One of the most popular snacks we offer at our weight loss retreat is our faux truffle. One of these little delightful spheres, coupled with half an apple or a small bunch of grapes, is a perfectly balanced snack or dessert and a great way to get around a sweet craving. We add the non-fat dry milk to boost the protein and “fix” the gooeyness of the peanut butter; it can be found in the baking section of most markets.  This is a great one to do with kids; little hands can keep busy squishing the mix together and then forming it into spheres, all the while learning it’s okay (and yummy!) to grow up healthy.

Green Mountain Truffle

yields 15 truffles

3/4 cup natural peanut butter (I highly recommend organic)
3 T honey or maple syrup, optional
1 cup non-fat powdered milk
1 cup crunchy dry cereal (Cheerios, Rice Krispies, etc..)
1/2 cup raisins

Mix together the peanut butter, honey (if using it), and powdered milk.  Once well blended, stir in the cereal and raisins.  Shape into balls about the size of a golf-ball.  Enjoy within 3 days for best results; the cereal will turn from crunchy to soggy after a while.   

The cool thing about this truffle recipe is that you can really change it up, given your whims. We sometimes serve these with craisins instead of raisins, or almond butter instead of peanut butter. I suggested this to a friend who needed gluten free snacks for her art show recently (shout out to Susannah!), and she changed it up by adding peanut pieces to the mixture and rolling some of the truffles in coconut flakes and/or cocoa powder. She put the finished truffles in mini-muffin papers, and they looked beautiful…and tasted delicious!

What is your favorite dish involving peanut butter?