Let’s have a chat about peanut butter- you know that old childhood favorite that marries the jam and bread to make the perfect sandwhich. Well, peanut butter wasn’t only a staple of my childhood. I eat is pretty consistently as an adult.

Am I an adult? Me thinks not!

Anyways, I decided to take a break from eating crunchy peanut butter right out of the jar and actually USE it.

Shall I make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Um, no! PB&J empanadas is where it’s at!

 

Starting the dough the day before allows it to rest and makes the perfect flaky dough.

 

I used Justin’s peanut butter and some of Confituras’ local blackberry jam.

Stephanie at Confituras makes incredible jams, jellies and preserves using local and seasonal ingredients and I am a HUGE fan. Stop by the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings and make sure to pick up a jar or 6.

 

These made my giddy with happiness, it’s like an adult pop tart!

 

They couldn’t bake fast enough. This would also make a really yummy 4th of July appetizer if your feeling groovy.

Just make sure you make these, stat!

Ingredients: makes about 15 empanadas

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/3 cup full fat cream cheese

1 cup all purpose flour, sifted

1 cup of your favorite jam

1 cup peanut butter- brand of your choice

1 Tbsp raw sugar

Recipe:

Day before baking: cream the butter and cream cheese together in a mixing bowl until smooth. Blend in the sifted flour. Turn the dough out onto some parchment paper and form into a ball, then wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Baking time: remove dough 30 minutes before use and preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Roll out the chilled dough thin. Cut into small circles with a 3-4 inch cookie cutter. Place a small spoonful of jam and peanut butter in the center of the dough circle and moisten the edges with egg wash (1 egg whisked with about 1 tbsp of water) or just water. Fold over and press the edges together, and crimp with a fork, then with a sharp knife cut a tiny slit in the top to let the air out.

Bake 15-18 minutes and then immediately sprinkle with a pinch of raw sugar.

MMM MMM MMM SERVE EM’ UP!