Baking Banquet: CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER, PEANUT BUTTER BALLS

INGREDIENTS:

1 15 oz. jar dark chocolate peanut butter (Jif brand – I found it at Target in December 2013)

5 Tablespoons peanut butter

2 Tablespoons butter , softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Peanut Butter Coating Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups peanut butter chips

½ cup peanut butter

¼ cup heavy whipping cream

Chocolate Peanut Butter Coating Ingredients:

1 bag of chocolate chips

1 bag of peanut butter chips

6 tablespoons whipping cream

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, combine the chocolate peanut butter, peanut butter, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar. Blend until smooth. Divide in half. Transfer to two quart size freezer zipper bags. Cut a small opening in one corner of each bag. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper. Pipe into small balls on the cookie sheets. Leave about a half an inch between each ball. (yes, I know each ball does not look too appetizing) Place a toothpick in each ball and freeze for at least an hour.

For coating – mix all the ingredients for your choice of coating together in a heavy saucepan or double boiler on low heat, until the desired consistency for coating is reached. (You can make one tray chocolate peanut butter, and one tray peanut butter.) Remove the balls from the freezer and using the toothpick, dip the balls into the coating and then place back on the parchment paper. Once all the balls are coated place in the freezer to set. (only take one tray out of the freezer at a time and work fast. The more frozen the balls, the easier they are to dip.)