These little squares of peanut butter & chocolate are not the healthiest thing you will eat but they are one of the best. I love healthy food but I think everyone needs to indulge in something you love once in a while.
I warn you that it will be hard to eat just one. My advice is to share them as this is the best way not to eat too much of anything. Let your best friends be the self control you don't have.
There are three distinct layers in this pie and none of them is baked. Uhuuu! The first, is an Oreo cookie layer, the second is the peanut butter layer, and the third a delicious chocolate ganache layer. This ganache can actually be used to frost cakes and cupcakes.
This peanut butter pie recipe makes a great dessert or party treat. It will be a hit at your next potluck. The decoration on top (the thin lines) are optional but I really like them. I made them with peanut butter flavored candy melts that you can buy at JoAnn or Michael. I used disposable piping bags to pipe them over the squares. Just place the pellets in the pipping bag and microwave for 1 minute. You might need an additional 15 seconds depending on the setting and strength of your microwave. Cut a small hole at the end of the pipping bag and squeeze the candy melt in a zigzag pattern over the peanut butter squares. You can also use a Ziploc bag as a substitute for the piping bag.
What I like the most about my recipe is that the layers are not too thin and not too thick. They are just Yummy!
You'll need a 9" square pan or any rectangular pan with an area of approximately 81 square inches. It's a standard size brownie pan.
what you need:
- parchment paper
- 9" square pan
for the crust
- 20 Oreo cookies
- 5 tablespoon of unsalted butter at room temperature
for the filling
- 8oz cream cheese
- 1/2 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky)
- 1 1/4 cups confectioner sugar (also called powdered or caster sugar)
for the ganache - the topping
- 8 oz semi-sweet chocolate chopped in small pieces (or you can use chocolate chips)
- 3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
Yield about 25 to 36 small squares, depending on how you cut them. I like to cut mine small.
what to do
prepare the pan:
Cut the parchment paper (wax paper) 9 x 16 inches. You need the extra parchment paper overhanging from the pan to be able to easily remove the whole pie from the pan later. I actually don't measure the paper I just eyeball the length and cut. Then I fold the extra width underneath.
Before I line the paper in the pan I butter it lightly (a little messy business). Then I place the buttered parchment in the pan and butter the exposed sides of the pan.
Crust
Place the broken cookies and the butter in the bowl of a food processor.
If you forgot to leave the butter out just microwave it for a few seconds.
Pulse to create crumbs.
Press the Oreo crumbs in the pan. You can use a measuring cup or anything with a flat bottom to help.
Beat the cream cheese and confectioners sugar with an electric mixer on medium
speed until smooth.
Beat in peanut butter.
Spread over the
frozen crust.
Place in the freezer for
30 minutes.
Place heavy cream and chocolate in a small sauce pan over very low heat or in a pan with warm water. Stir until chocolate is melted and well blended with the heavy cream.
Careful! do not let it boil or the chocolate will separate.
Spread it
evenly on peanut butter layer.
Refrigerate
for at least 2 hours before cutting and serving.
Holding the edges of the parchment paper carefully remove the
pie from the pan.
Use a sharp knife to cut the squares. Warm the knife under hot water then wipe it before you cut.
Clean the knife as you need and warm it up again to make it easier for you to continue to cut.
I like to decorate the square with peanut butter candy melt. In this picture you see the candy melt bits inside the pipping bag ready to go in the microwave to melt.
They look nice without decoration as well. You can serve them just like this. It's a matter or personal preference and how much work you want to have.
As I said before I prefer with the decoration.
Bon Appétit!
