Just Eat It: Peanut Butter Bites

By Stiff
My inspiration for cooking can come from a variety of things. Sometimes I get inspired by having a dish from a restaurant that I’ve never had before and try to replicate it at home. Sometimes inspiration comes from recipes I may see on television. I mostly get inspired by the certain items I see in the grocery store or farmer’s market.

Sometimes I fail at the outcome of what I’m making and sometimes I succeed. I just like to try new things and expand my horizons when it comes to testing new ingredients or cooking methods. James, my husband is a great guinea pig. He will generally eat whatever I make and is honest about how the food tastes. Unlike James, I myself am much more critical about how my food turns out.

Peanut Butter Bites

2-2 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

4 c. sifted confectioners sugar

1/2 c. butter

1 t. vanilla extract

6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 T. shortening

In a very large mixing bowl, add sugar, room temperature butter, peanut butter and vanilla. Mix together with hands until well combined. The texture should be thick and crumbly.

Line parchment paper on a large cookie sheet. Take about 2 tablespoons of peanut butter dough and work into the palm of your hands to create a firm and smooth ball. Transfer peanut butter balls to the cookie sheet. Do this until all of the dough is gone.

In a medium pot, simmer about 3 cups of water. Place a mixing bowl on top of the pot. I used a chop stick to place in between the simmering water pot and the mixing bowl to allow the steam to be released. We are creating a double boiler. Add 6 ounces of chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of shortening into the mixing bowl. Stir chocolate mix with a spatula until chocolate and shortening are well combined and completely melted.

Take a skewer and poke a peanut ball until it hits the center and roll it around in the melted chocolate. Transfer it back to the cookie sheet and continue to do this until all of the peanut butter balls are dipped in chocolate.

Place the cookie sheet with the peanut butter balls in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Once the chocolate has hardened, transfer them into a cookie container and keep them in a cool, dry place and enjoy!

(Stiff is an amateur home cook and food blogger. Stiff can be found at a grocery store, Instagram @stifferoni and Tumblr: http://stiffers.tumblr.com/.)