7 Peanut Butter Recipes For The Child In You

Remember when you were a kid and you just got to eat peanut butter all the time? You were given it in sandwiches, on vegetables, and in many other forms. It was always the easiest thing for your parents to use for meals.

Well, just because you’ve gotten older doesn’t mean you must give up eating peanut butter. There are a variety of health benefits to this delicious spreadable ingredient.

While you can eat it in a grown-up way, what about if you could enjoy something that reminds you of being a kid? Here are seven peanut butter recipes that are must haves for that child inside you.

Just a note before we start with the recipes. You may be a crunchy peanut butter fan, but most of these recipes work better with smooth and creamy peanut butter.

3-Ingredient, Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

It’s time to enjoy those peanut butter cookies that your mom always made. If you don’t fancy the flour-filled, gluten-heavy recipe, then you can always opt for this 3-ingredient option. It’s not just fun for you to make, but something your kids will love to help with. When you’re looking for something to do one weekend or rainy day, pull out these three ingredients and get to work in the kitchen.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1 cup of sugar
• 1 egg
• Sugar on the side for rolling

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 350F and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper
• Mix the first three ingredients in a bowl
• Take a tbsp. of cookie dough and roll into a ball
• Sprinkle the sugar over the counter and roll the cookie ball in the sugar
• Place the cookie ball on the parchment paper; repeat each tbsp. until all the cookie dough is used
• Pat the ball down with a fork
• Bake for about 8 minutes

You can add other ingredients into the mix if you want. If you want to bring out the child in you, consider some crushed Smarties. Opt for half a cup of the sugar and half a cup of the Smarties.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cake without the Baking

One of the things that will put you on some recipes is the amount of baking that’s involved. Sometimes you want something that doesn’t involve the oven. This recipe is perfect for the kids to do with you, as they can help with every single step. There’s no risk of little hands getting burned. You’ll all love the outcome.

Ingredients:

• 1 box of chocolate wafers
• 1 cup of whipping cream
• 2tbsp of peanut butter
• 2tbsp of powdered sugar
• Chopped Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups to top the cake

Method:

• Beat the whipping cream and sugar together, creating stiff peaks
• Remove ¾ cup of the cream mixture and put in the fridge
• Add the peanut butter to the rest of the cream and blend completely
• Place one of your wafers onto a lined cookie sheet and plop a dollop of peanut butter mixture on top
• Add a cookie on top and then add another dollop of peanut butter mixture, repeating until each cake stands with five cookies each
• Place the cookie sheet in the fridge overnight

When serving, top with a dollop of the reserved cream and a piece of the Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.

The peanut butter cream mixture will soften the cookies to give these treats more of a cakey texture. You don’t want to serve it sooner than eight hours after making, as the cream wouldn’t have had the chance to work its way into the cookies.

Banana and Peanut Butter Muffins

How about making some classic banana muffins but with a peanut butter twist? You’ll feel like you’re on your way to school again with the left-over muffins from a weekend of baking. The best thing is this recipe will give you plenty of protein, healthy fats, and potassium to energize you properly for home.

Ingredients:

• 2tbsp peanut butter
• 1 banana, mashed
• ¼ cup of oatmeal
• 1 egg
• ½ cup of egg whites
• 1 scoop of vanilla protein whey powder
• 1tsp baking powder
• Dried banana slices

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 350F
• Mix all the ingredients bar the dried banana together in a bowl
• Line a muffin tin with liners, spraying with some cooking spray
• Fill the muffin liners about two-thirds full, until all the batter is used
• Top the muffins with the dried banana and then bake for about 12 minutes

You’ll know the muffins are done by looking at the top: it will be golden brown. You can also stick a toothpick into the middle to make sure it comes out clean.

If you don’t want to use any protein powder, you can replace with some vanilla extract instead. You may need to bake for a tiny bit longer, so use the toothpick test.

Easy Peasy Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cheesecake

How about going all out for a kid-like dessert. Everyone loves chocolate and peanut butter cheesecakes, right? You can make this gluten free if you’d like, but it’s completely up to you. This is fattening, but it’s so much fun!

Ingredients for the Crust:

• 2 cups of pretzel crisps, crushed & gluten-free if you need
• 1tbsp granulated sugar
• 4tbsp butter, melted

Ingredients for the Filling:

• 16oz of cream cheese, softened
• ½ cup of sour cream
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• ½ cup of whipping cream
• 1 ½ cups of peanut butter

Ingredients for the Topping:

• 8 oz. of chocolate chips
• ¼ cup of oil of choice

Method for the Crust:

• Preheat the oven to 350F
• Mix the pretzels and sugar in a bowl and then add the butter, stirring until everything is moistened
• Place the mixture into a pie pan, pressing flat and even
• Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool, before freezing for an hour

Method for the Filling:

• Blend the first three ingredients, until they are creamy and smooth
• Add the rest of the ingredients, blending for a minute
• Pour into the cheesecake crust and put in the fridge for at least 3 hours

Method of the Topping:

• Melt the chocolate chips into the oil, in a sauce pan over a low heat
• Pour over the top of your cheesecake when ready, spreading with a butter knife

You can add some whipping cream over the top if you’d like, but this is completely optional. It doesn’t need the extra sugar.

Don’t add any milk to the chocolate topping. If the chocolate is too dry, add a little more oil, but only a little at a time.

Banana and Peanut Butter Fudgsicles

Fudgsicles are so handy when the weather gets warm. You’ll instantly feel like a kid, just pulling them out from the freezer. This recipe is good for 10 popsicles. Have some fun with different molds to create something fun and perfect for the child in you.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of milk
• 4tbsp cocoa
• 1tbsp peanut butter
• 1 banana
• 2tbsp honey
• 1tsp vanilla

Method:

• Place everything into a blender and process until everything is combined
• Pour into your molds and freeze for 4+ hours

Peanut Butter and Black Bean Brownies

I know what you’re thinking right now. This doesn’t sound like something you would have had as a kid. This is a slightly healthier version of your traditional peanut butter brownie. You will not have to feel any guilt when you eat this after a workout.

Ingredients:

• 1 can of black beans
• 1/3 cup of applesauce
• 1tsp vanilla
• ½ cup of cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup of peanut butter
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup of honey
• ½ Tsp baking powder
• ¼ Tsp salt
• ½ to a cup of chocolate chips

Method:

• Preheat the oven to 350F and line a pan with some parchment paper and cooking spray
• Mix the beans, vanilla, and applesauce in a blender on high power, until they are completely combined; make sure the beans are completely pureed
• Pour the puree into a mixing bowl and add in the rest of the ingredients bar the chocolate chips, stirring until everything is combined
• Fold in half of the chips gently, leaving the rest for topping
• Pour everything into the prepared pan and spread around the pan, so it’s even
• Bake for about 30 minutes and sprinkle the reserved chocolate chips over the top
• Put the cake back in the oven for a minute, allowing the chocolate chips to melt a little
• Remove from the pan and cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack

You can top with a few more chocolate chips if you’d like. Chop the brownie into smaller pieces. You can store the slices in a sealed container for a few days. Make sure the container is in the fridge and reheat in the oven if you would like.

The brownies are perfect with some cream or ice cream on the sound. You could even make your peanut butter or chocolate ice cream to work with your homemade brownies.

PB&J and Ice Cream Sandwiches

Of course, PB&J sandwiches are the staple of many kids’ diets. They’re quick to make and easy to eat. But what about going one step further for that kid in you? Here’s a PB&J sandwich idea with a twist. Are you ready for something colder?

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of whipping cream
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 1 can have condensed milk
• 1 ¼ cups of peanut butter
• ¾ cup of jelly
• Graham crackers

Method:

• Whip the cream in a bowl until you get stiff peaks
• Mix the condensed milk and sugar in another bowl
• Pour the milk mixture slowly into the whipping cream, mixing them until they are just combined
• Drop a cup of peanut butter into the mixture at a time, a ¼ cup at a time
• Drop ½ a cup of jelly into the mixture, a ¼ cup at a time
• Mix everything gently, making sure that are some chunks of the jelly and peanut butter still visible
• Pour into a loaf tin
• Melt the rest of the jelly and peanut butter in two separate bowls
• Drizzle over the top of the ice cream and swirl, before freezing for 6-8 hours

Serve the PB&J ice cream in the middle of your graham crackers. Of course, you could just eat the ice cream on its own. Crush the graham crackers and sprinkle over the top of the ice cream.

Allergic to Peanut Butter?

You can opt for substitutes if you need. You’ll barely taste the difference in most of cases. If it’s just peanut butter that you’re allergic to, you could try another nut butter. Almond butter is a popular option.

If you’re allergic to all nuts, you could opt for seed butter instead. Sun butter is a popular alternative. Once mixed in with everything else, you will barely tell the difference.

It’s Time to Feed the Child in You

These recipes are all easy to make. Some will take a little time, and you’ll want to give yourself a day to prepare and bake (or freeze), but they are certainly worth the wait. The kid in you will jump for joy.

The benefit of these is that many are healthy for you. They don’t have too much sugar, or it’s easy to substitute with something that you prefer. Peanut butter is full of protein and healthy fats to help give you plenty of sustained energy and improve your muscles.

Get the kids in the house involved with the baking. They will love being part of this and will want to eat the recipes much more. They’ll also love sharing with others to show off their cooking skills.