Tag Archives: peanut butter

Peanut Butter Crumb Topped Banana Bread

Bread, Breakfast, ,

It’s almost time for school to start, and I have a great recipe for quick breakfasts or lunchbox treats. Peanut Butter Crumb Topped Banana Bread is a perfect mix of peanutty crumb topping and sweet banana bread.

I have been seeing so many variations on banana bread lately – crumb topped (cinnamon, graham cracker, cookie butter, and more), stuffed with cream cheese, filled with chocolate chips, or swirled with peanut butter. They all sound so good. But then I saw a recipe for peanut butter crumb-topped brownies, and I decided that the two had to meet.

Although I love walnuts or pecans in banana bread, I left them out this time. You could absolutely add them back in – or use chopped peanuts for an extra peanut bite. Chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, even butterscotch or caramel chips would be a welcome addition. You can also substitute the nut or seed butter of your choice in the crumb topping as well.

Did I mention this recipe makes two loaves? That’s right – one for right now (I ate half a loaf warm from the oven so be warned!), and one for the freezer for those hectic weekdays. I love eating a slice bread of this for breakfast, but it makes a great snack as well. Pack it in a lunchbox or serve a slice after school. This is going to become your favorite banana bread!

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 Peanut Butter Crumb Topped Banana Bread
Servings
loaves
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Crumb Topping
Banana Bread
Servings
loaves
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Crumb Topping
Banana Bread
Instructions
Peanut Butter Crumb Topping
  1. Melt peanut butter and butter together.
  2. Stir in remaining ingredients and set aside.
Banana Bread
  1. Combine butter and slightly chopped, or broken, bananas in a microwave safe bowl or large saucepan. Heat over low heat, or 30 seconds at a time in the microwave. Stir and mash with a large spoon or potato masher until butter is melted and bananas are soft and mashed.
  2. Remove from heat. Stir in sugar and salt. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla and mix well.
  3. Stir in flour and baking powder just until combined.
  4. Gently stir in any mix-ins, if using.
  5. Divide evenly between two greased 9"x5" loaf pans.
  6. Divide peanut butter mixture in half, and crumble evenly over batter in pans.
  7. Bake at 350-degrees F for 40-45 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean
  8. Cool 10 minutes before turning out of pan onto cooling rack to cool completely.
  9. To freeze, wrap well in plastic wrap and foil, and place in a zip-top freezer. Freeze for up to a month.
Recipe Notes
  • Add chopped peanuts to up the peanut butter flavor.
  • Use pecans or walnuts for a more traditional banana bread.
  • Use any flavor chips - chocolate, peanut butter, butterscotch, caramel, etc.
  • Substitute any nut or seed butter for the peanut butter in the crumb topping.
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Ice Cream Slab Pie

Ice Cream, ,

Who’s ready for ice cream? Or better yet, ice cream slab pie! This one has a rice crispy crust, peanut butter fudge sauce, and homemade no-churn ice cream with chocolate chips and peanut butter cups. It’s a twist on a favorite dessert my mom used to make in the summertime.

It sounds like a lot of components, but each of them are so easy. And there are so many options – not only to change up the flavors, but you can easily swap in store-bought parts too. You can make this as homemade or store-bought as you’d like.

Let’s start with the base. My recipe begins with a simple rice crispy base. But you could just as easily bake up a batch of brownies, or use a roll of cookie dough pressed into a pan and baked. Even a graham cracker crust would work.

The sauce starts with a homemade hot fudge that is combined with peanut butter. You could leave out the peanut butter and extra corn syrup (just use the whole batch of hot fudge instead). Or start with a bottled hot fudge sauce. You can also mix up the flavors. Use a caramel or butterscotch sauce instead. Or use a different nut butter, Nutella, or even cookie butter!

The ice cream is a very simple no churn ice cream. I love the no-churn recipe, and it’s endlessly adaptable. Choose the candy mix-ins that you prefer, or use crushed cookies (like Oreo’s!). You could also use a store-bought ice cream in whatever flavor you prefer. Just soften it slightly before you scoop it into the crust.

There are so many variations you can make to this recipe. I hope you give it a try, and let me know what flavors you choose!


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 Ice Cream Slab Pie
Course Dessert
Servings
Ingredients
Base
Hot Fudge Sauce
Ice Cream
Course Dessert
Servings
Ingredients
Base
Hot Fudge Sauce
Ice Cream
Instructions
Base
  1. Combine first three ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.
  2. Remove from heat and stir in cereal until completely coated.
  3. Press evenly into a greased 13"x9" baking pan. Line with parchment or waxed paper if preferred for easier serving.
Sauce
  1. Melt chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat.
  2. Once melted, add evaporated milk, sugar, cocoa powder, 1/4 cup corn syrup, salt, and vanilla. Cook over medium-low heat until thickened, about 5 to 8 minutes. The mixture should not quite come to a simmer.
  3. Remove 2/3 cup hot fudge sauce and combine with peanut butter and remaining corn syrup. Save remaining hot fudge sauce for another use (store air tight in refrigerator).
  4. Spread half of peanut butter fudge sauce onto the base and place in freezer.
Ice Cream
  1. Whip cream until soft peaks form.
  2. Gently fold in sweetened condensed milk and vanilla until combined.
  3. Chop 12 of the peanut butter cups and fold into ice cream mixture with all but 2 tablespoons of the chocolate chips.
  4. Spread ice cream mixture onto prepared base and sprinkle with remaining chips and the other 6 peanut butter cups, chopped.
  5. Freeze for at least 6 hours or overnight.
  6. Serve with warmed remaining peanut butter fudge sauce drizzled over each serving.
  7. Store leftovers in the freezer, and extra sauce in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
  • Use any crust you'd like - brownies, baked cookie dough, graham cracker crust.  Mix it up with different flavors!
  • Use 2/3 cup bottled hot fudge sauce if desired. Or double the amount and leave out the peanut butter.
  • Use any flavor sauce you'd like - try butterscotch or caramel!
  • Substitute any nut butter, or even Nutella. Cookie butter would be delicious too.
  • Use any mix-ins you prefer - try different candies, or crushed cookies. Your imagination is the limit! Use 1 to 2 cups total.
  • You can also use softened, store bought ice cream in any flavor to fill the crust (6 cups/ 48 oz tub).
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No Bake Corn Flake Cookies

Cookies, ,

Oh my goodness you guys, it has been a loooong summer already. Things have been super crazy around here, which is why I haven’t been posting much. But I think things are calming down, so I am hoping to get back to a semi-regular schedule here on the blog.

Also, it has been super hot here the last few weeks, and it looks like it is going to continue for a while. Are you dealing with this extreme heat as well? If you are, and even if you aren’t, you’ll love the next few recipes I’ve got planned for you, since they are all no bake! This first one couldn’t be easier. It is only four ingredients, and you probably have most of them in your pantry now. You only need chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter, and corn flakes.

But as always around here, there are lots of ways you can customize it. The original recipe, which my family has made for years, uses marshmallows in place of the corn flakes and presses in into a 9″x13″ pan. My college roommate once made something similar with corn flakes. Since I am not a fan of marshmallows (that original dessert is just about the only way I eat them), I loved that twist on the bars. You can use either marshmallows or unsweetened cereal, or a combination of both. If you don’t like corn flakes, I would try something like Chex cereal, or even Rice Krispies. You want something that isn’t too dense. You could also stir in some nuts or even dried fruit if that’s your thing.

These cookies are simple and quick to put together, and they won’t heat up your kitchen. They aren’t fancy, but they are delicious. I hope you try them, because I know you will love them!

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 No Bake Corn Flake Cookies
Servings
cookies
Ingredients
Servings
cookies
Ingredients
Instructions
  1. Melt chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and peanut butter in a large bowl in the microwave, or a large pot on the stove top on medium-low.
  2. Stir in corn flakes, gently, until completely coated.
  3. Scoop with a large ice cream scoop onto parchment lined baking sheets and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
  4. Store at room temperate, for softer and slightly sticky cookies, or in the refrigerator for firmer (and less messy) cookies.
Recipe Notes
  • For bars, press into a greased 9"x13" pan. Refrigerate until firm before cutting.
  • Use 2 (10 oz) packages of mini marshmallows in place of the corn flakes.
  • Use a combination of marshmallows and corn flakes.
  • Use any other cereal of your choice - preferably an airy cereal like Chex or Rice Krispies.
  • Substitute 1 cup of cereal (or marshmallows) with 1 to 2 cups of nuts or dried fruit.
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Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddy) Pie

Uncategorized,

Yep. You read that right. I made a Puppy Chow, or Muddy Buddy if you prefer, pie!

So, are we done with the January diets yet? Because this is decidedly NOT diet food. But it is so delicious I promise you won’t care.

You all know what Puppy Chow is, right? It’s a chocolate and peanut butter mixture that you pour all over Chex cereal, which you then douse with powdered sugar. It is highly addictive, and definitely one of my favorite sweet treats. The best pieces are the ones that are coated a little thicker with the chocolate and peanut butter.

So I figured, why not just fill a pie shell with that filling? And if you made that pie crust with crushed up cereal, so much the better. And then you certainly can’t stop there – better put a heavy coat of powdered sugar on top.

This is a pretty simple pie, but it is very rich. A small slice goes a long way. And you can certainly change it up (but I don’t know why you would want to 🙂 ). Use white chocolate chips instead, or even milk chocolate or butterscotch. Try using a different nut butter or even using Nutella in it’s place. And if the powdered sugar seems like just too much, go ahead and top it with crushed nuts (peanuts, hazelnuts, whatever makes you happy), or pretty sprinkles for a special occasion. I hope you give this a try – you will love it!

Puppy Chow Pie
A chocolate and peanut butter filling in a cereal crust - just like Puppy Chow (Muddy Buddies)!
For the crust
  1. 4 cups Chex cereal (rice or corn)
  2. 3 tablespoons sugar
  3. 4 tablespoons butter, melted
For the filling
  1. 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
  2. 1/2 cup heavy or whipping cream
  3. 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
  4. 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  5. powdered sugar, for topping
Add ingredients to shopping list
If you don’t have Buy Me a Pie! app installed you’ll see the list with ingredients right after downloading it
Instructions
  1. Finely crush the cereal. You should end up with about 2 cups of crumbs. Mix well with the sugar and melted butter. Spray a 9" pie pan with baking spray, and press crumb mixture into bottom and up sides of pan. Use a small greased bowl or measuring cup to help. Bake the crust at 350 degrees F for 10 minutes. Let cool completely.
  2. While crust is baking, heat chocolate chips and whipping cream in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until chocolate is melted. Add peanut butter and stir until smooth. Microwave additional 15 seconds if mixture is not hot enough to melt peanut butter. Stir in vanilla. Chill mixture in the refrigerator until room temperature and beginning to hold it's shape. It should be about the consistency of peanut butter. Whisk briefly by hand, just until mixture begins to lighten in color. Immediately spread into cooled crust and refrigerate, about 30 minutes to an hour, until firm.
  3. Dust generously with powdered sugar and serve. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Notes
  1. You can use different cereals (rice krispies, corn flakes, etc.), as long as they are unsweetened and crunchy. You need 2 cups once crushed.
  2. Substitute semisweet chocolate with any chips you like.
  3. Any nut butter or Nutella can be substituted for the peanut butter.
  4. Top with crushed nuts or sprinkles instead of powdered sugar, if desired.
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The Archaeologist Bakes http://www.thearchaeologistbakes.com/

Peanut Butter Potato Chip Bars

Uncategorized,

img_0337

Lately I’ve been seeing a lot of variations on the marshmallow krispie treats that don’t actually involve cereal. Like this potato chip version, or this “junk food” version. With that combination of sweet and salty, I can see why they’re so popular. I love the idea, except…

 
img_0330

I don’t like marshmallows. I know, I know. Please don’t leave. I don’t know what it is about them, but I just don’t like the flavor or texture. I’m weird, what can I say. Luckily, there is a marshmallow-free peanut butter version of the krispie treats that we have been making for years. And while I don’t like marshmallows, I do like potato chips and pretzels dipped in peanut butter. So, I did what anyone would do, and swapped out the cereal for some snack food. Any salty treat would work well here. Try adding in popcorn if that’s your thing. Or maybe you prefer corn chips?

img_0319

Oh, and did I mention that there is a chocolate frosting poured all over the top?

img_0336

You start by combing the sugar and corn syrup. Stir in the peanut butter until it melts, and then add in your crushed up chips and a handful of peanuts. Press it into a pan and get to making that frosting.
 img_0341

Combine all your ingredients, boil for a few minutes, and pour it on. Then let cool (if you can wait), and find a place to hide them. Because you will not want to share.

img_0348

 

Peanut Butter Potato Chip Bars
Yields 24
For the bars
  1. 1 cup granulated sugar
  2. 1 cup corn syrup
  3. 1 1/2 cups peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
  4. 4 cups potato sticks or crushed potato chips
  5. 2 cups crushed pretzels
  6. 1/2 cup coarsely chopped salted peanuts
For the frosting
  1. 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  2. 6 tablespoons milk
  3. 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
  4. 6 tablespoons butter
  5. pinch salt
Add ingredients to shopping list
If you don’t have Buy Me a Pie! app installed you’ll see the list with ingredients right after downloading it
For the bars
  1. Combine the sugar and corn syrup in a large pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. As soon as the mixture boils, turn off heat and add peanut butter. Once peanut butter is melted, mix in the chips, pretzels, and peanuts. Stir until everything is coated and press into a greased 9x13 pan.
For the frosting
  1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium to medium-high heat, stirring frequently. Boil for 3 minutes, then remove from heat. Let cool slightly, about 10-15 minutes. Pour over bars and let cool completely before cutting into squares and devouring.
Notes
  1. Add your choice of chips, pretzels, popcorn - whatever sounds good to you! There should be 6 to 6 1/2 cups total.
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The Archaeologist Bakes http://www.thearchaeologistbakes.com/