Buckeye Hand Pies

Pie crusts stuffed with peanut butter Reese's filling and drizzled in chocolate. Easy, yet rich and finger licking good! 

I don't have weird food cravings, but I have stubborn food cravings. This week, it was Reese's peanut butter cups. At 11:30 at night. Thank goodness I had one in my room, otherwise I don't know if I would've slept. It doesn't happen very often, but when it does; ... yeah. A couple years ago, three nights in a row, I woke up craving wedding cake so badly. It's not like we had just gone to a wedding or something like that. Ijust wanted wedding cake. It was strange and incredibly annoying.

Or these weekend. After our first game, I wanted a sandwich and nothing else. After our third game, I wanted a smoothie or ice cream, something cold and creamy. And nothing else.  I love my mom; she has to buy me all my food. Thankfully, the weirdest thing I've ever asked for is shredded wheat or tahini.  

My cravings encourage my mind to come up with food ideas and these hand pies were born out of my Reese's craving.  I took the Reese's concept and transitioned to buckeyes and put peanut butter filling in pie crust and then drizzled it in chocolate.  It should be illegal. Crispy, buttery pie crust meets smooth peanut butter (Reese's) filling.  It's been way too long since we've had a recipe like this. 

And this is crazy easy. I used premade pie crust (yes, I'm lazy) and the filling has only three ingredients. Then the drizzle is just melted chocolate.  And they are so cute and are easy to hold in your hand.b They're perfect for football parties and entertaining.

I've been reading Pilgrims Progress for school and I love it.  The last time I read it was when I was eight or nine and it's been really good to refresh all those lessons in it. One of the things I've been struck by is how Christian and his companion crave Celestial City. All their actions and thoughts revolve around it.  I was reminded of how I should be the same way. 

Another thing that struck me about the book was how John Bunyan named his characters based on their character, who they were on the inside. Like Pride and Greed and Worldly Wisdom. As the reader, I didn't want Christian to befriend them because I knew who they were. I would love to say I never become buddy buddy with traits such as Judgmental because you know, they're so unbearable! yet I do and worse, I try to cover it up or justify it with words like "objective" or "honest."  Pride is another one and is easy to ignore. "It's only what I deserve" or "yeah, I am pretty good!  I need to prove this to everyone!"  Reading Pilgrim's Progress reminded me to be discerning in the character qualities I befriend and especially to be firm in getting rid of the ones that are negative. Also, as Christian put it, "we're not put the Devil's gunshot yet!"  In my pride (how appropriate) I like to think myself exempt from some of the Devil's snares like (you guessed it) pride. Oh the irony. I want to train my mind to crave good character traits because cravings lead to action. Like making these hand pies. Or maybe letting others get credit without fuss. 

Buckeye Hand Pies 

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life 

Yield: 12 hand pies 

2 refrigerated pie crusts 

1 cup peanut butter 

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/4 cup powdered sugar 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 tablespoon butter or shortening

Beat peanut butter, sugars, and vanilla together.  Set aside. 

Roll out pie crusts.  Cut 12 4inch circles.  Spread 1-2 tablespoons of peanut butter mixture in each and fold over into a semi circle. Pinch edges together. Sprinkle with sugar. 

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake for 12-18 minutes or until tops are light brown. Let cool. 

Melt chocolate chips and shortening. Drizzle over cooled hand pies. 

Like buckeyes?  Try these too!  Pretzel Buckeyes


 

What's your strangest food craving?