Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart

Let's go back in time. Let's go back to a very very long time ago when I first discovered food blogs were a thing thanks to a Facebook ad for Annie's Eats (now called Everyday Annie). I started hoarding recipes to try one day. As I added more blogs to read, that list grew. Even more so when I started blogging myself. Then, in 2012 (picture this: I was still in NY, not yet engaged, Obama was in the middle of his presidency. What a time), I laid eyes on this delightful gem on that same Annie's site: a chocolate peanut butter tart. Clearly so rich and delicious I had to save it. 

But then it took me like 7 years to actually make it. Isn't that sad? 

Fear not! This story has a happy ending because I did make it and it WAS so good! And, honestly, look how pretty that pb swirl is. I can't believe I was able to make it look that good (tasty food is my forte, pretty food: less so. We frequently joke I should be on Nailed It. I think I could legit win because at least my food would be edible lol). 

Let's break down each tasty layer: chocolate crust, peanut butter, chocolate ganache, more peanut butter swirled on top. Clearly, a winner.

Flourless Peanut Butter S'mores Cookies {Gluten-free, Dairy free}

Ohhh heyyyyyy.

It's been a minute, huh?

Turns out...parenthood is hard you guys. It's like all consuming and add in trying to keep up with various life things (we got a minivan! James broke Michael's computer! There's a global pandemic!), generally feeding our whole family, somewhat keeping the house clean, trying to spend any time on self care or my relationship with Michael, and the little bit of work I do (seriously NO clue how everyone who works full time does it) aaaand...something had to give. Unfortunately that something was this blog. 

But-as I said, there's a global pandemic going on. Which means that Michael is able to work from home (which we are extremely lucky to have that option and I hate that more people aren't in that position). Which has really helped with dividing up house responsibilities and brainstorming ways to be more efficient. Also I'm no longer working outside of the house either. So we decided to give me a few extra hours a week to just go away from the kiddos, let Michael take over, and I can do whatever work sorts of things I need to do. And that includes finding some time to blog again! So hip hip hooray I have some recipes for you! 

Way back before Rose was born when James was still more toddler than little boy (*sob*) the two of us decided to bake cookies together. And I had seen these cookies on Instagram that looked super ooey gooey delicious but were a little healthier (maple syrup instead of sugar, gluten-free, dairy free, able to use my homemade peanut butter that I always have lying around...) AND they looked really quick and easy to make (necessary when dealing with a toddler). So we made them together (the little cutie loved the part where we flattened the dough balls) and then ate them together and oooooh they were PERFECT. So chewy. So flavorful. So decadent and delicious, you'd honestly never guess they were anything but pure sinful (not that I believe in food having any morality, all food is good food! And this is my mommy soapbox for today.) 

And James pointed to them and said "I made that." So really the accomplishment almost superseded the tastiness. 

Make 'em. Eat 'em. Do a happy dance that I posted a recipe for you and that of course it's cookies.

Soft Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk Cookies

I love being a mom. Seriously, it's the best. The ONLY thing that I don't love is the fact that I don't have nearly as much time to bake.

It's super sad. I love baking! It's fun! And the results are sooo yummy.

Which is why it's an extra special treat when I actually am able to do it. Especially cookies. They're a fave around here in case you didn't know.

This recipe is one of my all time (if not my absolute all time) favorite peanut butter cookie recipes. They're soft, they're chewy, they're peanut butter, and there's chocolate. I love love love them. Michael love love loved them. Heck even my family love love loved them when I brought some to my grandma's pool. 

(And someday when I let James find out what a real cookie tastes like, he'll love love love these too. And so will you.)

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Chocolate Cookies

Fun fact: 3 years ago today I married my favorite (aside from James) guy. 3 years of marriage and almost 9 years together (and half a year of parenthood) one of my favorite things about us is what a good team we make. We complement each other and go together like...well...chocolate and peanut butter!

And he appreciates a good cookie. Definite keeper.

There's honestly nothing not to love about these cookies-they're super soft and chewy and FULL of chocolate and peanut buttery goodness-both in the cookies themselves and in the gooey peanut butter and chocolate chips! I'm a major proponent of eating warm cookies (to the point that I'll oftentimes not bother if they're not warm) BUT these ones are still super tasty at room temp. (don't get me wrong...I still liked them warm. But I didn't turn my nose up at the cooled ones either :P). 

They're delish, ok? It's just true. 

Pecan Muddy Buddies

Muddy Buddies or Puppy Chow--whatever you call it, it's delicious (for those who don't know: it's chex cereal coated in a butter/chocolate/pb mixture and then tossed in powdered sugar). And I don't know why I had never even thought about using the same method to coat something other than chex. But when I saw this recipe using toasted pecans...oh my goodness I knew I had to make it happen. Plus...it's stupid easy. Which is necessary in the unpredictable life of being a new(ish) mama.

I actually sort of am enjoying baking/making desserts with James now. I'll put him in a baby wrap and he likes to face outward and then chew on one of his baby spoons or something while I make stuff (and sometimes he tries to "help"). I think the kitchen and me making stuff in the kitchen is just super new and interesting for him and it's sort of adorable and warms my heart.

Plus it means I get to have treats. So it's a win all around.

Speaking of wins, these pecan muddy buddies definitely are one. I think I still prefer classic puppy chow but I liked the nuttiness of these-and Michael was a BIG fan. He couldn't get enough. He may have even eaten more of them than me! Which is sort of a big deal.

Butterfinger Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

If you like super rich desserts, then great news! I've got a super dense and fudgy brownie with peanut butter swirled in to the top and then lots of crunchy crushed Butterfingers on top of that. They're awesome-people love them. Michael enjoyed them with ice cream too (apparently it added a refreshing element to the richness :P).

May I suggest these as a potential option for your holiday baking? They're super tasty and are sure to be a huge hit with any non-peanut allergy crowd. They're also kind of ridiculously easy to throw together, so really none of us have any excuse to not be eating one of these ASAP. 

NO EXCUSE!

Vegan Peanut Butter Ice Cream

A simple recipe for vegan peanut butter ice cream, using only 4 easily found ingredients, that is creamy and delicious!

So...Michael isn't technically lactose intolerant. But he's definitely having a harder time with large amounts of dairy the older he's getting. So we've been cutting back a bit and subbing in with cashew milk. But he's a bit of an ice cream fanatic. So I decided it was high time I tried to make some dairy free ice cream for him and when I went looking for a simple recipe (with no weird, random, ingredients that a non-vegan person wouldn't normally have) this one jumped out at me! It's got only FOUR ingredients and is nice and straightforward. 

Michael also likes chocolate chips or chunks in his ice creams so I added that as an optional mix-in as well! Either way, the ice cream is creamy and flavorful (so peanut buttery) and Michael and I both loved it! I will say, you should leave the ice cream out for a bit after having it in the freezer before serving because it gets REALLY hard in the freezer. Like...unscoopable. But if we can't have patience for ice cream, what can we have patience for?

Butterfinger Oatmeal Cookies

I don't hate these pictures! It's a miracle!! I've been sort of ho hum on my food photography lately-as I'm sure you can probably tell. But I had a bit of inspiration with the styling for this one and the light decided to cooperate so I can show you these cookies in all their glory.

Chewy oatmeal cookies full of crunchy bites of Butterfinger=perfection!! I made these for Michael to bring to work one day for some sort of party or something that they were having. I will admit that I think my oats may have been stale and thusly I wasn't in love with the cookie I sampled before sending them off, which made me super worried. But Michael insisted they were tasty and all his coworkers raved about them soooo....I have no idea. I'm sure the recipe is still great--but just for safety, make sure your oats aren't expired...ha.

Seriously, these are an ideal cookie for bringing to parties or mailing in care packages since they're pretty sturdy and the nature of the oats and butterfinger bits means they're super delish at room temperature (as opposed to my own personal preference of cookies being warm and gooey, usually). Plus-almost everyone loves butterfingers. Can you say "crowd pleaser"??

Peanut Butter S'mores Skillet Brownie

So this was supposed to be a Peanut Butter S'mores Pizookie--which is a copycat from a place called BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse. However...this didn't exactly end up being close enough for me to call it that--I made a slight mistake and did a skillet brownie instead of cookie. So-it's not the same. BUT it is YUMALICIOUS and perfectly deserving of its own title. So PB S'mores Skillet Brownie, here we are!

Essentially we have a super fudgy and dense and chocolatey brownie (with chocolate chips/chunks) baked in a skillet. THEN there's a layer of peanut butter. THEN we put some marshmallows on top and get 'em all toasty. And the result is gooey and rich and really just awesome.

Michael would've liked this better if it had just been the brownie and peanut butter without the toasted marshmallows...because I've married a weirdo. BUT-more for me!!! Even though this is a medium sized skillet brownie...and even though I'm pregnant (although honestly my appetite has gone down if anything so far)-I did not finish the whole thing in one sitting! I cut off little wedges to eat over the course of a few days. But if you eat it all at once I will do nothing but love and admire you.

I mean...it's messy. And gooey. As all the tastiest things are!

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here it is--my first recipe that I've made and photographed for the blog since that darned first trimester fatigue/nausea hit me. And-of course-the lighting was not my friend. So...sorry about the pictures. Bear with me.

Now the important thing here is HOW GOSH DARN TASTY these are. They're are super duper peanut buttery, very very flavorful-and there's no flour or butter. Lots of winning. Full disclosure, though--forming the dough into balls was THE BIGGEST PAIN IN MY BUTT. They were so crumbly and it was rough. Now-this may be partly because I used PB & Co peanut butter which I thought wouldn't count as natural peanut butter but...maybe it did and affected the texture. I couldn't tell you. But but but seriously they're so yummy.

Michael was a giant fan of these cookies-they got sent in his lunches every day (I love that I'm already well versed in packing lunches before even having given birth) and they were perfect for my occasional peanut butter cravings (which I'm attributing to the fact that I haven't been eating a ton of meat since getting pregnant so I probably needed the protein.) Whatever reason you may have for wanting them, you won't be sorry you made these cookies. Even if you're cursing their existence when you're scooping and shaping them :P

Soft & Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies

I don't know about you but I've noticed most peanut butter cookies are a little crisp, maybe a little crumbly. They're not all as soft and chewy as you'd like. That's where this recipe comes in. It's got a pleasant peanut butter flavor (not crazy peanut buttery, but definitely present) and they're so soft sometimes they just spontaneously break in half. It's a beautiful sacrifice in the name of chewy cookies.

I made these for Michael's cousin, who needed them for a reception after a memorial service for her father-in-law. Food can be such a comfort item, and it was my pleasure to attempt to share this small bit of comfort to them. These are definitely the sort of cookie that is sure to please the masses and also make you feel happy and warm inside. Really, when has a peanut butter cookie* never not made you feel better?

Exactly.

*(Unless you have a nut allergy. In that case...condolences. Chocolate chip cookies give lots of comfort too. Don't worry!)

Personally, I prefer a cookie with a stronger peanut butter flavor. But I know other people who don't like things to have that strong of flavors (particularly my cousin Chelsea, when she explained why she doesn't love Jeni's salty caramel ice cream...personally I think she's insane but ya know, whatevs.)

But I did love how soft and chewy these were, they stayed that way leftover and it was so nice. If I drsank milk, I think having a plate of these with a glass of milk would be just the ticket!

The BEST Puppy Chow (AKA Muddy Buddies)

It's a new year! And that's all about us trying to have a clean slate and do better this year than we did in years past, yes? Well-in the spirit of that-I am sharing a very old post from this blog BECAUSE I reinvigorated it with new photos! The old ones were terrible and it's a shame because my puppy chow recipe (also known as muddy buddies) is THE BEST. So the pictures should reflect that. And now they do! Gaze at the pretty pretty pictures, then click on the link to find the perfect chocolate-peanut buttery treat <3

My Perfect Puppy Chow Recipe

Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies {Levain Copycat}

I've spent a lot of time singing the praises of Levain Bakery back in NYC. They pretty much the most fantabulous, GIANT, cookies ever. They're sturdy on the outside and somewhat underbaked and gooey in the centers. They're pretty much a phenomenon and I miss them like crazy. They have 4 different kinds of cookies- chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, and dark chocolate peanut butter chip. I've tried all of them except the oatmeal raisin (because...I mean...it seems like the real wrong choice of the 4 if you ask me). My favorite is the chocolate chip walnut--which I've already posted a copycat for. And today I'm posting a copycat recipe for my 2nd fave: dark chocolate peanut butter chip....MMMMmmmmmm!

The cookies are big. Like...beyond big. Like full-on GIANT. Because that's part of what makes Levain style cookies so amazing-they're huge and almost biscuit like on the outside, but gooey and slightly underbaked inside. And these ones are SO SO SO RICH. Super chocolatey, with lots and lots of gooey peanut butter chips. If you're the kind of person who drinks milk...you're gonna want a big glass. I, personally, just bask in the decadence. These are a show stopper my friends, not for the faint of heart!

Peanut Butter Cup Stuffed S'mores Brownies

Excuse the messiness of these photos. I'm just trying to show real life here...I mean...s'mores and melty peanut butter cups are messy. Any of you who have children (or remember being children) should be plenty aware of this fact. All things considered I think I did the best that could have been expected. Plus....I mean....messy and gooey looks kinda yummy, ya know?

Now...before I get into the transcendent experience that is eating one of these brownies...I need to give you guys a heads up! I'm going to be out in Texas Wednesday-Monday to go to my brother's graduation from basic training for the airforce. Sooo I'm not going to be able to post this Wednesday or next Monday. I KNOW-I'm sorry! But I figured...at least I'm leaving you with something completely over the top amazing to keep you all satisfied until I get back. So, hopefully these brownies will help me earn your forgiveness. I mean-look at these photos. We're cool.

When I made these delicious brownies I instagrammed them. And was told by one of my husband's coworkers that she needed one. And I thought to myself "These are really rich, and this did make a huge pan of brownies...I could probably share." So I told her I'd send some in with Michael the next day. And apparently she told everyone because I shortly thereafter got a text from him saying, "So I guess I'm bringing dessert tomorrow?"

They were excited :D And I sent the brownies. And they were devoured. But poor Jess (the original coworker who commented) wasn't there the rest of the week and got no brownies! So she's been pouty about it. I can't really blame her. These are DARNED GOOD.

Allow me to e'splain to you these magical brownies. They have a thick and buttery graham cracker crust. Nomnom. Then they have a very dense and very chocolate brownie layer. Mmmhmm. THEN they have peanut butter cups and melty dark chocolate barks layered on top of that. OMIGOSH. And theeen there are toasted marshmallows on top. YESYESFORREALSIESYES.

In summation-these are insanely gooey and decadent and rich and pretty much what dreams are made of. You need them. I need them. We all need them.

Peanut Butter Butterfinger Ice Cream {No Cook, Egg-free}

When you make your own sweet treats at home...it spoils you, guys. Like...you got to a cupcake bakery and scoff when you see their cupcakes don't have filling (IF A CUPCAKE ISN'T FILLED IT ISN'T WORTH IT!) Or you look at an ice cream display and see that their "Butterfinger Ice Cream" is vanilla ice cream with Butterfingers-NO!

The correct way is to have peanut butter ice cream with Butterfingers. Which is why we have to make these things ourselves. So I did. For you. (...well...and me....and Michael).

One super nice thing about this recipe is the fact that it's pretty darn simple to make--you don't cook anything, it doesn't have any eggs in it--you just blend together some half and half, peanut butter, sugar, etc. and then pour it into your ice cream maker! Plus...making this ice cream was an excuse for me to finally try out the new Butterfinger Baking Bits (have you seen those??? They're in the same area as the chocolate chips and such). It's pretty much just a bag of super crushed up Butterfingers...which makes them perfect for using in baking or...ice cream!

This ice cream turned out PERFECTLY-creamy, silky textured sweet peanut butter ice cream with crunchy Butterfingers in every bite....MMmmm! If I ever opened an ice cream shop, I would serve this and share with the world the way Butterfinger ice cream is supposed to be! Of course...I am sharing the recipe with all of you, so...same thing, no? Give it a try, enjoy it, and then say "Ah Kayle you're totally right! This is the way to make Butterfinger ice cream!" And I'll say, "Aww thank you! OMG riiiiight?? Forreals."

...because I'm a millennial. But can we still be friends?

:P

Thick Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

One of the few things that I mostly keep standard on the whole "eating things seasonally" (I'm not not talking about vegetables--I'm talking like ice cream is for summer kind of thing) is that I usually only drink hot chocolate in the winter. But I'm also super picky about it--like...when I tell people that I only drink water and they make the weirded out face and then I inform them that I do occasionally drink orange juice or really good hot chocolate. It's true. I need it thick. I need it rich. None of that watery/milky cocoa powder gunk for me. RICH AND THICK! The ultimate epitome of this is Max Brenner's Italian Thick Hot Chocolate, but now that I no longer live in NYC I do not have easy access to that nectar of the gods (although I'm intending to try a copycat recipe soon) so I have to try out other versions myself!

One easy way to make any hot chocolate richer is to add in peanut butter. Instant yum. Which is why this is now def. one of my favorite homemade hot chocolates-rich, creamy, fairly thick, and peanut butteryyyyy! I really need to have heavy cream in my fridge at all times-can you imagine how tasty a peanut butter whipped cream would be on top of this??! I can--and it's DARN TASTY!

Mind you, I also fully loved my idea to put some toasted marshmallows and chopped peanuts on top. Although I will admit the peanuts might have made it a bit too chewy...hmmm...not sure. Regardless, I enjoyed it. Still not quite as thick as I'd like, but def. better than almost any version I've tried at home thus far. And Michael said it tasted like a melted candy bar, which is pretty much my meter for if I'm going to like it or not. And if you're a smart cookie like me, then you'll love it too!

Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

TOMORROW IS CHRISTMAS EVE! YAY YAY YAY! And I'm sure you probably have all your holiday cookie stuff figured out...but...in case you don't....might I recommend these lovelies?

These miiight be my current fave choc/pb cookie. Cuz....they're a super chocolatey base with a hint of peanut butter flavor, and they're loaded with melt-y chocolate and peanut butter chips! Double the chocolate, double the peanut butter!They're nice and sturdy on the outside (so great for gift giving or putting on a cookie plate) but chewy and delicious inside. This recipe also makes a good amount of cookies--I actually froze half the batch when I made them so that I could easily just pop them in the oven for Michael's work Christmas party (and we just ate the first half of the batch ourselves :P).

I loved them. Michael loved them. My brother loved them. Michael's coworkers gobbled them up. 

Look...what I'm saying here is...Santa works hard all year and he deserves some of these cookies left out for him tomorrow night!!! Mkayyyy?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Nutella Oreo Cookies

There's like...a lot going on with these cookies. They have no flour or butter (in the actual cookies, there may be some in the Oreo's) but they DO have peanut butter, nutella (or nocciolata, which I used), cocoa powder, and...obviously...Oreo's (or other brand of chocolate sandwich cookie-I like Newton-O's).

Suffice it to say...these are little bites of rich, flavorful, amazinggg cookies. The kind of cookies that are perfect to binge-ing on while you watch Magic Mike XXL (Don't act like you haven't seen it! Fun fact--My mom and her friends hated it and said the "dancing" was way better in the first one. Like...what? I'm like "Mom...it's no worse than the first one. You're crazy." But I digress.) They're the kind of cookies that you want to give to your friends and family so they'll love you forever and be impressed with your mad cookie skills.

I've got another reason you should consider these cookies for your holiday baking: they're chewy and gooey on the inside but sturdy on the outside, making them ideal for shipping or traveling with.

Also...Santa would totally love 'em. Just saying.

At Thanksgiving, Michael's aunt was complaining that I hadn't shared a cookie recipe in too long. Well, Cindy, this one's for you! I told you I had one coming!!

In all fairness, though, I get disappointed when I go awhile without cookies too. 

Don't we all?