Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs

Introduction & Inspiration

These Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs are a delightful treat, perfect for Easter, springtime, or any time you’re craving the classic combination of peanut butter and chocolate. They’re essentially homemade versions of a popular candy, but with a richer, more satisfying flavor and texture. The creamy peanut butter filling is enrobed in smooth, melted chocolate, and you can customize them with sprinkles or a chocolate drizzle.

My inspiration for this recipe comes from a love of that classic peanut butter and chocolate candy, and a desire to create a homemade version that’s even better than the store-bought kind. I wanted a recipe that was relatively easy to make, using simple ingredients, and with a result that’s both delicious and visually appealing.

I also love that these peanut butter eggs are customizable. You can use different types of chocolate, add different toppings, and even adjust the sweetness of the filling to your liking. They’re a fun and festive treat that’s perfect for sharing with friends and family. They are also great for kids.

Nostalgic Appeal

Peanut butter and chocolate is a classic combination that evokes feelings of childhood, holidays, and simple pleasures. For many, peanut butter eggs are associated with Easter baskets, springtime treats, and happy memories.

These Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs tap into that sense of nostalgia, offering a way to recreate a beloved candy in your own kitchen. They’re a perfect way to celebrate a holiday, share a treat with loved ones, or simply indulge in a favorite flavor combination.

The simple act of making these eggs – shaping the peanut butter filling, dipping them in chocolate, and adding sprinkles – can be a fun and rewarding experience, creating new memories while celebrating old ones. They can be given as a gift.

Homemade Focus

This recipe is all about the homemade goodness. We’re making the peanut butter filling from scratch, melting the chocolate, and dipping the eggs by hand. It’s about taking simple ingredients and transforming them into a delightful and satisfying treat.

I believe that homemade candies, like these peanut butter eggs, are always more special than store-bought versions. You have complete control over the ingredients, the quality, and the overall flavor. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about creating a delicious treat from scratch.

The process of making the filling, shaping the eggs, and dipping them in chocolate is relatively simple, but it requires a bit of care and attention to detail. And the result – a batch of perfectly shaped, chocolate-covered peanut butter eggs – is well worth the effort.

The smell, when melting the chocolate, is great.

Flavor Goal

The primary flavor goal for these Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs is to achieve a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and creamy peanut butter with the rich, slightly bitter flavor of semisweet chocolate.

The creamy peanut butter filling is the heart of the egg, providing a sweet, salty, and nutty flavor.

The powdered sugar adds sweetness and helps to create a smooth texture.

The graham cracker crumbs add a subtle hint of cinnamon and a slightly crumbly texture.

The vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the peanut butter.

The kosher salt balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.

The semisweet chocolate coating provides a rich, slightly bitter counterpoint to the sweet peanut butter filling.

Ingredient Insights

Let’s take a closer look at the key ingredients:

• Creamy peanut butter: The star of the filling! Use your favorite brand of creamy peanut butter. You can also use natural peanut butter, but you may need to adjust the amount of powdered sugar, as natural peanut butter tends to be less sweet.
• Unsalted butter, softened: Adds richness and creaminess to the filling. Using unsalted butter allows you to control the overall saltiness of the recipe.
• Powdered sugar: Adds sweetness and helps to create a smooth texture in the filling.
• Graham cracker crumbs: Add a subtle hint of cinnamon and a slightly crumbly texture to the filling. This helps to mimic the texture of some store-bought peanut butter eggs.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor of the peanut butter.
• Kosher salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the other flavors.
• Semisweet chocolate bars, chopped: Provides the rich, chocolatey coating. Using chopped chocolate bars (instead of chocolate chips) is recommended because they melt more smoothly and evenly.
• Pastel-colored sprinkles: Optional, for decoration

Essential Equipment

Here’s what you need:

• Baking sheets (2): For chilling the peanut butter eggs and for setting the chocolate coating.
• Parchment paper: To line the baking sheets and prevent sticking.
• Stand mixer with paddle attachment (or hand mixer): For beating the peanut butter and butter together.
• Medium saucepan: For creating a double boiler to melt the chocolate.
• Heatproof bowl: To melt the chocolate over simmering water.
• Rubber spatula: For stirring the melting chocolate.
• Forks (2): For dipping the peanut butter eggs in chocolate.
• Small zip-top bag (optional): For drizzling the eggs with chocolate.
• Measuring cups and spoons

List of Ingredients

Here’s a complete list of the ingredients you’ll need, with precise measurements:

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 16 ounces semisweet chocolate bars, chopped
• Pastel-colored sprinkles (optional)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Let’s get started! Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Prepare Baking Sheets

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Step 2: Make Peanut Butter Filling

To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or a large bowl if using a hand mixer), add the creamy peanut butter and softened butter.

Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

With the mixer on low speed, gradually stir in the powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, vanilla extract, and salt.

Beat until well combined, about 1 minute. The mixture should be thick and smooth.

Step 3: Shape Eggs

Divide the peanut butter mixture into 1 1/2 tablespoon balls. You can use a small cookie scoop or a spoon to measure out the portions.

Flatten each ball into an egg shape, measuring about 2 inches long, 1 inch wide, and about 3/4 inch thick.

Place the shaped peanut butter eggs on the prepared baking sheets.

Step 4: Chill Eggs

Chill the peanut butter eggs in the refrigerator or freezer while you melt the chocolate. This will help them hold their shape during dipping. At least 15 minutes.

Step 5: Prepare Double Boiler

Fill the bottom of a medium saucepan with about 1 inch of water.

Bring the water to a simmer over medium-high heat.

Place the chopped semisweet chocolate in a dry, heatproof bowl that is slightly larger than the saucepan. The bowl should sit on top of the pan without its bottom touching the water.

Step 6: Melt Chocolate

Reduce the heat to medium-low.

Place the bowl of chocolate over the saucepan of simmering water.

Heat the chocolate, stirring occasionally with a dry rubber spatula, until the chocolate is mostly smooth and melted, 2 to 3 minutes.  

Remove the bowl from the saucepan and continue stirring until the residual heat melts the remaining chocolate and the mixture is completely smooth. If needed, return the bowl to the saucepan for a few seconds to melt any remaining lumps. Be careful not to overheat the chocolate or get any water in it, as this can cause it to seize.

Step 7: Dip Eggs

Using two forks, carefully dip the chilled peanut butter eggs into the melted chocolate, one at a time. Allow any excess chocolate to drip off.

Carefully place the dipped eggs back onto the parchment-lined baking sheet.

Step 8: Decorate (Optional)

If desired, decorate the eggs with sprinkles or a chocolate drizzle.

For a chocolate drizzle: Spoon any remaining melted chocolate into a small zip-top bag. Cut off a very small corner of the bag and drizzle the chocolate over the dipped eggs.

Step 9: Set Chocolate

Allow the chocolate to set completely before enjoying the peanut butter eggs. This can take about 30 minutes at room temperature, or you can speed up the process by placing the baking sheets in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.

Enjoy these delicious and festive Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs!

Troubleshooting

Here are some potential issues and how to address them:

Problem: My peanut butter filling is too soft.

Solution: Add more powdered sugar or graham cracker crumbs, a little at a time, until the filling reaches a firmer consistency. You can also chill the filling in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes before shaping the eggs.

Problem: My peanut butter filling is too dry.

Solution: Add a tablespoon of milk or cream, a little at a time, until the filling reaches a smoother consistency. Problem: My peanut butter is cracking.

Solution: Be gentle when you make the egg shape. Problem: My chocolate seized (became grainy and stiff).

Solution: This usually happens when water gets into the chocolate or when the chocolate is overheated. Unfortunately, seized chocolate is difficult to salvage. It’s best to start with a fresh batch of chocolate and be very careful to avoid getting any water in it. Make sure your bowl and spatula are completely dry.

Problem: My chocolate coating is too thick.

Solution: Make sure your chocolate is fully melted and smooth. You can also add a teaspoon of vegetable shortening or coconut oil to the melted chocolate to thin it out slightly.

Tips and Variations

Here are some tips and variations to customize your Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs:

Tip: For the best flavor, use high-quality ingredients, especially the peanut butter and chocolate.

Tip: Make sure your butter is softened to room temperature before beating it with the peanut butter. This will help to create a smooth and creamy filling.

Variation: Use different types of chocolate for the coating, such as:

• Milk chocolate
• Dark chocolate
• White chocolate

Variation: Add mix-ins to the peanut butter filling, such as:

• Chopped peanuts
• Mini chocolate chips
• Pretzels
• Rice Krispies cereal

Variation: Use different types of sprinkles to decorate the eggs, such as:

• Nonpareils
• Jimmies
• Sanding sugar
• Edible glitter

Variation: Instead of egg shapes, make peanut butter balls or other shapes. Variation: add some salt on the top.

Serving and Pairing Suggestions

These Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs are a perfect treat for:

• Easter
• Springtime celebrations
• Parties and gatherings
• Lunchbox treats
• Anytime you’re craving a peanut butter and chocolate fix

Pairing Suggestions:

• A glass of cold milk
• Coffee or tea
• Hot chocolate
• Ice cream

Nutritional Information

Note that these values are estimates and may vary.

Here’s an approximate nutritional breakdown per egg (assuming about 24 eggs):

• Calories: 180-220
• Fat: 10-14g
• Saturates: 5-7g
• Protein: 4-6g
• Carbohydrates: 15-20g
• Fiber: 1-2g
• Sugar: 12-16g
• Sodium: 50-75mg

These Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs are a rich and indulgent treat, so they’re best enjoyed in moderation.

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Recipe Summary and Q&A

Let’s recap the recipe and address some frequently asked questions:

Recipe Summary: We made Homemade Peanut Butter Eggs by beating together peanut butter, butter, powdered sugar, graham cracker crumbs, vanilla, and salt, shaping the mixture into eggs, chilling them, melting chocolate, dipping the eggs in chocolate, decorating them (optional), and allowing the chocolate to set.

Q&A:

Q: Can I make these peanut butter eggs ahead of time?

A: Yes, these peanut butter eggs are perfect for making ahead of time. You can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to a week.  

Q: Can I freeze these peanut butter eggs?

A: Yes, you can freeze these peanut butter eggs. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.  

Q: Can I use natural peanut butter?

A: Yes, you can use natural peanut butter, but you may need to adjust the amount of powdered sugar, as natural peanut butter tends to be less sweet. You may also need to add a pinch of extra salt. Start with less powdered sugar and add more to taste. Q: Can I double the recipe? A: Yes, without any problems. Q: How to keep the leftovers? A: Keep them in the fridge.