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33 Ways to Use Peanut Butter

Because there's more to life than peanut butter and jelly.

After our creamy peanut butter taste test, I stacked up the leftover sample jars and acquired a problem I never thought I’d have.

Too much peanut butter.

Jars line the shelves above me. Boxes of more jars are at my feet. My desk looks more like a grocery store aisle than a workspace, and though I snack, and snack, and snack, I can't seem to make a dent.

So I set out to find other uses for all that peanut butter. 33 other uses.

1. Make instant vegan ice cream

Throw two frozen bananas into a food processor. Swirl in two tablespoons of peanut butter. Add jelly. Bingo.

Peanut Butter, Banana, and Jelly "Ice Cream"


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2. Or just make regular ice cream

This recipe has a bonus: an instant-freeze chocolate shell.

3. Power Up

Use peanut butter as a binder for homemade energy bars.

4. Eat PB&J for Dessert

Not the sandwich—the cookie.

Peanut Butter Jelly Bars

Dan Forbes

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5. Swirl peanut butter into pancake batter

Especially if you're making banana pancakes.

6. Freeze a Make-Ahead Movie Snack

Make a really rich frozen dessert by taking a chocolate base and layering on a creamy peanut butter cheesecake. (They’re rich enough that just one will get you through a double feature.)

7. Make Peanut Butter(Cream)

Eat it straight from the bowl. (Or, fine, use it to frost cupcakes.)

Peanut Butter and Grape Smoothie

Tatsuro Nishimura, food styling by Rhoda Boone

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8. Three Words: Nutter Butter S’mores

Take s'mores. Omit the chocolate (or don't). Add a layer of peanut butter.

9. Marble Some Brownies

Layer in peanut butter and cheese cake to make a swirl in your next batch of brownies.

10. Make a Sandwich Cookie

Peanut butter cookies are great. But making them into sandwich cookies with a creamy center is even better.

Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, aka "The Nora Ephron"

Ed Anderson

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11. Make a Mousse

Then layer it into a fancy French cake.

12. Blend into smoothies (#protein)

Mix frozen grapes and peanut butter with almond milk for a smoothie that can contend with any green juice.

13. Stuff a Crepe

Peanut butter makes a nice filling for these sweet rollable pancakes.

14. Honor the King

Elvis's peanut butter pie is amped up with some bacon and bananas. Obvs.

Peanut Dacquoise with Peanut Butter Mousse

Mitchell Feinberg

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15. Thicken a Frosting

Make your banana bread ready for the dessert plate with a chocolatey peanut butter frosting.

16. Make a pudding

Whisk milk and cream with cornstarch and sugar over medium heat until boiling. Stir in peanut butter and bring to another boil. Chill for a thick and rich pudding.

17. Give oatmeal (even more) heft

PB gives your morning oats a protein boost and extra nuttiness.

18. Marinate that chicken

Mix coconut milk, Greek yogurt, and peanut butter for a fatty, creamy marinade that’s ideal for a chicken skewer.

Chicken-Apricot Skewers

Christopher Baker

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19. Dip Summer Into It

Summer rolls, that is. This peanut dipping sauce is mostly peanut butter and soy sauce.

20. Celebrate Ohio!

Buckeyes, the official candy of Ohio, take peanut butter to the next level.

21. Dress a salad

Rice vinegar, peanut butter, and sriracha makes for a nuanced but really easy dressing for a salad of carrots, cilantro, and mint (or any salad, really).

Spicy Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

Lara Ferroni

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22. Make it a malted

Malted milk powder+ bananas + peanut butter=a seriously legit milkshake.

23. Ladle it into a Soup

No, this is not as crazy as it sounds. Peanut butter adds sweetness and body and is a common flavor booster in stews and soups throughout Western Africa.

24. Spread it on a burger

Okay, this might be as crazy as it sounds, but we swear—a schmear of peanut butter on your bacon burger takes it to a better place.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies

photo by José Picayo

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25. Snack Seriously

Celery does not have Ants On A Log on lock—you can do this with carrots and apples, too.

26. Fashion a Fast Peanut Butter Cup

It's a quick fix: Spread peanut butter on a piece of chocolate for an instant PB cup replacement.

27. Substitute for Tahini

Because peanut butter makes a wildly different (and delicious) kind of hummus.

28. Toss it with Noodles

Mix soy, hoisin sauce, brown sugar, and peanut butter with cooked linguine for a quick and easy lunch.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cupcakes

Eric Isaac

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29. Top Popcorn

Melt butter. Stir in peanut butter. Season to taste with salt, pepper, cayenne. Drizzle all over popcorn and serve with napkins.

30. Swirl into Ice Cream

You know what’s awesome? Ice cream. What’s even better? Ice cream with peanut butter swirls.

31. Dip chips in it

Because it's buttery and fatty. (Note: You’ll need a potato chip with a lot of structural integrity.)

32. Make a sauce for ice cream

Bring cream to a simmer and mix in chocolate and peanut butter. Pour the warm sauce directly into your mouth, or over brownies and ice cream.

33. Fix Up a Pie

If you're on the creamy side of the creamy versus crunchy camps, this is the pie for you.

Peanut Butter Pie

Sara Remington

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