31 Peanut Butter Desserts for People Who Like It Creamy, Crunchy, and Nutty
![Slices of peanut butter snacking cake swirled with raspberry jam](https://cdn.statically.io/img/assets.epicurious.com/photos/654a712100f0182a3aafdac8/16:9/w_320%2Cc_limit/Peanut%2520Butter%2520and%2520Jam%2520Cake%2520with%2520Raspberries%2520.jpeg)
The best peanut butter desserts are a little salty, a little sweet, leaning on butter and sugar to highlight your favorite nutty sandwich spread. If you love a PB&J, you’ll find a treasure trove of fruit-and-nut dessert recipes that you’ll want to try below, but there are also gems here for those devoted to peanut butter-filled chocolate candies and those who can’t live without caramel. Scroll down for all of our favorite peanut butter desserts, including cookies, cupcakes, creamy pies, and mind-bending s’mores.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell1/31
3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Some of the best peanut butter desserts are the simplest ones, like these wildly simple, classic cookies that happen to be dairy and gluten-free.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Prop Styling by Christina Allen, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht2/31
Peanut Butter Brownies
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen3/31
Giant Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup
A sliceable, crowd-sized take on the beloved sweet-and-salty candy. You’ll purée extra peanuts into the filling.
- Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food styling by Micah Marie Morton4/31
Scotcheroos
This Midwestern favorite is most easily described as peanut butter Rice Krispies Treats layered with chocolate and butterscotch.
- Photo by Sara Remington5/31
Peanut Butter Pie
When you need a make-ahead dessert for a dinner party or barbecue, consider this simple combo of peanut butter and cream cheese sweetened with brown sugar and chilled in a graham cracker crust.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio, Food Styling by Ali Nardi6/31
Midnight Puppy Chow
This version of the slumber party classic gets earthy sweetness from maple syrup and a flavorful dusting of cocoa powder.
- Photo by Yossy Arefi7/31
Peanut Butter and Jam Cake With Raspberries
Enriched with sour cream and creamy peanut butter, this cake gets a swirl of jam and fresh berries before heading into the oven.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell8/31
Double-Decker Peanut Butter Brownies
Peanut butter bar on bottom, brownie on the top: it’s a party in a pan.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne & Jason Schreiber9/31
Peanut Butter Blossoms, but Better
If the standard chocolate-topped peanut butter cookie leaves you cold, this version made with a dollop of ganache will win you over.
- Photo by Kelsey Foster10/31
Peanut Butter Pie Bites
Starting with peanut butter–filled pretzel nuggets means there’s a ton of peanut butter flavor in every inch of these crowd-pleasing bites.
- Ed Anderson11/31
Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies
Nora Ephron once said that “this may be the greatest cookie ever ever ever.” And that’s good enough for us.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch12/31
Chocolate–Peanut Butter Sheet Pan Ice Cream Sandwiches
To truly be prepared, it’s best to never be without a freezer full of homemade ice cream sandwiches.
- Eric Isaac13/31
Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Cupcakes
Rolling these cupcakes in crushed up pretzels is a pro move you won’t soon forget. Be prepared to make these by request for every birthday from now on.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks14/31
No-Bake Butterscotch-Coconut Cookies
These butterscotch buttons are about as instant as homemade cookies get. They're ready in less than 30 minutes, and don’t require turning on your oven.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Christopher Barsch15/31
Peanut Butter Coconut Cream Cookie Sandwiches
Need ideas for vegan desserts? These chewy sandwich cookies include a recipe for plant-based peanut butter coconut frosting that’s essential for your baking rotation.
- Tina Rupp16/31
Elvis Pie
Inspired by the King himself, this is one serious pie, featuring creamy banana pudding in a bacon peanut butter crust and topped with peanut butter whipped cream.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Katherine Sacks17/31
Crispy Peanut Butter Snack Cake
There’s no baking involved in this salty-sweet recipe: you're simply folding all of your favorite snacks into a honey–peanut butter base, then drizzling with chocolate.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Diana Yen18/31
Giant Chocolate Candy Bar With Peanuts and Nougat
Transforming the iconic candy bar into a giant layered dessert means whipping up a peanut butter nougat that’s fluffy enough to eat by the forkful.
- Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne19/31
PBJ Thumbprint Bars
These bar cookies are halfway between a cookie and a blondie.
- Levi Brown20/31
Peanut Butter Ice Cream With a Hard Chocolate Shell
Okay, this isn’t exactly ice cream. But it is a quick path to a tasty frozen dessert—no ice cream maker required.
- Photo by Kim Sentner21/31
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Almond extract helps bolster the nutty flavor of these classic cookies. Box them up for a holiday cookie plate or keep them around as an after-school snack.
- Mitchell Feinberg22/31
Peanut Dacquoise With Peanut Butter Mousse
In this impressive baking project, peanut meringue gets layered with peanut butter mousse and a dark chocolate glaze.
- photo by Kenji Toma23/31
Peanut Brittle and Caramel Crunch Ice Cream Pie
Layer store-bought ice cream with crackly peanut brittle, creamy peanut butter, and crunchy roasted peanuts in a graham cracker crust, then dig in.
- Photo by Galdones Photography24/31
Chocolate Peanut Butter-Covered Cheez-It S’mores
Wrap up your next barbecue with this nutty riff on the classic campfire dessert.
- Jennifer May25/31
Peanut Maple Fudge Bars
“If you love peanut butter, you should love this,” says one reviewer. We do, and we do.
- Photo by Tara Fisher26/31
Peanut Butter and Sour Cherry Cheesecake
Looking to dress up a cheesecake with the flavors of your favorite sandwich? This one’s a showstopper.
- Photo by Stephen Lewis27/31
Banana Cupcakes With Peanut Butter Frosting
Dress up the classic flavors of banana bread with a creamy, tangy peanut butter frosting and a flurry of chopped lightly salted roasted peanuts.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Prop Styling by Alex Brannian, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton28/31
Peanut Butter, Banana, and Jelly “Ice Cream”
It feels almost miraculous to watch a food processor transform frozen bananas and peanut butter into this almost-instant frozen dessert.
- Photo by Sohla El-Waylly, Food Styling by Sohla El-Waylly29/31
Salted PB&J Ice Cream Pie
You can use any jam or jelly in this no-churn ice cream pie. And while we’re loyal to peanut butter desserts, this recipe also works with other nut butters or tahini too.
- Donna Hay Magazine, photography by William Meppem30/31
Molten Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fondant Cakes
Your next date night at home needs this molten chocolate cake. And the good news is that it’s truly not difficult to pull off.
- Photograph by Joe Lingeman, food styling by Shilpa Uskokovic, prop styling by Marina Bevilacqua31/31
PB&J Dome Cake
We believe that peanut butter desserts deserve all the attention. And all the floral decoration too.
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