Pretzel crust, chocolate ganache and peanut butter—now breathe! Yes, we’ve created a dessert that’s sweet, crunchy, smooth and salty. Make these peanut butter parfaits, and we promise you’ll want to hide a few extra in the fridge for later.

Ganache is the proper name for this mixture of chocolate, heavy cream and a smidgen of corn syrup or honey. It can be used as a glaze for various pastries or you can use the rest to drizzle over ice cream. You can even bring it to room temperature then whip it into frosting!

If you’re short on time (and let’s face it, who isn’t?) substitute store-bought graham cracker crust and hot fudge sauce to save time—we won’t tell!

Two homemade peanut butter parfaits in bowls, ready to serve and enjoy.

Peanut Butter Parfaits Recipe

Prep Time: 1 hr
Cook Time: 8 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 8 mins
Peanut butter parfaits are a hit for any event—who doesn’t love peanut butter paired with chocolate?
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Ingredients
 

Yield: 8 individual pies
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crust

  • 1 cup pretzels, crushed
  • 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
  • 4 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

filling

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 8 oz container whipped topping
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips

topping

  • 1/3 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 2 tsp honey, light, or corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup peanuts, salted, roasted, coarsely chopped

Instructions
 

crust

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In a medium-sized mixing bowl, stir together the crushed pretzels, sugar and melted butter until the consistency resembles damp sand.
  • Transfer pretzel mixture to a small baking sheet, bake 8–10 minutes then remove from oven and allow it to cool completely.

filling

  • In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add peanut butter, sugar, vanilla and salt, beating until completely combined and smooth—make certain to scrape the sides of the bowl throughout the process. Add whipped topping and beat on high speed until thoroughly combined, scraping the bowl as needed. Fold peanut butter chips into the mixture and set aside.
  • Place 2 heaping tablespoons of the pretzel crust mixture into the bottom of each ramekin, cup or jar and press lightly into an even layer. Next, spread enough peanut butter filling evenly on top of the crust to fill the ramekin slightly less than halfway. Refrigerate the ramekins at least 30 minutes, leaving the remainder of the filling out at room temperature so that it stays spreadable.

topping

  • To make the chocolate layer, heat cream in a small saucepan until the cream is scalding—too hot to touch—but not boiling. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips and honey. Allow the chips to sit 30 seconds before stirring continuously until all the chips are melted. If you need to melt the chocolate a little further, return the pan to low heat just briefly—but be careful not to scorch it!
  • Remove the ramekins from the fridge, spoon a tablespoon of chocolate sauce on top of the filling and spread evenly. Top with the remaining peanut butter filling and smooth the tops. Layer with the remaining chocolate sauce then sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
  • Return the ramekins to the fridge for 3–4 hours to cool completely. Serve as-is or with a dollop of whipped topping.

Notes

This recipe is so much better than ‘I can’t-move-it’s-so-heavy peanut butter pie’!
Author: Cheryl Najafi
Course: Dessert
Calories: 687kcal, Carbohydrates: 56g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 49g, Saturated Fat: 24g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 469mg, Potassium: 46mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 38g
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Peanut butter parfaits recipe