I have a tradition every year during the holiday season to make little treats and give them as gifts to my neighbors or anyone else I go visit. I think food gifts are fun and sweet and the perfect way to show someone you care!

There are a few elements I always include for a treat gift.

Truffles

Cookies (Sugar and my regular ones)

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Almond Bark

Peanut Brittle

I started doing this with my mom during the holidays when I was a kid. Her specialty is always peppermint bark popcorn!

Anyways, I started doing truffles years ago when we lived in an apartment! I have tried different types and even fancy ones with melted, fudge chocolate. Everyone seems to love these peanut butter cookie truffles the most. This recipe was in an old magazine clipping I found from a Family Circle Magazine circa 1989!

Fun Fact about me: I have been obsessed with recipes since I was little. I used to love digging through my mom’s old Christmas magazines to find cookie recipes or anything Christmas related. I still have a bunch of those old cut outs in my recipe book. I talked a little more about my love for recipes here!

The thing I loved about this recipe is you can make it to suite your needs. I actually use either homemade peanut butter cookies or Nutter Butter cookies which my husband loves!

I am also working on some chemistry gluten-free research, so I am making these with gluten-free cookies too!

Here is the easy, fun recipe!

Peanut Butter Cookie Truffles

• 1 8 oz package of cream cheese (I use light)
• 1 lb peanut butter cookies (or entire package of peanut butter cookies like nutter butter)
• 1/2 tsp maple extract
• White almond bark, for melting
• Chocolate almond bar, for melting

Directions: In a food processor, combine cream cheese and cookies until a sandy like texture. Then, continue to combine until it forms a ball of dough like substance.

Scoop out tablespoon fulls and roll into a ball. Pop in freezer for 20 minutes or leave in fridge overnight.

Melt your almond bark and dip the truffles. Drizzle with other color bark.

I like to use little lolly pop or Popsicle holders to dip with. It is also cute to put them inside mini cupcake liners!

Package up and give to your friends! These last for at least a week in fridge, or freeze them even longer!

 

Chemist Tip: Extracts are a great way to add flavor without messing up texture. You can also try almond extract, vanilla or anything that sounds neat, but the maple really compliments the flavor!

 

These peanut butter cookie truffles are always a hit! Everyone loves them and they make great little gifts for friends too!

I hope you get to make them for Christmas or New Years! 🙂 Happy Baking!

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