So now that the holidays are over we need to start eating more healthy, does that mean stop making chocolate treats? Maybe just blend it out with peanut butter so it’s a bit more healthy! Check out the following recipes Martha put together for us and making your own peanut butter will make them even more special:

Peanut Butter Truffles

Ganache Ingredient

• 8 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate (we like 61 percent cacao)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions

1. Coarsely chop chocolate, breaking it up.
2. Bring cream just to a boil over medium-high heat. Pour over chocolate, and add salt. Let stand for 10 minutes (don’t stir — doing so will cool the ganache too quickly, making it grainy).
3. Stir with a whisk until smooth and shiny to break up any pieces and emulsify cream and chocolate.
4. Chocolate will often settle on the bottom or sides of the bowl. Scrape the dish with a rubber spatula to incorporate all of it.
5. To make a whipped filling or frosting: Let ganache cool to room temperature, stirring often, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Beat it with a mixer on medium-high speed until paler and fluffy, 2 to 4 minutes. (This will yield about 2 cups.) 

Truffle Ingredient

• Ganache
• 1 cup smooth peanut butter
• Unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder

Directions

1. Immediately after making the ganache, add it little by little to peanut butter, whisking constantly, until smooth. Refrigerate in a 5-by-8 1/2-inch glass loaf pan, covered, until firm, 4 hours to overnight.
2. Scoop with a 1 1/4-inch ice cream scoop, and roll into smooth balls with your palms. (If mixture softens, refrigerate until firm.) Roll each in cocoa, tapping gently to remove excess. Refrigerate in mini baking cups for 30 minutes (or up to 4 days).

Peanut Butter Buckeyes

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Kosher salt
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Directions

1. Sift sugar into a large bowl; set aside. Combine butter, cream, peanut butter, vanilla, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring, until butter and peanut butter are just melted. Pour over sugar in bowl and whisk until smooth. Transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish and smooth surface. Place parchment or plastic wrap directly on surface of mixture and refrigerate until set, about 2 hours.
2. Roll scant tablespoons of peanut-butter mixture into 1-inch balls. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. In a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water, melt chocolate, stirring until smooth; remove from heat. Working with 1 ball at a time, insert a toothpick into the center of the ball and dip into the chocolate 3/4 of the way up the ball, letting excess chocolate drip off. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes. Gently press holes left by the toothpick to smooth. Buckeyes can be made 1 week ahead and stored in a single layer, covered, in refrigerator.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients

1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk, divided
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for brushing
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
Coarse salt
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
2 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar, divided
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped (2 cups)

Directions

1. Brush a 8-by-8-inch baking dish with butter, and line with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on long sides. Brush parchment with butter.
2. Heat 1/2 cup condensed milk, 4 tablespoons butter, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until melted, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in peanut butter and 1 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar. Press peanut butter mixture into the bottom of prepared baking dish, smoothing top with an offset spatula.
3. Melt chocolate in a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring, until melted, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in remaining 3/4 cup condensed milk and a pinch of salt, until melted and combined. Mix in remaining 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar. Spread chocolate mixture over peanut butter layer, smoothing top with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
4. Remove fudge from pan using parchment to lift, and transfer to a cutting board. Peel off parchment. Using a warm knife, cut crosswise into eight 1-inch-wide strips; cut each strip into 8 pieces.

Peanut-Butter Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies
1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
Turbinado sugar, for sprinkling
Filling
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Cookies: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 1/2 stick butter. Add oats and cook, stirring, until toasted, 5 to 10 minutes. Spread mixture onto a parchment-lined baking sheet; let cool completely.
2. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Beat remaining 1 stick butter with granulated and brown sugars on medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add peanut butter; beat until well combined.
3. Gradually add oat mixture and flour mixture; beat on low speed until combined. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of parchment 1/4 inch thick. Slide dough with parchment onto baking sheet and refrigerate until chilled, about 20 minutes.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove top layer of parchment; cut out cookies using a 2-inch round cookie cutter. Place cookies on parchment-lined baking sheets, spaced about 1 inch apart; sprinkle with turbinado sugar. Bake until golden, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely on sheets.
5. Filling: In a medium bowl, beat all ingredients on medium speed until smooth. Transfer mixture to a pastry bag fitted with a 1/2-inch round tip
6. Pipe filling in a spiral motion on bottom sides of half of cookies. Top with remaining cookies to form sandwiches. (Filled cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 3 days.)