Easy Desserts

Peanut Butter Cookies, Lava Cakes, and Chocolate Ganache
(some of these might be keto?!?!?!)

Regular peanut butter has approximately 1 tsp sugar per tbsp.
The thing to try today is using natural sugar, and adding 1/3 that amount of sugar. 1 cup unsweetened PB + 2/3 cup sweetener + 1 egg
edited – the Kraft recipe worked perfectly as keto, and far superior to the oldschool recipe.

Kraft Peanut Butter Cookies

Course Dessert
Servings 24 cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Kraft Peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg

Instructions
 

  • Preaheat oven to 325 F
  • Cream sugar and peanut butter until smooth.
  • Mix in egg until fully incorporated.
  • Roll into 1" balls, placed at least 1" apart on a baking sheet.
  • Flatten with a fork vertically and horizontally so the tines form a grid pattern.
  • Bake 15 minutes (until firm).
  • Let cool on the sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Peanut Butter Cookies

Course Dessert
Servings 12 Biggy cookies

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter ( smooth or crunchy )
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 1/4 cup AP flour

Instructions
 

  • During the whole mixing process, scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
  • Beat everything but the egg and flour together until smooth.
  • Add the egg and mix until fully incorporated, approx 1 minute.
  • Slowly sift in the flour, and mix on low until fully combined, approx 1 minute.
  • Form a ball, wrap in plastic, refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
  • Preheat oven 375F
  • Roll even-sized balls, place 2" apart on a baking sheet.
  • Press flat with a fork vertically and horizontally to make a grid pattern.
  • Bake 10 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Remove from oven, let rest 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

 

Chocolate Lava Cake

Course Dessert

Ingredients
  

  • whole pile Unsalted butter - see below
  • 2 large Egg yolks
  • 2 large Eggs
  • 3 tbsp Sugar
  • 3 1/2 oz Chopped dark chocolate
  • 5 tbsp Unsalted butter
  • 4 tsp Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 tbsp AP flour
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1/4 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 4 tsp Powdered sugar for decorating.

Instructions
 

  • Slather butter on the inside of 4 ramekins (5 1/2 oz), and place in a casserole dish.
  • Whisk the eggs and sugar in a bowl until lighter in colour and foamy.
  • Melt chocolate and butter (microwave or double boiler, or on med-low heat stirring constantly).
  • Stir chocolate into egg mixture until well combined.
  • Sift the cocoa into the mixture and stir well.
  • Sift the flour and salt into the mixture and stir well. This will form a batter.
  • Add the vanilla, stir another 20 seconds.
  • Transfer to a piping (or Ziploc) bag.
  • Pipe the batter into the ramekins, and gently tap them on the counter to remove any air bubbles.
  • Refrigerate 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 425F
  • Place the chilled ramekins in a casserole dish.
  • Pour hot water (tap, not boiling) to reach halfway up the sides of the ramekins.
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes, let cool 15 minutes.
  • Carefully separate the cake from the ramekin by running a knife along the inside.
  • Invert each cake onto a plate, and dust with powdered sugar.

Notes

My oven 15 minutes tops. 19 minutes ended with a solid cake.
The amount of flour per cake is approx 6 net grams of carbs. These are going to be in the 10+ range, and not good for keto. Can this be made as a serious keto dessert with the simple substitution of almond flour and allulose/erythritol for sweetener? I'll try it sometime and find out!

 

 

Ganache (Keto)

Ingredients
  

  • 2/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/3 cup salted butter ( YES - SALTED )
  • 3/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup sugar (erythritol or allulose)
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tsp strong coffee/espresso ( NOT OPTIONAL )

Notes

On medium-low heat, bring sugar and whipping cream to a simmer.
Add the rest of the ingredients, and thoroughly whisk it together.
Keep at a simmer for 3 minutes, remove from heat.
The salt and liquid from the coffee prevents the cooling and crystallization from the erythritol.