Chocolate Peanut Butter Bites

I think that it is safe to say the best food combination in the world is peanut butter and chocolate! I really don't know too many people who would disagree with that. That's why I felt the overwhelming urge to share this little recipe with all of you. I stumbled upon the recipe a few weeks ago and made it for my family. Within 4 days the 100 little cookies I made were but a distant memory of a better time. I decided to make it again. Well, not so much decided as forced by my husband! Due to the fact that the recipe was so simple, as well fast, and involved no actually cooking, I agreed.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
(My local grocery store is sold out of these most of the time, so you can buy the crackers and crush them up yourself as well)
3 cups powered sugar (The original reciepe called for 3 1/4 but it was a little too sweet for my taste. You can combine whatever you feel comfortable with and add more as you go)
1 1/2 cups of peanut butter (smooth or chunky)
1 cup salted butter, melted
1 bag or 12 oz of chocolate chips (I used dark chocolate chips)
1 tbsp shortening

Directions:

Combine the graham cracker crumbs and the powdered sugar in a large bowl. 

 Add the peanut butter, and melted butter. 

It's best to just get your hands in there and mash it all up instead of using a spoon or mixer! Just be careful that the butter is cooled a little so as to not scorch your hands! Mix well. 

You can take the mixture out in small batches, or all at once, and roll out on a countertop so it is about 1/2 inch thick. No need to flour your workspace. Take a flanged cookie cutter and cut out as many as possible making sure to collect all the left over pieces and roll them out again. Non of this precious mixture can go to waste! Feel free to use any kind of cookie cutter you want, or if you are short on time, put the mix into a lasagna dish that you can cut into squares later. 

Place your cookies on a cookie sheet, and once it's full, place them in the freeze for a minimum of 20 minutes. 

When your cookies are just about to be set, you can get out a double boiler and start melting your chocolate and shortening. If you don't have a double boiler you can use the microwave, but you might have to reheat a few times. 

Get your cookies out of the freezer and put a large dollop of chocolate on each one. You can use the back of your spoon to smooth out and get the chocolate to cover the whole cookie. You have the freedom to put as much or as little as you like on there. Once you're done, you can put the cookies into the fridge to let the chocolate set for another 20-30 minutes.

You can take them out and eat package them up in some tupperware and store in the fridge or freezer! THAT'S IT! It's a great little treat if you have self control! I hope you enjoy, and as always, please don't hesitate to comment any suggestions or alterations you would make to the recipe! 

The recipe was adapted here from HeatOvento350.com