This is one of my favorite desserts of all time. It is super easy to make, and way, WAY too tasty. Highly addictive, so I recommend not keeping too many around…

1/4 C. Butter
3/4 C. Peanut butter (Any smooth or crunchy Peanut Butter will work, including Natural)
1/4 C. Coconut (optional)
6 oz butterscotch chips
2 1/2 cups miniature colored marshmallows
1/2 chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, gives a nice texture)

Prepare a double boiler, so that the bottom part is boiling. Mix the first 4 ingredients together, and stir them together in the double boiler until melted. The butterscotch chips can be difficult to melt, just stir and squish them until they finally melt. **Note: A doublt boiler is not 100% necessary, as long as you are stirring constantly, and make sure the mixture does not burn.

Remove from the double boiler. Let cool until luke warm. Stir in the marshmallows and immediately spread into a greased pan. **Note: do not add marshmallows to the PB mixture when it is still really hot – the marshmallows will melt and wreck the recipe.

The size of the recipient doesn´t matter, as long as everything fits! Place in the fridge for 1 hour, then cut into squares….and voilá! One of the best peanut butter desserts you can make….

This peanut butter recipe has many variations, and the nice thing about it is you can easily modify the ingredients to make them match your tastes. For example, I often put in less butterscotch chips. I also like to add chopped walnuts, which make a delicious addition!! Really, you have to make it a few times to find out the best amounts for you – butter, peanut butter, and butterscotch. They can all change to your liking.

This dessert tends to be a huge hit with kids, which makes it ideal for parties or nights when there a going to be lots of kids in your house. However, I have also found that adults can´t keep their hands off of them!

All peanut butter is an excellent source of protein.  Like most nuts, peanuts contain a lot of vitamin E, which is very good for your skin, and is a powerful anti-oxidant.  Peanuts also contain monounsaturated fats, which are the good kind.  They help lower your cholesterol levels.  Natural peanut butter is 100% peanuts, so contains all of these benefits. Some brands, such as Peter Pan peanut butter, have actually added extra nutrients (Peter Pan Plus Peanut Butter) but they still contain sugar and fat, so be careful.

Processed peanut butter contains many other ingredients such as sugar, salt, and hydrogenated fats.  Extra sugars mean extra calories, which are not good for people watching their weight.  Too much salt is not a good thing, especially for people with high blood pressure.  And hydrogenated fats are not good for anyone.  These are some of the worst fats available, and can lead to weight gain, cancer, and increased cholesterol, in turn resulting in heart disease.

For these reasons, it is always recommended to use a natural, 100% peanut butter.  It does not make a difference when baking or cooking, so there is no real reason not to use it.  How do you know?  Most of the major brands, such as Skippy, Kraft, Jif, and Peter Pan peanut butter are processed.  However, some of these brands are coming out with natural alternatives.  Look at the ingredients on the side of the peanut jar.  It should say 100% peanuts if it is natural.   Kraft was one of the first, and their natural option is decent. Usually, the label will also say Natural Peanut Butter, but ALWAYS check the label to make sure there are no additives.

- peanut butter is cheap and easy to find! Depending on the brand and type of peanut butter you buy, it costs between $5-$10 per kilo in North America. For example, Kraft peanut butter runs in around $5 a kilo, while Peter Pan peanut butter is $7 a kilo. Natural peanut butters, such as Adam’s peanut butter, are slightly more around $5 for 500g. around It can be found anywhere, as it is available in pretty much any place that sells food.

- it lasts forever. If it is natural peanut butter, you can keep it in the fridge, where it will keep for months! If it is processed, you don’t even have to put it in the fridge.

- it is very filling and it really sticks with you, so you stay full for a long time.

- it is high in monounsaturated fats, which means it helps lower your cholesterol levels.

- it tastes delicious! Most kids love it, as do dogs! And you can get it in many different ways. For example, Peter Pan peanut butter has five varieties, from honey-roasted to whipped, while kraft has joined the health trend and made their own natural peanut butter.

- it is full of nutrients, espcially Vitamin E, which is a powerful anti-oxidant, and very good for your skin. Some, such as Peter Pan Plus Peanut Butter has added nutrients.

- it is very high in protein. 100g of peanut butter includes 25g of protein!

- as long as you buy natural peanut butter, it is 100% pure, meaning you are not eating any additives or preservatives, which can´t be said about most foods available today. Make sure to read the label to ensure it is 100% peanuts.

- it is VERY convenient. There is nothing easier than taking out a piece of bread and spreading on some peanut butter and jelly to make quick, healthy snack!

- peanut butter can be great for weight loss! Why? It is full of protein and fiber, which keeps you full longer and reduces cravings for sweets!

See some peanut butter recipes for easy ways to incorporate it into your diet!

• 3 Tbps. peanut butter (a smooth peanut butter, such as Peter Pan Creamy or Kraft Smooth).
• 1 C. Milk
• 1 banana
• Hint of vanilla

Blend all ingredients together in a blender, and enjoy!!!! The amounts are just a guideline, change them to how you like it. For a decadent treat, try the Peter Pan Honey Roast Peanut Butter, although higher in calories, it is delicious!

There are all kinds of things you can do to change this recipe as well. For example, you can put some instant oatmeal in while blending. It sounds pretty weird, but in Brazil it is very common. Try it out, and you’ll realise it is very tasty, and all of a sudden, you are getting some grains with your breakfast smoothie.

If you’d like to sweeten the smoothie, honey is always a great way to go. Honey is much healthier than sugar, as it has some vitamins, and a number of other health properties. It also lends a nice flavor.

One of my personal sweeteners for this smoothie is maple syrop. Again, the syrop is healthier than processed sugar, because it contains some vitamins. It also gives a delicious flavor to the smoothie!

This is probably one of the easiest snacks available, so makes a perfect snack between meals, or a great easy dessert.  It is very healthy, as the only ingredients are peanut butter and honey, which are both healthy for you, especially if you are using a natural peanut butter.

Take out a jar of peanut butter.  With a big spoon, scoop out a little bit of peanut butter.  Squirt a little bit of honey on top – and enjoy!   If you are someone who likes the thick, sticky consistency of peanut butter, you will love this quick peanut butter snack recipe.  You can also substitute the for a little bit of nutella – also delicious, although a bit less healthy, or try the Peter Pan Honey Roasted Peanut Butter.

**Just like grandma used to make**

Makes 3 dozen cookies

1 ¼ C. flour, sifted
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. baking powder
½ C. shortening *(see note below)
½ C. peanut butter, any kind, although natural is the best
½ C. granulated sugar
½ C. packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 egg

**note: there are a few substitutes you can use instead of shortening. You can also use butter, which will give you a similar taste, but the cookies will be crispier. If you want a chewy cookie, use the shortening. Also, if you want to be healthier, you can use ¼ C. of canola oil. The flavor is not quite as good, but you are cutting out some unhealthy fats. This is also why natural peanut butter is recommended. The flavor of the cookies will not change, but they will be healthier, as they will not contain partially-hydrogenated oils.

To prepare the cookies:

Pre-heat oven to 375F Grease one or two cookie sheets. Combine the first three ingredients in a small bowl. In a larger bowl, combine the shortening, brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut butter. Use a beater to blend until creamy. At this point, you can blend in the egg and the vanilla. Stir in the ingredients that were set aside, until well-blended. Create balls with the dough, about ¾” to 1” in diameter, and place them on the cookie sheet with one inch space between each ball. If you like bigger cookies, that is fine, you can make them whatever size you want. Flatten each cookie with a fork, and then sprinkle them with some white granulated sugar. Bake until just slightly golden on the corners, which is usually about 10-12 minutes. Like any kind of cookie, the amount of time they are cooked for is very very important. If you cook them even one minute too long, they will not taste as good, so once they are nearly ready, make sure to keep an eye on them.

Other than peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, these cookies are probably the most popular of all peanut butter recipes. The are a true classic….enjoy!!!

What you need:

2 slices of bread

Peanut butter – any kind

Jelly/Jam – high quality if possible. The more fruit the better!

There are two very important things to keep in mind when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (aka PBJ). First, this sandwich is much much better FRESH!! If it is left too long, the jam eventually sinks into the bread, and changes the flavor of the sandwich completely! The other important point is to go HEAVY on the peanut butter and the jam. Lots of both makes a delicious sandwich!!

Directions:
Spread a good amount of peanut butter on one side of both pieces of bread. This is important to prevent the jam from soaking into the bread! Next, spread a large amount of jam on one of the slices. Add the other slice, and voila!! Sounds easy? That´s because it is! But it is also delicious

**Some people like to add butter on both sides of the bread. I´m not a fan, as I find I don´t like the flavor of the butter. Of course, it is worth testing to see if you like it.

As for the type of bread, jam, peanut butter, that is all up to personal preference. My favorite is: a creamy Kraft peanut butter, a jam with lots and lots of fruit (homemade if possible) and whole grain bread.

Variations:
Instead of jam, use nutella, to make a Peanut Butter Nutella Sandwich!

Here is a fun video, demonstrating how one may feel when about to eat this classic sandwich:

This is definitely one of my all time favorite peanut butter recipes. I have been completely addicted to these in the past, so be careful! They are quite high in fat, so you don´t want to drink them everyday. They are like peanut butter smoothies, but are truly decadent. Be sure to enjoy on occasion though!

1 cup milk
1 scoop vanilla ice cream
3 tbsp. peanut butter

Blend together in a blender and enjoy!

Some of my favorite variations:

This is not such a common peanut butter recipe, but I think it is a delicious drink for a cold evening!

2 tbsp. peanut butter

1 c. milk

1 tbsp. honey

Hint of cinnamon

Place all ingredients in a saucepan. Heat (medium) until peanut butter has melted and blended in completely with the milk. Do not boil the mixture, and be sure to stir constantly, to prevent milk from burning.

Dear fellow peanut butter junkies,

This category contains different beverages, smoothies, and milkshakes that can be made using peanut butter. It is best to use a smooth peanut butter for these recipes, and I recommend using one that is 100% peanuts, as it is healthier. However, any peanut butter will do! I hope you enjoy them as much as I do