Andy JonesIt only takes a few peanut butter dessert recipes to turn your family into lifelong fans of Skippy. But what if you’ve never worked with peanut butter before? What do you need to know about the process? How can you bake, pound, roll and decorate a peanut butter treat that will leave everyone clamoring for more?
21 Ways to Use Peanut Butter in your Desserts
Chunky Versus Smooth
The first step is figuring out which kind of peanut butter to buy. Some peanut butter desserts will specifically call for chunky or smooth; others will leave the decision up to you. It doesn’t make a difference in the actual preparation process, so it mostly comes down to texture preferences. The small volume of nuts in the chunky version isn’t enough to require any adjustments in serving sizes or baking times. Use whatever type is necessary for your silky cheesecakes or chunky brownies.
Nutritional Value
There’s no “average” calorie count for peanut butter since it comes in so many different varieties. From low-fat to all-natural, the nutritional value of your peanut butter will depend on the brand. You’ll need to read the label to be sure of the exact ingredients and percentages that you’re putting into your desserts, especially since reducing one thing often means doubling up on another. Reduced-fat peanut butter, for example, comes with more sugar.
Flavor
Gone are the days when peanut butter only came in one jar with a single flavor. You can find all kinds of mixtures on the market today, including:
- Chocolate
- Honey raisin
- Cinnamon
- Berry nut
- Flaxseed
- Granola
- Maple
Some of these are easier to cook with than others, so keep that in mind as you prepare your snacks. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different taste combinations; most flavors can be used interchangeably without the need to adjust your recipe, so you can create cinnamon peanut butter balls just as easily as banana ones.
Now that you know more than enough about peanut butter, check out these 21 heavenly recipe ideas for inspiration!
1. Peanut Butter Cookie Lasagna
2. Baked Peanut Butter Oatmeal
3. Peanut Butter Blondies
4. No Bake Reese’s Peanut Butter Cheesecake
5. Peanut Butter Pie
6. Chocolate Peanut Butter Ooey Gooey Butter Cake
7. Reese’s Cheesecake Brownies
8. Peanut Butter Cookie Brownies
9. Peanut Butter Cup Blondie Recipe
10. Mini Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecakes
11. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cupcakes
12. Chocolate Peanut Butter No-bake Dessert
13. Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies
14. Star Wars Peanut Butter Fudge
15. Thick And Chewy White Chocolate Peanut Butter Blondies
16. Peanut Butter Squares
17. Peanut Butter Cup Crack Brownies
18. No Bake Cream Cheese Peanut Butter Pie
19. Mickey Peanut Butter Cups
20. Peanut Butter Cup Pie
21. Chocolate Oreo Peanut Butter Dream Dessert
Ready to Make Some Delicious Peanut Butter Desserts?
If you’re looking to cut down on your sugar or fat intake, consider using powdered peanut butter. It’s basically dried peanut butter with all of the oils removed, and you fluff it back up by adding water and whipping it into your recipes like normal. Powdered peanut butter contains less than half of the calories, fats and sugars of the traditional stuff, so it might be a worthwhile investment if you’re trying to watch your waistline.
Paying attention to the little details can make a big difference in how your snacks turn out. Now, pick your favorite peanut butter dessert and start baking!
