Valentines Day....just another excuse for eating Chocolate...

As if we need another excuse!

 

Actually, this started out as an experiment- or a quest, if you will.

I had tried other recipes for peanut butter cups, but they never tasted quite right. My husband said they just weren't "peanutty" enough and I was determine to get it right.  So like the proverbial mad scientist, I went back to the kitchen, determined to make a more "peanutty" peanut butter cup!!

After a couple of tries, I made some ingredient adjustments and came up with this recipe. I recommend you use a high quality milk chocolate, but it must be tempered. However, if tempering chocolate seems too intimidating, you can use milk chocolate flavored candy melts.

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Jacque's Peanut Butter Cups

1/4 cup unsalted dry roasted peanuts

1/2 cup peanut butter

2  Tablespoons softened butter

dash salt

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

3/4 cups powdered sugar

Melted Milk chocolate ( tempered)

Grind peanuts very fine in a blender or processor. In a bowl, Mix together  ground peanuts, peanut butter, butter, salt and brown sugar. Add Powdered sugar and incorporate until you have a nice dough, about the same feel as a pastry dough. 

If it is too crumbly, add more peanut butter. If too soft, add more powdered sugar.

Roll out on a silicone mat or wax paper about 3/8" thick.

 Using a 3/4" circle cutter, cut out patties and set aside.

Use only what you need. Wrap remaining dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Fill a medium sized Peanut Butter Cup mold  almost half full with milk chocolate.

Using a stiff artist brush, paint the chocolate up the sides of the molds.

Place peanut pattie in each cup. 

Drop enough chocolate over the top of the patties to fill cups.

 Lightly tap mold on counter to remove bubbles. Place in freezer for 5 minutes.

Pop out of mold (and into mouth.)

No! No... I mean...box up these delectable delights for that special person in your life.

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So again we have the perfect couple. Peanut Butter and Chocolate. Ahhhhhh!

 

Happy Valentines Day!

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Photography and Tutorial by Jacque Benson 2010- All Rights Reserved

This material may not be copied without permission from the author.