4/12/11

homemade crunchy peanut butter eggs

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This idea came about one sleepless night when I woke up at 2am, turned on my iphone, wrote down in my 'to make recipes': a really good crispy pb egg for Easter.
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 Knowing I was going to use the same theory/recipe I used when I made the chocolate-pb cups, AND I wanted to factor in a more powerful crunch than what I originally used in the cups. So after much mulling I thought why not panko crumbs? Panko crumbs have a wonderful crunch and texture, plus it holds up very well to moisture. After much experimentation I think I nailed the filling just right. Taste-testing the filling as I went along I just knew these were going to be stellar. And let me tell you, they are fabulous. Very rich, decadent and perfect for upcoming Easter treats.
I'm pretty sure I nailed the pb filling down pat. Crispy, crunchy, not too sweet, with just a hint of salt. I was going to try a couple eggs dipped in the white chocolate but clear forgot.
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crispy chocolate-pb eggs 2
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Can I just say the middle filling is to die for good...again?
You have to make these......go...now!
crispy chocolate-pb eggs 11

crispy chocolate-pb eggs 12

chocolate peanut butter eggs w/ crunchy filling
from vanillasugarblog.com
print recipe

cook notes: 
I used Whole Foods brand organic crunchy pb (it's taste is just perfect), make sure to use plain panko crumbs, use a good quality milk chocolate since you want a good taste and one that will be easy to temper. Always do a taste test and make sure you like the filling before shaping them. If they get to have large chocolate spillage bottoms, don't worry, let them harden up and you can trim them with a sharp knife.

12 oz high quality milk chocolate
1 ½ cups crunchy peanut butter (I used whole foods brand organic crunchy)
2 TB confectioners’ sugar (if you want it sweeter add more)
¼ to ½ cup plain panko crumbs (add as much or as little as you like depending on level of crunch you want)
Giant pinch of sea salt

In a bowl, mix together the peanut butter, confectioners’ sugar, salt, and panko crumbs. Do a taste test. See if it’s sweet enough for you or needs more salt. Cover bowl very well so no air gets in and place in fridge to harden up (at least a few hours or overnight).
Form dough into oval shapes (or whatever shape you want), place on parchment lined tray and chill again.
While the eggs are chilling get the chocolate melted and ready for dipping.
In a double boiler, carefully melt the chocolate (set a metal bowl on top of a saucepan with boiling water).
When you are ready to dip the eggs in the chocolate use a fork to place them in the melted chocolate, turn them over, coating all sides of the egg and then place back onto the parchment paper to set. It’s ok if you get chocolate drips or lines on the sides of the eggs; once they are hard you can just trim the edges off with a sharp knife.
I let mine harden at room temp. If it’s warm out you might want to place them in the fridge to harden..
Once the chocolate is set and hard, take a sharp knife and trim off the chocolate drippings or lines on the bottoms of the eggs, if desired. This just give it a nice look.
Makes about 12 eggs, depending on how you shape them.

52 comments:

  1. oh my gosh! I had no idea how one would even MAKE something like this at home! What a perfect Easter post :) LOVE that you thought of this at 2 AM too haha. You must have been having some sweet dreams

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  2. I have 3 words to say. "GIMMIE, GIMMIE, GIMMIE!" ok, 4...please? lol. These look sooooo sinful!

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  3. What if I just...eat the filling? That's so going to happen if I try to make these. Amazing!

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  4. i want to just eat filling.

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  5. Panko is such a good idea! I made a trial run of almond butter eggs and sweetened them with coconut sugar. They were so good! It makes them kinda malty. Give it a try if you can.

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  6. I ove when food recipes come to me in the middle of the night! I can only dream of how good these are!

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  7. I'd eat that filling with a spoon, no question. Panko was an awesome idea!

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  8. this is totally awesome - TOTALLY!

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  9. OMG, I am seriously drooling over these! They look so decadent!

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  10. What a great idea to use the panko for a little crunch. These look fantastic!

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  11. How awesome that you put panko in these treats!! Love that.

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  12. Yeah, those are definitely gonna be a problem for me.

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  13. Esta me la apunto, que cosa tan deliciosa, es una verdadera tentación.

    Saludos

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  14. Woman! You are trying to kill me for reals. The fudge (which I do love) and now this? Is there no end to your creativity? I wake up in the middle of the night and wonder where I left my keys - not come up with ingenious ways to use chocolate.

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  15. Porrrr Diosss!!! que cosa mas buena!!! la verdad es que me encanta y si supiera inglés haría la receta corriendo mmmm!!!.

    Un besito

    Wyny
    http://corazonyazucar.blogspot.com/

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  16. yes, i will be making these... perfect.

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  17. I am making these tonight. I actually have everything in the house already. YUM!

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  18. I have those 2am moments all the time!

    The panko crumbs are genius, I would go crazy over these eggs!

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  19. I love this! I'm definitely going to use it to make my own yummy treats at home and play around with different kinds of fillings.

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  20. Fantastic creation! I love making peanut butter cups at home, but I never thought to include panko crumbs for a crunchy filling. Genius, as usual ;).

    p.s. I'm glad I'm not the only food blogger that gets inspiration at odd times - such as the middle of the night!

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  21. These look gorgeous!!

    Fantastic for Easter!

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  22. for a second I thought you were going to say you actually got up and made them at 2am!

    seriously, these are sinful. The panko is brilliant.

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  23. I'm actually kind of surprised that the panko stays crispy. That is good to know!

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  24. I'm not sure there'd be any filling left by the time they were to be dipped in chocolate. Amazing use of panko.

    Any reason why I can't use dark chocolate?

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  25. had to do a double take! Panko! These look awesome!

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  26. barbara: use whatever chocolate you want! create it however you desire.

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  27. That peanut butter filling looks so creamy and good! I like the sound of using the panko crumbs for crunch!

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  28. I think I would eat all the filling before ever getting around to dipping it in chocolate :).

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  29. Ohhhh so good! Now I'm wondering what do you think of a little cayenne in the filling for a spicy egg?

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  30. Yum! I want some right now! Have any leftovers??

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  31. I want to eat these off the page! I love the addition of panko! Yum!

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  32. Wow, these look GREAT! I love the filling - so creative and so perfect!

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  33. Oh my gosh, these look so good! My fave combo is pb and chocolate! :D

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  34. bread crumbs in the filling? brilliant. bravo, dawn!

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  35. Panko! Brilliant! I love PB eggs this time of year. Is is me or are the cadbury cream eggs getting smaller and smaller each year. I swear they are.

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  36. What a fabulous idea! The crunchy filling sounds SOO good!

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  37. I'm wondering how long you think these might store and how to store them? I am heading off on a trip Wednesday and they wouldn't be taken to an Easter lunch on my behalf until Saturday! Would they be okay in the fridge until then?

    Thanks, can't wait to make them!

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  38. Oh wow, I can tell these are so tasty! Just look at them... SCRUMPTIOUS!
    *kisses* HH

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  39. madaglena: i do not know how these would store. i imagine not well at all, since the longer the filling sits the more it's likely to not stay crunchy. store in fridge for sure. when ready to eat let them come to room temp b4 eating--might be best bet.

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  40. This is exactly what I was hoping to find here after not visiting your blog for few weeks....wow! I am craving those delicious treats and love, love the panko idea:) Hope you're having a nice weekend and warmer weather:)

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  41. Once again, Dawn--you have me wanting to stuff my face! I adore that you made these crunchy, too. Stumbling with a big thumbs up!

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  42. Forget the sandwich, this is the way I want to enjoy my peanut butter from this day forward. ;)

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  43. whole foods brand natural PB is my favorite PB ever!

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  44. You are seriously brilliant, Dawn!!

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  45. Yum! Would recommend storing in the freezer beyond a day or two. A hit with everyone who has tried one so far, I am trying to preserve a few until Easter for family's sake (hence the freezer tactic).

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  46. The Panko is a great idea...though I make mine with rice crispies like my grandfather always did. The trick with the RCs is that they can go a bit chewy depending on how wet your PB is. But the panko seems like it would stand up much better. Thanks for sharing!!

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  47. Love this time of year for all of these delicious treats

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  48. Great idea. They look so much better when they're homemade. I could o for one right now. Happy Easter!

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  49. I hate to say this but, I could polish off a huge box of these lovely treats!

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  50. I made these for Easter and they were a HIT. My ovals didn't turn out so well, but sure as hell look forward to practicing!

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  51. Gorgeous! The photo's are beautiful and the recipe is so creative, really lovely!

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