Three Peanut Butter Healthy Dessert Recipes

Do you love peanut butter? If yes, you have certainly thought about more ways to use this creamy ingredient than a toast sandwich with jam. Here are three healthy dessert recipes that have peanut butter at their heart. Enjoy!

  

1- Peanut Butter Cups: 

Ingredients:

"For the peanut butter bottoms:
- 3/4 cups organic peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon organic grade b maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons organic coconut oil (melted/liquid)

For the chocolate topping:
- 1/4 cup organic raw cacao powder
- 1 tablespoon organic grade b maple syrup
- 1/4 cup organic coconut oil (melted/liquid)

Method:

1. Combine the peanut butter, maple syrup and liquid coconut oil (melt if needed) in a medium size bowl and stir until well combined.
2- Drop a spoonful at a time into silicone muffin cups until they are approximately 1/2 full.
3- Put them into the freezer for at least 15 minutes or until hardened.
4- Combine the raw cacao, maple syrup and liquid coconut oil (melt if needed) in a medium size bowl and stir until well combined.
5- Drop a spoonful at a time on top of the frozen/hardened peanut butter in the silicone muffin cups.
6- Put them into the freezer for at least 15 minutes or until hardened.
7- Keep in the freezer until served because they will melt and lose their shape at room temperature if the coconut oil begins to melt."  

2- Whipped Peanut Butter Fudge:  

Ingredients:

- "1 cup unsweetened cocoa baking powder
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup virgin coconut oil
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 and ½ tsp (approximately 80 to 90 drops) alcohol free stevia extract
- ½ tsp sea salt
- fruit or berries, nuts, coconut flakes, extra sea salt or chili pepper flakes or any other topping you’d enjoy (optional)

Method:

1. Place foil cupcake liners into muffin tin.
2. Melt the cocnut oil in warm water bain marie.
3- Place all ingredients, including the coconut oil, into electric mixing bowl and using the whisk attachment, whisk together until nice and fluffy (about 5 minutes).
4- Place 2 tablespoons of mixture into each cupcake liner.
5- Add fruit or berries of your choice, coconut flakes, extra sea salt, nuts, chili pepper flakes, or any other topping you'd enjoy (optional).
6- Place full muffin tin(s) into the refrigerator for approximately 20 minutes or until the chocolate has set and is firm.
7- Remove from muffin tin and store in the refrigerator.

3- Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Granola Bars:    

Ingredients: 

- 4 cups old-fashioned oats

- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons of chia seeds
- 1/2 cup unsalted, roasted peanuts
- 3/4 – 1 cup natural creamy peanut butter
- Package of dark chocolate chips

Method:

1. Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper
2. Combine oats through peanut butter in a large bowl and mix until well combined
3. Press combined ingredients into prepared pan and put in the the refrigerator for at least 60 minutes [I did mine overnight]
4. Heat package of dark chocolate chips on the stovetop in a small pot until just melted; stirring vigorously the entire time, being careful not to burn the chocolate
5. Immediately pour chocolate over cooled, set bar base then place back into the fridge to allow the chocolate to set [again, I did this overnight]
6. Once cooled, slice into 12 squares then wrap individually with plastic wrap


Sources:
1- The Healthy Family and Home: http://thehealthyfamilyandhome.com/healthy-peanut-butter-cups/
2- Simply Notable: http://www.simplynotable.com/2013/low-carb-whipped-peanut-butter-fudge-recipe/
3- Cait's Plate: http://caitsplate.me/2013/01/09/chewy-no-bake-peanut-butter-dark-chocolate-granola-bars/