Aunt Bev's Christmas Peanut Butter Cups
Do you all have some treat that when you taste it, it IS Christmas? Well, for the Fifield family, that recipe is Aunt Bev's Peanut Butter Cups! The rich peanut butter is enhanced with crunchy Graham Crackers and speckles of vanilla, and the snappy chocolate makes these wildly addictive. Bonus, they're simple enough for beginner chefs (aka your younger kids) to launch the Christmas baking season on their own!
- 2 cups peanut butter (16 oz.)
- 16 ounces powdered sugar
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 10 crackers' worth, or one cellophane package)
- 1 tsp. vanilla powder
- 16 ounces high quality milk chocolate
Knead peanut butter, powdered sugar, butter, graham cracker crumbs, and vanilla together and press into a 15x11 jelly-roll pan. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or up to several hours. Chop up and melt the chocolate (30 second intervals in the microwave, stirring frequently, usually takes 1.5-2 minutes total). Spread the chocolate over the peanut butter base and let set until the chocolate firms up. Bring to room temperature before cutting into very small squares. Use a serrated knife and score the chocolate prior to cutting to help reduce cracking. Makes about 80 squares. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 weeks.
Note: this recipe works well with GF graham crackers. You can also form the peanut butter filling into small balls and dip in chocolate for peanut butter truffles or Buckeyes.