A Creamy Ingredient With Plenty Of Possibilities
Everyone loves peanut butter, and if you're on a diet or watching your health, this ingredient is going to come in handy. When you feel snackish and want something sweet, peanut butter can be useful for creating healthy treats that still bring protein, healthy fats, and a rich flavor. Don't believe us? Just check out these 20 healthier peanut butter treats you can make that you'll actually enjoy eating.
1. Peanut Butter Banana Bites
Peanut butter and banana are already a match made in heaven, so use that to your advantage. If you simply slice a banana into rounds and spread a little peanut butter between two slices before chilling them, you're left with a cool, sweet treat you don't have to feel guilty about. You can even dip half of each bite in melted dark chocolate!
2. Peanut Butter Oat Energy Balls
When you need a quick little bite, peanut butter oat energy balls are a smart option. Because when you mix peanut butter with rolled oats, a touch of honey, ground flaxseed, and few mini dark chocolate chips, you'll get small balls that are perfect for grab-and-go snacking. Not to mention, they taste delicious and are made with healthy ingredients!
3. Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Dip
When you combine peanut butter with a bit of Greek yogurt and a natural sweetener like maple syrup, you can create a delicious dip that can act as the creamy, high-in-protein base for many great snacks. You can use it as a dip for apple slices, banana pieces, whole-grain crackers, you name it. It's almost like a healthy fondue!
4. Peanut Butter Apple Nachos
Speaking of peanut butter and apples, these sweet and healthy nachos are a lot healthier than the name might suggest. After all, you're just taking thinly sliced apples arranged on a plate and drizzling warm peanut butter over the top. You can add chopped nuts, unsweetened coconut, or a sprinkle of cinnamon to make it more fun, too.
5. Peanut Butter Chia Pudding
Chia pudding might take a little extra planning and effort on your part, but the result is always worth it. It's easy too; just whisk together chia seeds with milk, peanut butter, vanilla and a small amount of honey or maple syrup and let it sit in the fridge. You'll have the most delicious, thick and creamy pudding waiting for you the next morning or in a few hours for a great snack.
6. Peanut Butter Stuffed Dates
Peanut butter stuffed dates are sweet enough to feel like candy, but the amazing thing is, they’re made with simple, healthy ingredients. Make sure you're careful of how much peanut butter you scoop into the split dates, but you can finish them with walnuts, almonds, or even a sprinkle of cocoa powder if you want more flavor.
7. Peanut Butter Frozen Yogurt Bark
Need a cool, sweet treat you can easily store in the freezer? Peanut butter frozen yogurt bark is a tasty but healthy dessert you'll happily enjoy in the summer. All you need to do is spread Greek yogurt on a lined baking sheet, swirl in peanut butter, and add sliced strawberries or blueberries before freezing until solid.
8. Peanut Butter Protein Smoothie Pops
If you want a fun way to up your protein intake, these peanut butter protein smoothie pops are perfect for you. Just blend peanut butter with banana, milk, Greek yogurt, your protein powder of choice, and a little cocoa powder, then pour the mixture into popsicle molds. Once frozen, they become creamy treats that work well after exercise or on a warm day.
9. Peanut Butter Rice Cake Toppers
Rice cakes are a common diet food, but that doesn't mean you have to keep them boring and bland. When you top them with peanut butter, sliced bananas, berries, or a few chopped peanuts, you're creating a sugar-free snack that actually tastes good and feels balanced.
10. Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Peanut butter oatmeal cookies can be made healthier if you just keep the ingredient list short and simple. For instance, you can mash ripe bananas with peanut butter and oats, then bake the mixture into soft cookies. You can add raisins or a few dark chocolate chips, too! They won’t taste exactly like bakery cookies, but they’re healthier and still enjoyable.
Corleto Peanut butter on Unsplash
11. Peanut Butter Cottage Cheese Bowl
Hear us out: peanut butter cottage cheese bowls might sound unusual at first, but they can be a creamy, high-protein snack that's surprisingly good. And if it needs a helping hand still, just add in some berries, cinnamon, and chopped almonds to improve the taste.
12. Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Cups
When you're craving a unhealthy, sugary Reese's cup, make these healthier alternatives instead. Use a small amount of melted dark chocolate to coat mini muffin liners, add peanut butter in the center, and cover with another thin layer of chocolate. Chill them until firm, and enjoy them in moderation!
13. Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream
Again, the combination of peanut butter and banana can open the door to so many tasty and healthy treats! Peanut butter banana ice cream uses frozen bananas to create a creamy dessert by blending frozen banana slices with peanut butter until smooth and adding a splash of milk if needed. The result is cold, sweet, and naturally thick.
14. Peanut Butter Granola Clusters
Perfect for sprinkling over yogurt or oatmal, peanut butter granola clusters pack so much flavor into little bites. They're simple to make too; just mix oats, peanut butter, chopped nuts, cinnamon, and a little honey, then bake until lightly crisp. It gives you the satisfaction of granola while letting you control the sweetness and ingredients.
15. Peanut Butter Stuffed Strawberries
Let's keep things really simple for a moment. When you take ripe strawberries, remove the center, and spoon in a small amount of peanut butter, you get a naturally sweet, fresh, and summer-ready treat that you can make in no time.
16. Peanut Butter Whole-Grain Toast Squares
Peanut butter and toast might just be the most classic of combinations, and to make it healthier, just opt for a whole-grain variety instead of white bread. To make it even more balanced, you can top it with sliced banana, berries, and a slight drizzle of honey. It’s reliable when you want a snack that feels both healthy and satisfying.
17. Peanut Butter Trail Mix Bites
Trail mix can often be high in calories and unhealthy when you don't control what goes into it, which is why making your own is the best option. Peanut butter trail mix bites let you enjoy the flavor of trail mix, but in a more portioned form. Combine peanut butter with oats, chopped nuts, pumpkin seeds, dried cranberries, and a little honey, and simply press the mixture into a pan, chill it, and cut it into small squares.
18. Peanut Butter Cocoa Overnight Oats
Overnight oats are all the rage these days, and a peanut butter cocoa concoction will taste like dessert but is still made from healthy ingredients. You just need to stir oats with milk, peanut butter, cocoa powder, chia seeds, and a little maple syrup before letting the mixture sit in the fridge overnight so the oats soften and the flavors blend.
19. Peanut Butter Pear Slices
You've tried peanut butter and apples, so why not try this combo with pear slices for a treat that feels a little different and exciting! You'll be surprised by how well these two ingredients go together, creating a naturally sweet treat you'll want again.
Christine Siracusa on Unsplash
20. Peanut Butter Sweet Potato Brownie Bites
Peanut butter sweet potato brownie bites are a wholesome way to enjoy a chocolatey treat. The sweet potato keeps things healthy, but also keeps the bites moist while adding natural sweetness and fiber. They’re a smart choice when you want something baked, chocolatey, but can't get over your brownie craving.
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