Peanut Butter Squares

Peanut butter plus chocolate. What's not to like? These little morsels are easy to make, freeze well, and taste good frozen (or slightly thawed), which make them rather dangerous. It's hard to eat just one.

Peanut Butter Squares

1 cup butter
2 cups peanut butter
2 1/2 cups graham wafer crumbs
1 3/4 cups icing sugar

4 squares semi-sweet chocolate OR
   2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
3 Tablespoons butter

First layer: In a large saucepan, melt together the butter (1 cup) and peanut butter. Stir well to mix. Remove from heat and add the graham wafer crumbs plus the icing sugar. 

Spread into a 9 x 13 pan (no need to grease it), and press down firmly and evenly. Chill. 

Second layer: Melt together the 3 Tablespoons of butter plus the chocolate. Stir well. Spread in a thin layer over the peanut butter mixture. Chill again.

Cut into small squares. Keep chilled or frozen. 

Peanut Caramel Dip

A creamy peanut caramel dip complements fall's crisp apples perfectly. I used to make a dip using those individually wrapped caramels. Recently, while laying in bed one morning I wondered why I couldn't make a similar dip using a caramel sauce. So I gave it a try and this is the result. Dark caramelized sugar, cream, vanilla, a bit of butter, and peanut butter. I'm sure that it took less time to make than unwrapping all those caramels.

Peanut Caramel Dip

1/2 cup white granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon water
3/4 cup whipping cream
1 Tablespoon butter
3/4 cup peanut butter (I use a natural, no sugar, no additives peanut butter - Adams brand)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Place the sugar and water in a small, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Heat over medium-high heat, without stirring, but occasionally picking up the pot and swirling the mixture, until the sugar caramelizes to a deep golden brown. 

Remove from the heat and immediately add the cream. It will bubble like crazy, but stir it in until smooth. Add the butter and stir.

Add the peanut butter and vanilla; stir until well combined. The mixture will thicken a little as it cools and can be reheated gently if it gets too hard. If you find that your mixture is too thin, add more peanut butter. Different brands may produce a different result.

Serve with apple wedges - it would also be good with pineapple, pears, and other firm fruits.