Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Crackers

That may be quite a mouthful for the name of this recipe, but it covers all three ingredients necessary for it: chocolate, peanut butter, and crackers. And I suppose you also need a little bit of time and patience--but the end product is totally worth it. Be warned, though: these tasty treats are highly addictive. And if people start to get attached to them... Well, you might be on the hook for providing them on a regular basis. Just ask Darrell's grandmommy if you don't believe me--for as long as he can remember (so twenty-plus years), she's been providing them for her kids and grandkids at Christmas. And let me tell you--the moment when every family gets their tin of cookies is always a big deal. Not to mention how exciting it is to get married and start a family of your own, which entitles you to your own tin, not one that you have to share with your parents and unmarried siblings.

I've always known that the basic concept of these cookies was ridiculously easy, but much like my cut-out cookies, I've always been intimidated by the process. After all, chocolate will only melt so quickly on a double-boiler, and dipping the cookies one at a time is tedious. But I found that once I got into a routine, the whole process went quite smoothly, and I was done before I knew it. Blaring fun dance music always helps to pass the time as well :)

Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Crackers

Ritz (or similar) crackers
Peanut Butter
Chocolate for coating

I know that ingredient list is really vague, but truthfully, this is more of a method than a recipe. Just slap a small spoonful of peanut between two crackers and coat with chocolate. That's it. I did find that I could coat approximately 40 sandwiches with one 24 oz package of almond bark, so that might help give you a gauge on quantities. And just in case you are a visual learner who has never had one of these before, here's a picture of the inside:

Doesn't that just make you want to whip up some of these right now? Maybe for your sweetie for Valentine's Day so you don't have to pay for ridiculous candy and flowers at the store? That's one of the beauties of this "recipe"--you can make as many or as few as you would like! Of course, if you are going to take the time to melt the chocolate for them, I'd recommend making at least a couple dozen--also because you'll probably discover that once they are made they don't last very long.

They are also easily customizable to any occasion (hello, sprinkles), and once the chocolate has set they are virtually indestructible, making them perfect for traveling to any type of gathering. Just be prepared to be the hero--and don't be surprised if people request them again and again.