Peanut Butter Birthday Bites

Funfettinutter is the combination of funfetti and peanut butter. If you have not tried it, you are missing out! Chewy peanut butter cookies are topped with funfetti frosting, chocolate ganache, chopped peanut butter cups and sprinkles!

Happy birthday to me!!! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday TO ME!!!

In case you didn’t notice today is my birthday (it also happens to be Amy’s birthday of Fearless Homemaker). I turn 29 today today which means the next 365 days are the last of my twenties. For my birthday weekend my friend Christina visited and during all of our hiking and adventuring we have relived memories from our college years – our early twenties. It seemed perfect that she would be with me to celebrate the end of my twenties after being a partner-in-crime throughout all the others and I couldn’t be more excited and happy for her to be here this weekend. Later today we are seeing Spamalot!

In honor of my birthday I yet again combined two of my favorite things – peanut butter and funfetti. Chewy peanut butter cookies are topped off with a funfetti cake batter frosting which is then adorned with chocolate ganache and chopped mini Reese’s peanut butter cups. And more sprinkles. If you think peanut butter and funfetti don’t belong together then you obviously have never tried it. Funfettinutter for the win! It may be not a single serving recipe for Sunday, but it’s my birthday and I can have all the servings I want.

P.S. It is also Star Wars Day – may the fourth be with you! Oh yea that’s right be jealous of my birthday.

One year ago: Birthday Overload Pancakes

Two years ago: Funfettinutter Cupcakes for Two (or One Birthday Girl)

Three years ago: Peanut Butter Cup S’mores Ice Cream

PEANUT BUTTER BIRTHDAY BITES

Makes approximately 2 dozen small cookies

Ingredients:

COOKIES

1 cup chunky natural peanut butter

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

FROSTING

1/3 unsalted butter, room temperature

1/3 cup white or yellow dry cake mix (I used Funfetti) (heat treated*)

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 Tbsp milk

1-1/2 cups powdered sugar

GANACHE

3 Tbsp semisweet chocolate chips

1-1/2 Tbsp heavy whipping cream

TOPPINGS

Sprinkles

12 Reese’s peanut butter cup minis, halved

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment or silicone baking mat. Set aside.
2. In large bowl, stir peanut butter together with sugar, egg and vanilla until combined. Scoop onto prepared baking sheet using a small cookie scoop, spacing about 1-1/2 inches apart.
3. Bake 10 minutes, until cookies have slightly flattened and are not shiny. Remove from oven and cool 5 minutes on baking sheet before moving to a rack to cool completely.
4. While the cookie cool prepare the frosting. In a medium bowl b eat butter and cake mix until smooth. Add vanilla extract, milk and slowly add in powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency.
5. For the chocolate ganache, place chocolate chips and cream in a small microwaveable bowl. Heat in the microwave in 10 second intervals, stirring in between, until smooth.
6. To assemble, frost cookies (I used a large circle piping tip and used a spoon to make a little “well” to hold the ganche). Spoon in ganache, then top with sprinkles and peanut butter cup halves.

*Raw eggs are not the only possible source of bacterial contamination, raw flour is also a culprit. Heat treat by heating in microwave to 160 degrees F – about 1 minute stirring every 15 seconds.

Source: Cookies adapted from Lauren’s Latest and toppings from Your Cup of Cake.