Chocolate Peanut Butter Hearts

Hey Hey and Happy Sunday to you all. Sundays at our house are a day of napping, baking and movie watching. It's pretty much the best day of the week. I can guarantee my husband will be off work and we make sure to almost never have plans. It's awesome!

So I'm not sure if I've ever mentioned it on here before, but I am cheap. Like crazy cheap. Like I would make my own clothes and soap and detergent if I knew how. I would have chickens and goats if our HOA would let me. I make crock pot meals not to save time, but to save money on our grocery bill. My first purchase come spring is a garden kit so I can start making our own fresh produce. I clip coupons like it's my job. I will drive past two Krogers and a Marsh just so I can save a few cents to buy four things at Meijer. I probably say "Waste not, want not!" 10 times a week. I'm dangerously close to having all of my clothes made out of yarn. If someone bought me a crocheting starter kit I guarantee you it would happen. Maybe someday I'll write about all the ways I save our family money throughout the month. The savings would shock you!

I blame my crazy cheapness on my sister. A few years ago she introduced me to a man that changed my life forever! No it's not my husband...it was Dave Ramsey! He is an amazing man who basically breaks down how easy it is to get your financial situation under control (mine was way out of hand). All he does is introduce a few simple steps for you to follow and before you know it, credit card debit is disappearing, car payments are non-existent and there's actually money in the savings account! I became debt free in 2010 and have never looked back. I even helped my husband pay off all his debt. I am now our family's budgeter (word?) and we live a comfortable, but not out of our means (i.e. credit cards) lifestyle. Sure there's some days we still fight the urge to buy something on credit, but instead we wait and we save and we pay with cash.

Keeping in line with the coupon clipping and crock pot cooking, I have found another way to save money...by making my own Valentines chocolates!

When we were at Ikea last week I picked up a cute little heart mold for a quarter! I knew immediately that I wanted to try my hand again at making homemade chocolates, but this time with peanut butter!

These were so easy and actually kind of fun to make. I started by making my peanut butter filling. First was the peanut butter, followed by brown and powdered sugar and some vanilla. I mixed it together and rolled it into small peanut butter balls.

I took some shortening and milk chocolate chips and melted them in a small bowl. Then I took a small paint brush and used that to "paint" the chocolate up the side of the mold and on the bottom.

I put the mold in the freezer for a few minutes, then checked to see if I missed any spots. I filled in the spots and returned the mold to the freezer. Next was to push the peanut butter balls into the chocolate mold and then top with more melted chocolate.

Next I tapped the tray on the counter a few times to release any airs bubbles. Finally I froze them again for another ten minutes or so, popped them out of the mold and...Voila!

Ingredients:
(Recipe makes 36 chocolates)
1 Cup peanut butter
2 tsp butter, softened
3/4 Cup brown sugar
2/3 Cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2-2 Cups milk chocolate chips, divided
1-2 Tbsp shortening
1 small paint brush

Directions:
1. In a medium bowl mix together the peanut butter and butter until fully combined and there aren't any lumps. Add in the brown sugar, powdered sugar and vanilla. Roll all the peanut butter dough into about two teaspoons size balls. Set aside.

2. Melt 1/4 Cup milk chocolate chips and about two teaspoons of shortening in a small bowl. Using the small paint brush, paint up the sides of the mold with the chocolate until you can't see it anymore and all the walls are covered in a thin layer of chocolate. Freeze for about ten minutes.

3. Remove from the freezer and check to see if there is any molding visible. If there is, add melted chocolate to those areas and refreeze for a few minutes. Once the molding is completely coated, add in the peanut butter balls. Push them flat and make sure the peanut butter goes below the edge of the mold.

4. Melt about 1/2 Cup or less of chocolate chips and about 1/2 Tablespoon of shortening. I honestly eyeballed this part. The shortening just helps the chocolate be shinier so just make sure not to add too much. Using a spoon, pour the melted chocolate on top of the peanut butter and tap the mold on the counter several times to release air bubbles. Return to the freezer for about 15 minutes.

5. Remove the mold from the freezer and pop out the chocolates. If you have trouble, try running a knife along the edge to help loosen the chocolate.

Repeat steps 2-5 until you run out of peanut butter mix. I got 36 out of this recipe, but I also ate a ton of peanut butter dough along the way. :) Try not to eat them all at once! Enjoy!


I was able to make all 36 for under $4! I just saved my Hubby some money that he can use to buy me dinner on something else! Have you ever heard of Dave Ramsey? Here's his book if you're interested in learning more about being debt free.

The financial peace planner is also amazing!

One of his big sayings is "If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else!". Those words changed my life!

Here's a mold similar to the one I used, too.


Thanks for stopping by!

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