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Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Thursday, April 16, 2015

No Bake Peanut Butter Dessert

When IT Guy was a little boy, he wouldn't wouldn't peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I don't think I had ever met anyone who didn't care for peanut butter and jelly. He'd eat peanut butter and karo (?), though. So it's not that he has a huge aversion to peanut butter, it's just not something he loves. So I have to be careful about my use of peanut butter. Because when I make a peanut butter dessert, I want him to like it as much as I do because I don't want to be the only one eating it. Not that I couldn't do it, I'll have you know, but my waistline would protest. So when I made this, I was a little apprehensive. But guess what? He loved it! Having a little chocolate thrown in with the peanut butter certainly didn't hurt my chances of this being a success! This NO-BAKE dessert is great for the upcoming warmer weather! Or anytime!

No Bake Peanut Butter Dessert



1 16-ounce container Cool Whip ~ thawed, divided use
1 3.9 ounce box instant chocolate pudding
1/2 cup peanut butter
20 mini peanut butter cups ~ coarse chopped
1 8-ounce package cream cheese
1 cup milk
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar ~ divided use
1 sleeve chocolate graham crackers ~ crushed
5 tablespoons butter ~ melted

Spray a 9 inch square pan with cooking spray.

In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter and the cracker crumbs. Remove 1/4 cup and set aside. Press remaining crumbs into prepared pan. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese, peanut butter, and 1 cup of the powdered sugar until smooth. Fold in half of the Cool Whip.

Spread on top of cracker crumbs.

Sprinkle chopped peanut butter cups on top of cream cheese mixture.

In a clean bowl, combine the remaining powdered sugar, chocolate pudding and milk and mix for a couple of minutes.
Allow to stand for another minute or two to thicken.


Fold in the remaining Cool Whip and spread on top of the peanut butter cups.

Sprinkle 1/4 remaining cracker crumbs on top of the pudding mixture. Chill several hours...cut and serve!

The cast of characters. 
The cast of characters.

Combine the melted butter and the cracker crumbs Press into the pan and reserve 1/4 cup. 
Combine the melted butter and 
the cracker crumbs Press into 
the pan and reserve 1/4 cup.

Combine the cream cheese, 1 cup of the powdered sugar and the peanut butter. 
Combine the cream cheese, 1 cup 
of the powdered sugar and the peanut butter.

Gently stir in 1/2 of the Cool Whip. 
Gently stir in 1/2 of the Cool Whip.

Spread mixture on top of the crust. 
Spread mixture on top of the crust.

Scatter chopped peanut butter cups on top of the peanut butter mixture. 
Scatter chopped peanut butter cups 
on top of the peanut butter mixture.

Next combine the pudding ix, remaining powdered sugar and the milk. 
Next combine the pudding mix, 
remaining powdered sugar and the milk.

Gently fold in the remaining Cool Whip. 
Gently fold in the remaining Cool Whip.

Spread mixture on top of the peanut butter cups then sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Chill! 
Spread mixture on top of the 
peanut butter cups then sprinkle 
with reserved crumbs. Chill!

Slice and enjoy! 
Slice and enjoy!