Christmas Peanut Butter Bars
Christmas Peanut Butter Bars have been a tradition in my family for many years. It all started when my mom was a teenager. She was introduced to this recipe by my grandmother, her mother. Â My grandmother is known for her amazing cooking and has countless amounts of recipes and tips on cooking. Over Christmas break, my grandmother joins my mother, my sister, and me for the day to help make the peanut butter bars for the holiday. Making these peanut butter bars is quite simple, with no baking required. Â Though easy to make, these peanut butter bars take a while to cool and require patience. This recipe is easy and delicious!
Ingredients
1 cup melted butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
Topping
1&1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
Directions
1. In a medium sized bowl, mix melted butter, graham cracker crumbs, powdered sugar and peanut butter until thick.
2. Press into a 9×13 ungreased pan, or a 9×9 ungreased pan for thicker bars.
3. Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter together until smooth.
4. Pour over the mixture and spread evenly.
5. Refrigerate for at least one hour before cutting into bars.
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Ever since I was a child, my grandmother has made Peanut Butter Blossoms for my birthday, which falls near Christmas. Once Christmas comes around, I am lucky enough to enjoy them once again with all my family. One Christmas morning, I woke up early with my grandmother and she taught me how to make peanut butter blossoms. After a few distractions and mistakes on my part, the recipe actually turned out pretty good! Everyone was so surprised that I helped make them! That Christmas has always been one to remember, one of my favorites. After a little bit of practice, I mastered the recipe, and now make them often.
Ingredients
1/2 cup Crisco Butter Shortening
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup sugar plus
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1/2 teaspoon of salt
foil-wrapped milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped-amount according to number of cookies.
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Cream together the shortening, peanut butter, brown sugar and 1/2 cup sugar. Add the egg, milk and vanilla. Â Beat well until thick.
3. Stir together the flour, baking soda and salt. Â Add to creamed mixture. Â Beat on low speed until a stiff dough forms.
4. Shape into 1-2 inch balls. Roll the balls in sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Â Immediately top each cookie with an unwrapped chocolate kiss, pressing down firmly so that cookie cracks around the edges. Remove cookies from the cookie sheet to cool.