Let’s Eat: Back to school desserts that are sure to please

Let’s Eat: Back to school desserts that are sure to please

Peanut Butter Bars

By Heidi Sutton

After a long day of navigating new territory, make your child’s first day of school extra special with a special dessert.

Peanut Butter Bars

Recipe courtesy of Taste of Home

Peanut Butter Bars

YIELD: Makes 3 dozen

INGREDIENTS: 

1 3⁄4 cups reduced-fat creamy peanut butter, divided

1⁄3 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

3⁄4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1⁄2 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups quick-cooking oats

1 teaspoon baking soda

Frosting

4 1⁄2 cups confectioners’ sugar

1⁄3 cup fat-free milk

1⁄4 cup baking cocoa

1⁄4 cup butter, softened

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:

In a large bowl, cream 1 cup peanut butter, butter, brown sugar, and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the applesauce and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture and mix well (batter will be thick.)

Spread into a 15 x 10 x1-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 for 18 to 22 minutes, or until lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; spread with the remaining peanut butter. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 30 minutes.

In a large bowl, beat frosting ingredients until light and fluffy. Spread over the peanut butter layer. Cut into bars.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

Recipe courtesy of Costco

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cookies

YIELD: Makes 5 dozen

INGREDIENTS: 

1 cup sugar, plus extra for coating dough

1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar

1 cup Crisco Butter Flavor Shortening or butter

1 cup peanut butter

2 large eggs

1⁄4 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 1⁄2 cups all purpose Flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

3⁄4 cup strawberry Jelly, or any jam, jelly or preserves

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375 F. In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar, brown sugar, shortening, and peanut butter. Beat with an electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla. 

In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to the peanut butter mixture and beat until blended. Shape the dough into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. 

Bake for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven. Using the back of a teaspoon, make a rounded indentation in the top of each cookie. Fill each with about 1⁄2 teaspoon jelly. Bake an additional 2 minutes. Remove to a wire rack to cool.