Chocolate-Peanut Butter Cereal Treats (And A Love Letter)

Whoever thought of combining peanut butter and chocolate deserves a trophy!  I mean, really.....is that just not the perfect pair?  In fact, I think that person deserves a love letter from me.  Here you go:


----------------------------------------------


Dear Inventor of combining Peanut Butter and Chocolate,

You're a genius, first of all.  You should have your photo up there with the rest of the presidents of Mount Rushmore!  You deserve a Nobel Peace Prize!  I bet if terrorists took a bite of you before going out on a mission, they'd rethink their anger then just sit and want a glass of milk instead. 

I know I can always count on you to make me feel better.  You're better than chicken noodle soup when it comes to comfort. 

What did people do before you came along?  Eat chocolate and peanut butter separately??  What a crazy notion!  They need each other.  They belong together.  Even more so than jam or jelly with peanut butter! 

And now I will write you a poem expressing my gratitude for your amazing invention:


You've changed my life in more ways than I can say. 
You always brighten my day.

You're a gift I love to eat.
A real delicious treat.

I know this very clearly
I love you, oh so dearly!

Will you always be around?
To get rid of my frown?

Say you'll be mine.
My forever valentine!

I hope you enjoyed the above lines.  I will be thinking of your perfect combination and counting down the moments until I can enjoy you together again....

With Love,
Your humble servant
Mandy of Learn, Laugh, Cook


--------------------------------------------


Okay, okay, enough of that love fest!!  Here is a dessert that inspired the above love letter....  A dessert that combines those two wonderful foods - chocolate and peanut butter.  This is easy-to-make snack will surely be a hit at your parties and events.  I hope you enjoy it!






Chocolate Peanut Butter Cereal Treats

(Makes 32)

Adapted from Rice Krispies

1 cup of creamy peanut butter (I used a reduced fat kind)
1/4 cup of light butter, softened
1 cup of powdered sugar
2 cups of Rice Krispie Cereal or other rice brand cereal
1 and 1/3 cup (10 oz bag) of milk chocolate chips
2 tbsp canola oil
muffin paper cups (I needed 32)


First, beat the peanut butter, powdered sugar and butter in a large bowl with a hand mixer.  Blend at medium speed until incorporated.  Add in the rice cereal and blend with a spoon.  Shape the mixture into round balls.  Place each one in a muffin paper cup.  Refrigerate for at least an hour. 





After the peanut butter cereal has hardened, prepare the chocolate topping.  Do this by melting your chocolate chips with the oil in a small sauce pan on the stove.  Use low heat and stir continually until smooth.  Remove from heat and grab the peanut butter balls from the fridge.  Pour approximately 1 tsp of the chocolate liquid over each peanut butter ball.  Repeat this for each one.  Then place treats back in the fridge so the chocolate can harden.  This will take 1-2 hours. 


Once the chocolate has hardened, you can place each of the cereal treats in a plastic container for easier storage.  Chocolate-peanut butter treats should remain in the fridge until ready to serve. 


This is very easy to make and the impact of this dessert is powerful!  I made this for a meeting I attended last week and a half-dozen people were foaming at the mouth over these!   Sooo good!





Do you love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate?  What's your favorite sweet and salty pair?  Have you ever wanted to write a love letter to food before OR is that just me? :-)