Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles: National Peanut Butter Day

January 24 is National Peanut Butter Day. Chocolate and Peanut Butter: What could be better? I'm also paying homage today to Mr. Peanut. I grew up with Planter's Peanuts. Mr. Peanut, shaking hands with everyone, would walk the boardwalk in Atlantic City! What a treat. Ilso loved those hot salty peanuts, roasted right onsite. The original company was called Planters Nut and Chocolate Company, so what's not to love? Planters did make peanut butter, but I'm not sure for how long.

I've put together a Round-up of Chocolate Peanut Butter Recipes in celebration of National Peanut Butter Day...and below I've added a new easy recipe for Peanut Butter Truffles.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Peanut Butter Decadent Recipe supplied by Crime Writer Elizabeth Sims
Chocolate Peanut Butter Whoopie Pies
Frozen Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Fudge
Chocolate Peanut Butter in a Jar
Peanut Butter Brownie Cupcakes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffles

This is a simple recipe for a peanut butter ganache truffle rolled in chopped peanuts adapted from a recipe in  CountryLiving.

8 ounces 75-85% dark chocolate, chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup smooth Organic peanut butter
1/2 teaspoon Madegascar vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup finely chopped peanuts

Directions
1. Place bittersweet chocolate, chopped, in a medium heat-safe bowl. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan over low heat, cook heavy cream until it just begins to boil; then immediately pour over chocolate. Let sit for 1 minute. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is thick and smooth. Stir in smooth peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt. Pour into a shallow baking pan and refrigerate until set, 4 to 6 hours.
3. Spoon chocolate–peanut butter mixture, by the tablespoon, into your hand and roll into balls. Place on a parchment-lined baking pan and return to refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Place finely chopped peanuts in shallow dish. Roll the truffles in peanuts,  shaping each ball as you work. Keep refrigerated until serving.

National Peanut Butter Day: Add Chocolate

January 24 is National Peanut Butter Day. I love Chocolate and Peanut Butter. Who doesn't love Hershey's Reese's Pieces? On National Peanut Butter Fudge Day (November 20), I posted a delicious and easy recipe.

Being that it's a holiday, I thought I'd post some likes to some of my other favorite chocolate and peanut butter sites:

One of my favorite recipes is Peanut Butter Chocolate Pillows on Postpunkkitchen.

Don't want to bake but still want to celebrate? Haagen-Dazs has a fabulous Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream.

I also like to put peanut butter as a center in cupcakes.

Several companies make Chocolate Peanut Butter in a Jar. Want to make your own? Here's an easy recipe. You can also substitute this for peanut butter in recipes.

1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate, broken into bits
1-1/2 cups smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (or a good Madagascar vanilla)
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules (I have this around just for recipes)
1 teaspoon hot water

Melt chocolate chips in a saucepan over another saucepan with boiling water (double boiler, if you have it). Cool until barely warm, but still liquid.

Scrape melted chocolate into a large bowl. Add peanut butter, butter, sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until thoroughly combined.

Mix instant coffee with hot water until completely dissolved. Add coffee to the chocolate peanut butter mixture until combined.

Place in glass jars with tight seals. Serve as a spread with cookies, crackers, or toast or use as a filling for cakes.

Great for gifts, eating out of the jar, or using in recipes (if it lasts).