Chocolate Peanut Butter Plunge Food

PEANUT BUTTER BALLS

Steps:

• Line a baking sheet with waxed paper and set aside.
• Mix peanut butter, butter and vanilla together in a large bowl.
• Slowly add one cup of powdered sugar to the creamy mixture, mixing well each time. *Note -- I do not sift my powdered sugar! I just scoop out 1 cup full and dump it in my bowl.*
• By the time you get to the third cup of powdered sugar, the mixture will become very difficult to stir with a spoon. Take your rings off and start mixing with your hands.
• Once all of the powdered sugar is incorporated into the peanut butter mixture, you can start making your balls. Simply pinch off a small amount and roll between your hands to form a small ball. Place the peanut butter balls on the prepared cookie sheet with waxed paper.
• Once you have made all of your balls, melt your chocolate. My favorite way to do this is in the double boiler, but if you don't have one, you can simply put a metal or glass bowl on top of a saucepan with about an inch of water in it. As the water in the saucepan begins to heat up, the steam will heat up your bowl and start melting your chocolate. Be sure to add the shortening to your chocolate - this will make covering your peanut butter balls with chocolate a lot easier.
• One at a time, drop your peanut butter balls into the melted chocolate. Lift the ball out of the chocolate with a fork and then transfer it to the waxed paper.
• Once all of your peanut butter balls are coated, put the cookie sheet in the fridge for 15-30 minutes. This will ensure the chocolate coating is completely hardened.

CHOCOLATE PLUNGE

Steps:

• Microwave corn syrup and whipping cream in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 min. or until mixture comes to boil. Add chocolate; stir until completely melted.
• Serve warm as a dip with cut-up fresh fruit, assorted cookies, pretzels and/or pound cake cubes.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Crush the cookies until they're fine crumbs. Pour the melted butter over the top and stir with a fork to combine. Press into a pie pan and bake until set, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
• For the filling: Beat the peanut butter with the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add in the thawed whipped topping and beat until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.
• Pour the filling into the crust, evening out the top with a knife or spatula. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

GIANT CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER MOLTEN BUNDT

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 12 cup Bundt pan with cooking spray.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter, sugar and oil in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light in color and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, and then the vanilla until combined.
• Alternate folding in the flour mixture and the milk into the batter with a spatula, adding the flour in three additions and the milk in two, starting and ending with the flour, until just smooth. Divide the batter evenly into two medium bowls. Fold the cocoa powder into one bowl and mix until incorporated. Fold 1/2 cup peanut butter into the second bowl and mix until incorporated.
• Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon and drop alternating scoopfuls of the batter into the pan. Drag a long wooden skewer through the batter, making sure the skewer reaches the bottom, to marble the colors in a tie-dye effect. Bake the cake until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean and the center springs back when touched, about 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack and refrigerate to cool completely and chill, about 1 hour. Trim the bottom of the cake with a serrated knife so it will sit flat on a serving platter.
• Meanwhile, microwave the chocolate and coconut oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring between each, until melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Microwave the remaining 1 3/4 cups peanut butter in a medium microwave safe bowl until warm and flowing, like lava, but still slightly thick, about 20 seconds.
• Place the cooling rack with the chilled cake on it into a baking sheet. Pour the chocolate sauce over top of the cake letting it drip down the sides. Sprinkle the top with the peanuts. Let the chocolate harden, about 1 hour. Transfer the cake to a serving platter. Pour the peanut butter into the hole in the center of the cake. Cover the peanut butter completely with chocolate sprinkles. Serve immediately.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER FROSTING

Steps:

• With a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add confectioners' sugar, cocoa powder, and milk. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds, then add the peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Beat on medium-high speed for 2 minutes until combined. Add 1/4 cup more confectioners' sugar if frosting is too thin or another 1-2 Tablespoons of cream/milk if frosting is too thick. Taste. Add a spoonful of extra peanut butter or a pinch of salt if desired.
• Frost your cake, cupcake, or confection however you'd like. In the pictured cupcakes, I piped a basic tall swirl using (affiliate link) Ateco 849 piping tip.
• Use immediately or cover tightly and store for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer. After freezing, thaw in the refrigerator then beat the frosting on medium speed for a few seconds so it's creamy again. After thawing or refrigerating, beating in a splash of heavy cream or milk will help thin the frosting out again, if needed.

CHOCOLATE & PEANUT BUTTER PAVLOVA

Steps:

• First, make the crémeux. Bring the milk and cream to the boil in a small saucepan, whisking occasionally. Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together in a medium heatproof bowl until smooth. Pour in the hot cream mixture in a steady stream, whisking continuously until combined. Return to the saucepan, and simmer over a low heat for 3-4 mins, stirring continously until thickened to a custard.
• Put the dark chocolate into a large heatproof bowl and strain the hot custard over it through a fine mesh sieve, whisking until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Leave to cool for 5 mins until just warm. Add the butter and blitz using a hand blender until smooth. Cover and leave at room temperature until needed.
• Heat the oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2 and line two baking sheets with baking parchment. For the meringue, beat the egg whites in a large, clean bowl using an electric whisk or in a stand mixer until soft peaks form, then gradually beat in the sugar, 1 tsp at a time, until the meringue is thick and glossy. Whisk in the vinegar and cornflour.
• Spoon half the meringue mixture into the middle of one of the prepared baking sheets, and spread out into a roughly 20-25cm circle. Repeat with the the remaining meringue mixture on the second baking sheet. Drizzle the melted chocolate evenly over both circles, then gently swirl it using a cutlery knife or skewer until you have a marbled effect. Bake for 1 hr, turn off the oven and leave the meringues to cool completely inside.
• Meanwhile, make the candied peanuts. Tip the peanuts, sugar and 1 tbsp water into a heavy-bottomed saucepan and cook over a medium heat for 3-4 mins, stirring until the peanuts start to crystallise and turn white. Continue to cook, stirring, for another 3-4 mins until the peanuts turn dark brown. Sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt flakes, then scrape onto a sheet of baking parchment. Spread out using a spatula, and leave to cool completely.
• For the peanut butter cream, melt the white chocolate, peanut butter, butter and 25ml cream in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool for 10 mins. Whisk the remaining cream to soft peaks, then fold in the peanut butter mixture until thick and billowy.
• To assemble, put one meringue circle on a serving plate, spoon over half the crémeux followed by half the peanut butter cream, then sprinkle with half the candied peanuts. Top with the second meringue circle, then the remaining crémeux and peanut butter cream, and the rest of the candied peanuts. Scatter over some dark chocolate shavings, if you like. Will keep chilled for up to two days.

CHOCOLATE PLUNGE

Steps:

• In medium saucepan stir corn syrup and cream.
• Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Remove from heat.
• Add chocolate; stir until completely melted.
• Serve warm as a dip for fruit.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PLUNGE

Steps:

• Microwave corn syrup & whipping cream in a large microwaveable bowl on HIGH for 1 1/2 minutes or until mixture comes to a boil.
• Remove from microwave, & add chocolate & peanut butter, stirring until completely melted.
• Best when served warm.