Dark Chocolate Dreams Icebox Pie-31 Days of Dark Chocolate Dreams Cookbook Review

I'm feeling prettyyyy cool. Wanna know why? I got to check out an ADVANCE copy of Peanut Butter & Co's new cookbook "31 Days of Dark Chocolate Dreams" (written by Peanut Butter & Co. founder and president, Lee Zalben)!! The cookbook released on January 27th (but I received it a couple weeks before) and features a whole month's worth of delicious, crazy, fabulous recipes using PB&Co's most popular (and my FAVORITE) peanut butter: Dark Chocolate Dreams (remember when I did that full scale review, back in the day?)

When PB&Co approached me about the opportunity, I mean..it was a no brainer. I LOVE them. They have this amazing sandwich shop here in NYC and...I mean...their peanut butters...AHHMAZING. And Dark Chocolate Dreams is the best: chocolate + peanut butter=goodness. Duh. Bonus: it has no cholesterol, no trans fats, no hydrogenated oils, and no high-fructose corn syrup. It is also gluten-free, certified vegan, and certified kosher pareve. Awesomeness, right? And a whole cookbook using this nectar from heaven...whoa!

There were so many delicious options, flipping through this cookbook, that I didn't know where to start!

Fortunately, Michael very succinctly made up my mind. He pointed to the icebox pie and said, "That one."

...ok then

My boy loves pie. So do I. And this, this is the embodiment of everything I want in a pie. After his first bite, Michael said, "Ohhh....this is so good...I take back what I said about the soup." He then proceeded to savor each bite, very slowly. And when the day came that he had to finish the last piece...he was a sad Michael.

Let's break it down: homemade, crunchy, buttery, chocolate cookie crust. Then a rich, thick, creamy, heavenly, dark chocolate peanut butter filling that will make you just want to let it sit on your tongue so you can just enjoy every moment. Then, on top, the perfect bit of texture is added by garnishing with peanuts and chocolate chips. Just....ahhh....so good you guys. I'm not even kidding. You need this pie in your life, NOW.

Just ask my poor, broken fiance', crying in the corner because there is no more pie*.

*this is a slight exaggeration. Slight.

((Keep on reading after the recipe for a GIVEAWAY!))

Dark Chocolate Dreams Icebox Pie

Adapted slightly from 31 Days of Dark Chocolate Dreams 

Makes 8 servings (one 9 in. pie)

Ingredients:

• 9 oz. chocolate wafer cookies (I used homemade) 
• 2-5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted (2 tbsp. if using homemade chocolate wafer cookies or 5 tbsp. if using storebought)
• 1 and 3/4 cup (or one 16 oz. jar) Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter
• 8 oz. whipped topping (either CoolWhip or 1 and 1/2 cups heavy cream beaten with 2-3 tbsp. powdered sugar)
• Garnish-semisweet chocolate chips, additional whipped topping, chopped peanuts

Preparation:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 inch pie plate. 
• Place cookies in a food processor and process until they are finely ground crumbs. Add in melted butter and pulse until the cookie crumbs are evenly moistened.
• Press the moistened crumbs into a prepared pie dish, going all the way up and around the sides (I used the bottom of a glass to help). Bake for 8 minutes. Remove and cool completely before filling.
• In a large bowl fold/stir together the Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter and the whipped topping until fully and evenly combined (will be thick and creamy, not fluffy).
• Pour filling into the cooled crust and smooth evenly with a rubber spatula.
• Top with chocolate chips and chopped peanuts. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Before serving, if desired, garnish with whipped topping. Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

This puts the DREAMy in Dark Chocolate DREAMs <3

31 Days of Dark Chocolate Dreams 

GIVEAWAY!
(CLOSED)
The winner is Lori C.! Congrats!!

One lucky Cooking Actress reader will win (1) copy of 31 Days of Dark Chocolate Dreams cookbook plus (1) 28 oz. jar of Dark Chocolate Dreams!

Giveaway closes February 16th, 2013, 11:59PM EST.  After the contest is over, I will send the winner an email (so please make sure you provide an email address or some other way to get in touch with you), and get you your prize. The winner will have 3 days to respond or another winner will be chosen, all prizes will be awarded. The winner will be chosen via a random number generator. Open to U.S. residents over the age of 18. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY.

How to enter: (REQUIRED FOR ENTRY IN THIS GIVEAWAY) 

Leave a comment on this post answering: which PB&Co peanut butter variety is your favorite?

Additional (optional) entries: (you will receive one additional entry for each of the following--so if you leave a comment for all of them, you can have a total of up to 10 entries/chances to win!) MAKE SURE TO LEAVE A SEPARATE COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY-these entries are optional, not required.

• "Like" The Cooking Actress on Facebook-leave a comment on this post to let me know you did so.
• Follow The Cooking Actress on Pinterest-and leave a separate comment letting me know. 
• Follow The Cooking Actress by email-leave another comment.
• Follow me on Twitter @kayleblogna-leave a separate comment on here to tell me.
• Follow me on Instagram @kayleblogna-leave another comment, saying you did so.
• Follow Peanut Butter & Co. on Pinterest-leave me a comment telling me if you did.
• "Like" Peanut Butter & Co. on Facebook-leave a comment on here letting me know.
• Follow @PeanutButterCo on Twitter-leave a comment tell me you did.
• Tweet this about the giveaway:  (and leave a comment on this post afterwards)  
• I’d love to win the @PeanutButterCo #giveaway from @kayleblogna http://bit.ly/1aAICus #ilovepeanutbutter 

**If you already like/follow any of these, it still counts. Just let me know you already follow each in separate comments**

Disclaimer-I was provided with an advance copy of 31 Days of Dark Chocolate Dreams and a 28 oz. jar of Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter to try. I was under no obligation to write a review, or a positive review if I so chose. All opinions are, as always, my own. We are not liable for technical failures or typographical errors, or resolving identity disputes related to the winner.VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. This post contains Affiliate links.