Monday, December 20, 2010

Peanut-Butter No-Bake Treats

Peanut butter is one of the great foods in the universe. Whether used in a savory meal with coconut milk and chili sauce over noodles, or forming an integral half of the work of art that is known as a PB&J, peanut butter is a beautiful thing. And it is especially fabulous, I think we can all agree, in cookies!

But sometimes you don't feel like baking, or you want something a bit different than a traditional peanut butter cookie with the cross-hatching. What's a girl to do then???

Make these no-bake treats that are a hybrid of cookie and candy, that's what!

These could be made with butter, but one of my goodie recipients has a severe dairy allergy; so I made these with Earth Balance butter substitute -- it's the only one I'll use that has a reasonable taste and the proper consistency. And I used dairy-free chocolate chips for dipping them. Nothing particularly difficult or hard to find -- yay!

No one will know they're non-dairy, trust me ... :) These are delightful, delectable, delicious ... try them and choose your own adjective!

Peanut Butter No-Bake Treats

1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 cup chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup Earth Balance butter substitute, softened
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1-1/4 cups non-dairy chocolate chips
1 teaspoon oil

Lightly grease a sheet of foil and place it on a baking sheet.

In a large bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, graham cracker crumbs, Earth Balance and peanut butter.




Stir everything together, using your hands if necessary, until the mixture holds together.


Roll into 3/4" balls and set on a tray. (Some are darker than others because, near the end, the mixture became a bit dry. I added a touch of almond milk, then it was too soggy; so I added a few more graham cracker crumbs and was back to work!)


Melt the chocolate chips and oil together in a small saucepan over low heat. One by one, drop the peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate; roll the ball with a fork to make sure it's completely covered, then use the fork to lift it out of the chocolate. Wipe excess chocolate off on the side of the saucepan, then place the dipped treat onto the prepared sheet of foil. Continue until all of the peanut butter treats have been dipped.






Refrigerate the treats for 15 minutes to help set the chocolate, then serve.

Makes about 30 treats.




Mingle Monday




11 comments:

Miriam said...

Oh my, what a beautiful treat these must be! Have a wonderful day! Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Candace said...

Aaah, Mary! These look wonderful! My mom made something similar when I growing up and they were my favorites. She used parafin with the chocolate and I've never been brave enough to try that. It seemed so complicated to me. This looks much easier! Thank you, Candace

Unknown said...

I bet these are so good. I love the chocolate and peanut butter combo, there really is nothing better in my book!

Nicole said...

Okay - you said PB and No Bake in the same title...

You are my hero.

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

gotta love the "no bake" recipes! I know that I certainly do!!

My mouth is watering from this one!

Unknown said...

Yummy! We call them Buckeyes in my area, their just not "healthified" like yours. :)

Robin said...

I bet you have more posts on things with peanut butter than anything else...lol. I have an idea: you should compile all of these recipes for a peanut butter cookbook. Certainly there is no such thing in existence. Though I don't know much about cookbooks. It could be your foot in the door. Just think... it all started with peanut butter. That is what you can say when you're rich and famous!

Karen Harris said...

Many moons ago at my children's school we did a fundraiser making peanut butter Easter eggs that I fell in love with and this is very much like it. Funny thing is, I never think I like p.b. until I taste then I remember how much I like it. I'm going to turn my daughter on to this recipe. It sounds like something she'd really like because of the taste and ease.

Handmade Contessa said...

These look yummy and easy. I'll have to add these to my holiday list of treats.

Leanne said...

Ok . . .these have MY NAME ALL OVER THEM!!! You can't see it . . . but it's there . . . in tiny letters ... on the third one from the left . . . see it? It says, "Leanne MUST have me!!!" See it??? I SEE IT!! I DO!!!


SEND SOON!!!

;)

Rachel Cotterill said...

You can never have too much peanut butter :D


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