A Classic Combo….

Happy Friday! The kids are napping, lunch is over, the sun is shining, and today I get to share a perfect Friday recipe with everyone. Earlier in the week I announced that I would be creating a new recipe showcasing two popular, all-star ingredients that I’m pretty sure just about everyone alive absolutely LOVES. There are a million combinations that use these two ingredients, and more recipes than we can count, but even the slightest tweak of either ingredient can make all the difference in the world.

I’m not sure if anyone really knows who decided that chocolate and peanut butter would be a drool worthy combination, but we do know that Harry Reese invented the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup in 1928. Since then there have been countless numbers of foodies trying to recreate, and improve upon, this match made in heaven. I can tell you that the recipe I am sharing with you today tastes very similar to a Reese’s peanut butter cup, but is in every way healthier. There are so few ingredients that it almost seems to easy, but it is a hit. You know it is a winner when everyone in the family likes them.

At 168 calories per giant square, there is 8 grams of protein and only 3 grams of NET carbs! In an equal amount of peanut butter cups (2 cups would equal one square) there are 18 grams of carbs!

I love recipes that have 5 ingredients, or less, and take under 30 minutes to make. There is nothing better than to be able to satisfy a craving with ingredients that you probably already have in your pantry, and the ability to whip it up in the blink of an eye. And the biggest bonus is that there isn’t any cooking involved! Win, win, win! The binding ingredient I used is chocolate peanut butter protein powder. Once again, I used PEScience. I do have a “test kitchen” in Washington that is going to try replacing the protein powder with chocolate peanut butter powder, but I can’t recommend that as a replacement, just yet, until she tells me how it turns out. I’m sure that any good tasting protein powder will yield similar results, but I can’t make any promises. If you try a different flavor let me know how it turned out. Then you can sit back, relax, and enjoy!

Do you agree that chocolate and peanut butter are a perfect combination?

What is your favorite flavor combo?

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Squares

By Angie Gouchenour

12 servings

Ingredients

1 cup natural crunchy peanut butter – softened

2 scoops (35 g) chocolate peanut butter protein powder (I used PEScience)

2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring

4 squares dark chocolate

2 teaspoons coconut oil

Directions

In a bowl cream together the peanut butter, protein powder, and vanilla flavoring.

Combine well.

Press the dough into a 7×4.5 (or close to it) pan and toss it in the freezer

Break up the dark chocolate and place in a small bowl with the coconut oil and microwave in 30 second increments until melted and smooth (Be careful not to burn the chocolate. If there are a few solid pieces left you can stir them until they melt)

Allow to cool slightly

Remove the peanut butter pan from the freezer and pour the chocolate and coconut oil mixture over the top and spread evenly from side to side

Place back in the freezer until firm

If you don’t want the chocolate to crack when you cut the squares allow the pan to sit on the counter for a few minutes before cutting

Once the squares are cut keep them in a sealed container in the freezer. They are not counter stable.

168 calories per square