzels

 I'm added these easy peanut butter pretzel sandwiches to my cookie trays this year.  I saw this at foodgawkers, and knew it was an easy...and delicious addition that would free up my oven for the other cookies I'll be baking.  It only took three ingredients, and very little time. 

 I spread peanut butter across a pretzel, and topped it with another pretzel like a sandwich. 

I melted milk chocolate in a small dish (30 second intervals, about 1 minutes total, I stirred at the halfway point).  Dipped.  Dried on wax paper.  Placed these in little white cupcake liners.  And ate...look, it's too early to be making cookie trays for other people, but now I know, and I'd approve this on the cookie platter if someone brought it to me, so....I'll be pulling this out again the beginning of December when I start pulling out gift ideas.  Even I don't make Christmas cookie trays until at LEAST November 11th. 

Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed Caramel Apples

I saw this idea last year at Be Different Act Normal, and it was right up my alley.  I love carameled apples.  I love peanut butter and apples.  I love Reeses Peanut butter cups.  I love things on a stick.  I like them with a fox in a box.  I really do like them Sam I Am I love I love.......oh wait....anyways.  These didn't disappoint. 

One Step (Closer to Heaven).

I used a sharp knife to pull our the core, you don't have to go all the way to the bottom, but by doing this....I made the whole apple edible.  Run the apple through some sprite (or lemon juice) to keep it from browning. 

 Step Two (Closer to Heaven) Mix a peanut butter cup and a T. (or so...or so...or so) of peanut butter together. 

 Step Three (Closer to Heaven) Fill apple, replace lid. 

 Step Four (Closer to Heaven) Add caramel and a stick (I just used the caramel wrap for these guys because I'm a cheater cheater caramel apple eater). 

Linking To:  Crafty Soiree  Tip Junkie  Tatortots and Jello

Valentine's Day: Homemade Snickers

I saw this recipe for homemade Snicker's bars at MrsBettieRocker a few months back, and it's pretty much becomming a recurring dream of mine..or nightmare, depending on if I'm pretending to diet or not.  I decided Valentine's Day, and a third day of house arrest, sometimes reffered to as 'a snow day' was a good enough excuse.  Chocolate+Female Friends=Positive Outcome.  After making these, I quickly wrapped these puppies up to give away as Valentine's treats so I wouldn't eat them all.  Fine, I only packaged half of them, but still, it's better than eating the whole pan.  On the positive, I'd like to mention this is packed with protein and might even be considered a smart snack choice to carry around....in case you have low insulin or even a cute dentist you'd like to visit when the caramel pulls your fillings out...or something.  Otherwise, your diet is pretty much screwed, but it'll be worth it, it's a homemade snickers bar,do I really need to convince anyone these are yummy? 
Here's the recipe for homemade snickers I used via the above blog!

Homemade Snickers Recipe
Ingredients:
1 bag of milk chocolate chips, 1 bag of butterscotch chips (these definitely give it a butterscotch flavor, so if you don't like that taste, substitute for more chocolate), 14 oz bag of caramels, 1 c. sugar, 7 oz jar of marshamallow fluff (I made my own by melting 4 1/2 c. of mini marshmallows with 2 t. of light karo syrup on the stove, like the beginnings of rice crispie treats), 1/4 c. butter, 1/4 c. evaporated milk, 1 c. peanut butter (divided), 1/4 c. heavy whipping cream, 1 t. vanilla, 1 1/2 c. salted peanuts (Bettie eliminated these, I...did not!)
Instructions:  There are four layers, the bottom, and top layer follow the same process. 
Layer 1/Chocolate:  Melt 1 c. chocolate chips, 1/4 c. butterscotch chips, and 1/4 c. peanut butter in the microwave in 30 second intervals.  Stir between heatings until smooth.  Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.  Put in fridge of freezer to harden.

Layer 2/Filling:  Melt 1/4 c. butter in a sauce pan on medium heat, add 1 c. sugar and 1/4 c. evaporated milk.  Bring to a boil, and stir constantly for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat, and stir in 1 1/2  marshmallow cream, 1/4 c. peanut butter, 1 t. vanilla, and 1 1/2 c. (chopped) peanuts.  Mix until smooth, spread over first layer.  Don't mess around too much b/c this will start melted the bottom layer of chocolate, so I just tried to pour and spread quickly when I pulled the chocolate from the freezer where I had set it to harden. 

Layer 3/Caramel:  Melt 14 oz of caramels with 1/4 c. whipping cream at 30 second intervals in the microwave.  Stir between heating.  Heat until smooth.  Pour over second filling layer. 

Layer 4/Chocolate:  Repeat layer one instructions. 

Cut, and keep in fridge. 

Linking To: 
Fun to Craft Sassy Sites Just a Girl Sugar Bananas Tidy Mom 504 Main Remodelaholics Paisley Passions Tatortots and Jello Unfolded It's a Hodge Podge Life Sew Crafty Be Different...Act Normal Sweet As Sugar Under the Table

Reindeer Dropping Cookies AKA Muddy Buddy Cookies

Nobody ever accused me of too much class.  I saw a cookie recipe on Hoosier Homemade, she found the recipe on Betty Crocker.com....and the cookie love continues here.  Sure, a' muddy buddy cookie' sounds delightful, but given the season...I've altered the name for purposes that fit my needs, and my sense of humor.  I'm sure all my friends are eagerly waiting to see who will receive my jar of reindeer droppings.  Incidentally, this is not the first time I've named something 'reindeer droppings.'  I made place settings a few years ago with No Bake Cookies for Christmas Eve visitors, I haven't hosted Christmas Eve dinner since then, I'm going to ponder the connection, but if you too want to get out of hosting Christmas Eve dinner...I mean, find a last minute gift for a friend, below is how I made my latest 'droppings.' 

Bake Peanut Butter Cookies.  PB Cookies don't spread much as they bake, so make them flat if you would like, or I made mine a little rounded.  No reason.

Once cookies are cooled, dip in chocolate ganache mix.  (1 c. milk chocolate chips, 1/4 c. melted butter, and 1 t. vanilla melted in the microwave, heated and stirred). 

As soon as the cookies are coated with chocolate, drop into a bowl of powdered sugar, and toss lightely. 

 Here are the innards. 

These are pretty good. I think I like the original, chex muddy buddy best, but having a new cookie recipe is never a bad thing!

Linking To:

Trendy Treehouse Crafty Soiree Remodelaholic