Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Tarts – Kristin (Schuette) Johnson

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Tarts – Kristin (Schuette) Johnson

Oh, how I love three ingredient recipes!  I am noticing a trend among the Ahlden Family Cookbook recipes.  The more children you have, the fewer ingredients that are required.  This recipe was contributed by Kristin (Schuette) Johnson who is the busy mother of four.  With four kids running around the kitchen, she needs a recipe that is quick, simple, and kid friendly.  Since there were only three ingredients, I decided to just take everything over to Grams’ house to bake.  Usually, we bake at my house, but I thought I would spare Mom’s kitchen the mess for one night.

I like doing easy recipes with Grams because she doesn’t get confused or feel bad for not understanding the directions.  These cookies were ones she could confidently assist with.  I showed her how to do the first one: 

1.  Make a ball of store-bought dough and bake 10 minutes.

2.  Smash a Reese cup into the center.

3.  Garnish with 3 M & Ms.

The pattern was simple and easy to remember.  Grams and I laughed at how these cookies are called Chocolate Peanut Butter Tarts.  ‘Tarts’ makes them sound so fancy.  When you tell people the name of the cookies they will assume that you spent hours preparing this “high society” dessert. 

            Even at 22 yrs. old, I can’t resist visiting Grams’ doll room when I’m at her house.  Long before I was born, Grandma Ahlden began collecting porcelain and antique dolls.  Now her collection has grown so big that it requires its own display room.  I would bet there are more than 150 dolls displayed in Grams’ doll room.  If you don’t believe me, stop by and check it out for yourself.  She would love to show them off to you.  Some of them date back to her own mother’s childhood dolls, while others are as current as the now popular American Girl Dolls.  Up until recently, Grams was able to tell you the history about each of her dolls.  She could recall where she bought it or who gave it to her as a gift.  To Grams, each doll was special in its own way.  My favorite doll in Grandma’s collection is a beautiful baptismal doll.  Her face is made of porcelain, but her body is soft and limp.  When I held this doll when I was a kid, it felt just like cradling a real baby in my arms. 

Some of my fondest memories of growing up involve Grams and dolls.  The two of us would hit up local garage sales looking for dolls that needed a new home.  The porcelain and antique dolls we found were less than attractive.  Most mothers probably wouldn’t let their children near these dolls due to unsanitary conditions.  Even through the ratted hair and dirty faces, Grams was able to see a treasure underneath.  I swear, the woman has faith and love for everything.  We would take the dolls home to bathe them and wash their clothing.  Together we would comb out their hair and set it in rollers.  Once they were clean and dressed, these dolls looked like the pricey, porcelain dolls you would find in a collector’s store.  Our dolls might have only cost fifty cents, but it was worth more than any of those brand new boxed dolls.  The dolls Grams and I bought were priceless because we had given them a home together, just the two of us.

The cookies turned out delicious.  Grandma Ahlden loved how colorful the M & Ms made them.  She suggested that we make them for Christmas this year.  Then again, I think she has suggested that with every dessert we have made.  Since everyone at my house has gained about five pounds this month due to our baking, we decided to give these cookies to Ashley’s friends at The Arc of Iroquois County.  I’m sure they will enjoy them!

Easy Chocolate Peanut Butter Tarts – Kristin (Schuette) Johnson

1 packaged roll of chocolate chip cookie dough (Nestle and Pillsbury are great)

1 pkg miniature Reeses Peanut Butter Cups

1 pkg M&Ms

Drop approximately 1 t. cookie dough into lined miniature muffin pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 9-11 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  While cookie dough is baking, unwrap Reeses Cups.

Remove cookies from oven and immediately push 1 Reeses cup into each miniature chocolate chip cookie.

Place 2 or 3 M&M’s on top of each Reeses.